Levitate Student: Freshers Talking Heads - Accommodation

Freshers Accommodation Video

Two students discuss their experience of living on campus and in private rented accommodation as a first year student.

Payday Loans - guidance from Debt Camel

A survey last year found that “26,400 undergraduates and 5,400 postgraduates depend on payday lenders and could be paying annual interest rates of up to 1,500%” – so if you are a student who has fallen into the payday loan trap, you are not alone! Payday loan companies make their profits from people with money problems and students are an obvious target for them. At least one lender has students as its main market.

You may have seen that some lenders such as Wonga were made to write off loans that had been defaulted on. But even if you repaid your loans on time, you may be able to get a refund if your loan was “unaffordable” by making a complaint to the lender first, and then going to the Financial Ombudsman if the lender rejects your complaint.

A loan is “unaffordable” if you couldn’t repay it on time and still have enough money left to pay your rents, bills, and everyday living costs such as transport and food. For students, this means looking at what your expenses would be before your next student loan or grant payments arrive. If you repaid £300 at the start of October it may have felt easy, but as a result you didn’t have enough to live on and had to borrow again before the next term started – in this case the loan you repaid in October wasn’t “affordable”.

The Ombudsman is often looking at cases where people have borrowed on a regular basis and deciding perhaps the first loan was OK because the lender couldn’t have realised the borrower had problems. But students have a pretty low income, and so any indication of repeat borrowing should have made the lender stop and think whether they should lend to you again… but all too often they didn’t, just handing out more loans.

There are some template letters for making an affordability complaint on my website at Can you get a payday loan refund? You will need to change these to tell your story, for example mentioning when you get your grant money and what your expenses are until the next instalment.

Where a complaint succeeds, the lender is normally told to refund all the interest and charges that were added, plus 8% interest. And also delete the loans from your credit record, as they should never have been made.

This is a guest post by Sara Williams, a CAB advisor who blogs about debt at Debt Camel. 

Note from Levitate Student - thanks to Sara for this excellent post. Some students face challenges trying budget on student finance much of which is  paid quarterly, and this can lead to pressure to find funds in the short term. High cost credit is unlikely to be the right solution and could lead to long term problems. Always seek advice from your institution money advisers or other trusted money advisers about income maximisation and debt issues. See Know Where to Look page.

Levitate Student - Accommodation Protest

UCL Students protest accommodation costs

Students at UCL are working up to a rent strike regarding the soaring accommodation costs as reported here by The Independent 

This is an important matter for the students, their families and the institutions themselves.

University halls vary widely in quality and price. The contract terms too vary with respect to number of weeks the tenancy runs, times when the room needs to be vacated, bills & extras included and so on. Universities vary too in the housing stock available, some able to accommodate all their freshers, others directing their students to private halls of residence or the private landlord sector.

Student in accommodation

Universities vary in when and how they take the rent payments. Many take the rent in termly installments. Some front load their accommodation charge such that the first installment of rent is perhaps 40% rather than a third of the full cost. This strategy can leave a new student with little no student finance left in their bank account. Starting their student life overdrawn or turning to family for extra help. This can certainly diminish the excitement of the start of their new journey. Also it can come as a shock to a new student, who after a week or two decides they do not like the university & wants to withdraw, that they are tied into that legal tenancy. They didn't realise they would still expected to pay the rent or find a replacement student for their room. 


New students may feel a pressure to move into halls or risk miss out on the full student experience. They may worry that the option of looking for a room in a student private rented is too scary for a first year especially as they wouldn't know their housemates.  

How much does the pressure on the students give confidence to the senior managers, responsible for the accommodation income, to hike the rent tariffs? We recall one such manger saying - "well they keep on signing up which is good". That's the bottom line, if they "sell" every room then that understandably affords them confidence. 

The student consumer is not really empowered in this transaction. Many must feel like they have no option but to sign up. That then leads to the collective consumer grievance now being expressed by students at UCL and expressed by many students up and down the UK. As consumers some feel they have to buy into a service which they don't consider value for money or affordable based on their circumstances. 

Money Bee

The growing dissatisfaction will not be going unnoticed by university senior management teams. Universities have shifted to calling students customers and now need to respond appropriately to that customer voice. 

Students need to be confident and empowered consumers, be fully informed and raise their concerns to seek the changes in the student industry that they want.

