4m x 3m Omlet pen, cube, new auto door still boxed and coop light

[Katie]

I'm currently packing up all of my stuff to move out of uni halls...sad times!

But I recently got hold of the damage price sheet for bedrooms & communal areas to see how much would be charged. Especially as my walls seem to have attracted all sorts of marks, scuffs etc (which i've been spending all morning trying to get off with nail varnish remover!)

Anyway, they are pretty ridiculous charges... These are my favourites - £350 to paint ONE wall, £20 to change a light bulb, £100 for a new light switch, £25 for a new kitchen bin, £15 for a rubber sink plug? and then to top if all off a £25 pound admin fee!

Thankfully my flat isn't too bad, and nothing a good clean wouldn't fix, but I feel so sorry for other people. For example, uni didn't provide my friend's flat with a hoover for 4 months, and now their carpet is disgusting. So that's £300 they're going to have to pay.

 

I just don't understand how they think they can charge students these amounts of money, when quite frankly, I and lots of others don't have any spare at all!

 

Surely these prices are unjust? Or can they charge what they like?

[Ain't Nobody Here]

That's scandalous . Surely you pay rent for the place already? Wear and tear should be covered by that, I'd have thought . Fair enough if something's actually been broken, but charging to change a lightbulb? (At least you could just change the lightbulb yourself.)

 

Is there a student rep you could ask about it?

[Tessa the Duchess]

That is just ridiculous £20 to change a light bulb I am surprised that the student union don't take this issue up with the powers that be. You can buy a pack of 6 rubber sink plugs in the £1 shop for.....yep a £1 I think they should charge something if rooms are trashed or things are missing, but the charges should be reasonable. Hope you don't get a massive bill

 

Tessa (I hope this doesn't come through as a double posting, had a lot

of problems submitting it )

[Katie]

And seeing as I pay £100 a week to live there anyway I would love to know where that money is going, as it is definitely NOT going into repairs (we've had leaky fridges for ages and all lifts were out of action for a month - good work out with living on the top floor and carrying a weekly shop...more like backbreaking!) or security (main entrance doors have been on manual practically all year!)

A lot of people, including myself have written letters and the student union rep has got involved, whom we got a letter from the other day that just basically said deal with it and that it is because they have to pay for contractors. It just sounds like the university has told him what to write!

Has just put a downer on the last few weeks, and feels like uni doesn't care in the slightest about us but just think we are naive and will pay anything!

[Trish]

My mum used to clean in Uni residences and she says if they didn't provide people with a vac then your friends can't be expected to pay for any damage/excessive wear and tear that occured in that time. Believe me who ever is getting the money it isn't the people who have to clean the rooms or repair any damage.

[chelsea]

Cant believe what they are charging Katie what a rip off !

 

Same old same old - rip off Britain im afraid (you cant even get an education now without being ripped off )

 

*stopped myself before going into rant*

[Rhapsody]

A lot of people, including myself have written letters and the student union rep has got involved, whom we got a letter from the other day that just basically said deal with it and that it is because they have to pay for contractors. It just sounds like the university has told him what to write!

 

Take it to National level- if you pay your union subs then it is their responsibility to represent you, it is a scandal and the NUS should not be rolling over to benefit private contractors.

[Katie]

It certainly isn't the cleaners or anyone like that getting the money... it's the people sat at their desks in suits!

Apparently no one got their damage deposit back last year, but my friend's room still has drawing on the walls from last years occupant

I'll have a look on the NUS site and send them an email if I can.

Thankfully the nail varnish and tipex worked a treat, my walls look brand new

[Egluntyne]

If you signed an agreement at the outset they mey well feel they have you over a barrel.

 

Will they be prepared to take your friends to court if they don't pay up?

[Katie]

I guess we all signed a contract with them agreeing to these charges, and they will just use that in their defence.

Have just sent an email to NUS head office. Will have to wait and see what they say!

[Cooks]

did you not get an itemised inventory when you moved in?? ie stating what damage was already there etc etc?? I worked in a letting agency.. errrm a few moons ago and this was normal practice to sve both parties etc.. but I didn't know if this is how they do things there? seems odd not to.

[Katie]

I filled in a sheet when I moved in to state the damage that was already there (surely that should have been fixed from last year?)

It's the communal area of the flat i'm most bothered about with the things I haven't done, like spilt drink stains on the sofa, that i'm going to get charged for which is annoying, but i guess can't be helped. I wouldn't mind if we got charged a reasonable amount! It's just made everyone turn sour against the university...but i'll just have to wait to see how much deposit I get back!