A friend's daughter dropped out of university after less than a week and her parents have been told they have to pay a full year's accommodation fee

[shoemad]

Can this be right?
It's �1,500 per term. they've already paid for the first term, despite daughter only living there for five nights. Now they've been told they have to pay another �3,000 for rest of the year. Daughter signed a contract apparently in order to get the accommodation, but this seems very unfair.
Anyone know if this is really legal?
Could it not be seen as an unfair contract?
Seems harsh to have to pay out nearly �4,000 for nothing

[bednobs]

no thats not right - if daughter signed the contract then she is the one who has to pay

[VillageVicar]

First, may I ask the age of the daughter? It may be that neither the daughter or the parent can be held accountable for the debt. If the daughter is underage, then the uni hasn't the right to have her enter into a contract. If the parents signed the contract, it would be another matter.

As for the housing fee. I would need to see what the terms of the contract would be. If it is correct that she's ecpected to pay the full year, then I should imagine she has the right to find alternative students to reside in the accommodation. And, is the housing 'on campus' or is it a private property that has been rented through the housing officer at Uni...that too would make a difference.

Be well

Fr Bill

[kempie]

A point has been raised about the age of contractual capacity, which is usually set at 18.

Minors are permitted to enter into contracts for limited purposes, and the test is one that focuses on the nature of the transaction, and whether the minor is of an age such that they capable of understanding it.

Contracts entered into by children that are for 'necessaries' (e.g. the supply of food, medicines, accommodation, clothing, amongst other things) are binding on children, as are those for apprenticeship, employment, education and service where they are rightly said to be for the benefit of the child.

Non-binding contracts would be those for conveniences, and products and services for comfort or pleasure. Commercial or 'trading' contracts are also excluded. These latter contracts are voidable at the option of the minor, and whether the minor may avoid the contract depends on the nature of the contract.

[shoemad]

Thank you for your answers.
She is 18 and the contract is with her but she has no money (student loan returned as she dropped out before the end of Freshers week) so parents are trying to help.
It may be legal for them to have to pay for a full year even though girl only there for five days, but it doesn't seem morally right.

[Emu2005]

To be honest I don't really know much about this, but I would imagine if the uni/landlord get someone else in to the property they can't charge her rent any more. She should try and find out if they have filled her space. This is how it works for normal rent anyway (I think) - you are only liable for rent if someone else cannot be found to rent out the property/room. Hope she gets somewhere with it - it does sound horribly unfair to me.