See our Know Where to Look pages for Housing Advice

Levitate Student: EU students -

EU students - changes to residency rules

On March 1st 2016 Joe Johnson MP (Minister of State for Universities and Science) announced a significant planned change to the Education (Student Support) Regulations 2011 which will change the residency requirements for EU national students.

Currently an EU national is entitled to apply for

• Tuition Fee Loan only if they come to UK to study in Higher Education
• Tuition Fee Loan and Living Cost Support (currently loans and grants) if they have lived in UK for 3 years prior to the start of their course.
• Tuition Fee and Living Cost Support if they are a EEA Migrant Worker or Family Member of a Migrant Worker

The proposal is to increase the residency requirement from 3 years to 5 years before an EU national can be eligible for the living cost support in their student finance package.

The government cite the increasing pressure on the student finance budget due to the level of EU applicants and their desire to manage the burden on the tax payer as their reason for the change. The changes will impact students starting a new course in academic year 2016/17.

Many EU nationals of course fall into the category of an EEA Migrant Worker and pay taxes themselves to the UK. These changes will not affect the entitlement of Migrant Workers and their families according to the statement. Neither will it affect "those who are already studying". 

If you are an EU national living in England and thinking of starting a Higher Education course please seek advice on this change before starting the course.

It will be interesting to see how the devolved government and assemblies of Northern Ireland, Scotland an Wales respond to this change and whether they follow suit. 

Useful information and guidance is available through UKCISA

Money B

Time for another Money B! 

Be ready to apply for your funding as soon as possible if you are starting a new Higher Education course in September 2016.

We are hoping Student Finance England will open for business this week for any 2016 Cohort student's applications.

But depending on where you live keep your eye on all the funder websites for their go ahead on when to apply.

Don't worry that you are not completely sure where you will be going to study yet. Just put the most likely institution on your application, this can be changed later if necessary. Changes happens all the time so its not a problem.

Scotland - SAAS
Wales - SFWales
Northern Ireland - SFNI

NHS Courses - NHSBSA


Be the first to apply!

Previous Study Rules

Higher Education Undergraduate Previous Study Rules for English Domiciled 2016 Cohort Students

Levitate Student: Council Tax, Rent and moral dilemma

Students, Council Tax and Rent

We are great fans of the Money Saving Expert .....but sometimes we don’t agree with all their advice to students.

This is the case with their article on Students and Council Tax where they suggest students who live in a property with a non-student might have a “moral dilemma” and go on to make suggestion of how much contribution a student should make to a bill they are not legally liable to pay.

So let us put our context on the matter of Rent, Council Tax and entitlement to welfare benefits for these expenses.

As you know Levitate is all about Rights and Responsibilities and it is important to understand them.

So let’s start with....

Rent

What is rent? Rent is a payment (of money or other means as agreed) to use a property.

What is included in the rent depends on the tenancy agreement whether that is in writing or a verbal agreement.

For detailed information about rent and tenancy agreements we recommend www.shelter.org.uk

Help to pay rent

Housing Benefit is to help people to pay their housing costs. Claimants under pension credit age must have savings under prescribed level, have the right to reside in UK and pass a habitual residence test and crucially for most students be regarded as liable to pay rent for the property.

Housing Benefit and Students

Most full-time Higher Education students are not entitled to claim housing benefit. There are some exceptions for example some lone parents, student couples with children and some disabled students may be eligible for help toward their rent (seek advice).

This may seem strange when for many, student income is very low. They way the government get around that problem is to define in the regulations who is regarded as “liable to make payments in respect of a dwelling” for the purposes of housing benefit entitlement – and guess what? - Full-time Students are not regarded as eligible to pay rent.....even though of course they do.

A non-student (living in a shared property with students), could apply for Housing Benefit help to pay their rent liability if they are not working or on low income.

If awarded Housing Benefit would the non-student have a moral dilemma to share this to help their student housemates pay their rent.....? We don’t think so...it’s the non-student Right to financial help not the students. All the tenants have a Responsibility to pay their rent but it could be that only the non-student has the Right to claim Housing Benefit.

Council Tax

What is Council Tax - in simple terms it is a local tax set and administered by a local authority. The tax has two elements; half is for the people based on two adults sharing; and half is for the property. There is one bill for each separate residence on the Valuation Office Agency valuation list and the charge falls into one of 8 or 9 valuation bands. The local authority decides what charge applies to each band. The local authority will outline to residents what it has spent the Council Tax on each year. Local authority websites are often a good source of information about Council Tax

Some residences are exempt from Council Tax liability and this includes hall of residence and properties with only full-time students living in them. Universities will issue you with Council Tax exemption certificates or tell you how to inform the local authority that you are exempt - check the university/college website for information.

It’s more complex than this though so always seek advice if you are not sure or are told you are liable for the bill.

Help to pay Council Tax

Local authorities are responsible for running their own Council Tax Support schemes to help people on low income with their Council Tax bills. Again local authority websites are a useful source of information. The schemes vary across local authority areas and can change from year to year.

Student income is very low and therefore on the maths alone many could be eligible for Council Tax Support. The government make it easier for everyone though by making most full-time students exempt from paying council tax  - less hassle all round. So it’s a student’s Right not to pay council tax....No moral dilemma here!

When students live with non-students (or even a part-time student), the residence is not exempt so someone will be liable for the council tax. Any non-student living with just all students could apply to the local authority for a discount (e.g. 25% discount on the bill) and if their income is low help to pay in the form of council tax support.

If the non-student is also exempt from paying council tax for other reasons, then, the discount on the bill would be 50%. Who would be liable to pay the bill can be complex and depends on a hierarchy of liability – seek advice if you are not sure.

A student may have to pay the council tax even though they are disregarded when calculating the discount for the bill. This can happen to a student who is the only tenant or who owns their own home but lives with an adult who is not a student.

For example, a mum who is a full-time student, owns her own home and her adult (not in education) son lives at home with her. The property is not exempt, mum as a full-time student is disregarded so the bill is discounted by 25%, but as she is the owner occupier she is liable for the bill. We would agree that in these circumstances there is a bit of a moral dilemma regarding the son helping mum out with the bills.

It can be complex too in household where non-student does not have recourse to public funds.

From a financially capable perspective we would recommend that you don’t pay bills you are not liable for. If you are unsure about whether or not you are liable for a bill then always seek advice from you University Money Adviser or community advice such as Citizens Advice.

Levitate Student: Money Tips

Money Tips

Huge thank you to the fabulous students and graduates who submitted a Money Tip this week. 

Picture of student money tips

Suffice to say that most students we know manage their money well and wisely. Many maximise their student income and help from family by working, saving and sensible budgeting.

It's no mean feat budgeting on the periodic student income, planning ahead for all outgoings. For many students money management is a new experience, lots of first time expenditure like rent, phone and utility bills. It can be a challenge planning for the expected and more so the unexpected. 

Take a look at this useful budgeting tool provided by National Debtline

Many full-time Higher Education students can secure an interest free overdraft from the high street banks. When used sensibly this can serve as an excellent safety net on a bank account to help navigate through the cashflow peaks and troughs.

Be wise with the overdraft facility though - it can be tempting to over spend. You need to be honest with yourself about how smart you will be in using the available funds. The interest free limit though can provide a means for you to avoid interest bearing borrowing such as credit cards, store cards, personal loans, and short term high cost credit like Pay Day Loans..

Picture of student money tips

Many banks offer graduate accounts that give you a limited time to pay any residual overdraft back when your course ends.

Some students might want to use the interest free facility to put into interest bearing savings account such as ISA

But as bank interests rates are low and many students do not pay tax on bank accounts anyway (See tax form R85). It may not be safer to use the interest free buffer to help avoid the need for costly interest bearing borrowing. 

We like the Money Saving Expert Guide to Student Bank Accounts

A note of caution though sometimes students take more than one student account and find it difficult to manage. Taking more than one account is not against the law but might be contrary to the account terms and conditions so this should always be checked. Also it is important that bank accounts don't become dormant (not actively used) as banks may close them and ask for any overdraft to be paid back immediately.

Similarly, sometimes students leave higher education without graduating and find that as they are no longer a student that the bank would like the overdraft paying back right away. This can come as a shock and throw you into financial difficulties.

Always seek advice if you are struggling with money matters - your university may offer Money Advice, or look on our Know Where to Look  page for trusted debt advice agencies.

Student Money Tip 6 - Rebekah says.......

Down but not out...... a student's account of their first struggle with mental health problems.

National Student Money Week 2016 - Mental Health

I didn’t really notice it starting – the depression sort of crept up on me......

I had found my A’level year stressful, cramming, literally tearing my hair out at times (I realise there is a name for that now, trichotillomania but then I just did it to help calm the stresses).

Once it was all over I got my university place, scraping in through Clearing, but happy as the first girl in my family ever to achieve that. I was naive when going off to my city of study, but that sort of got me through all the changes. It was exciting and I was curious what this new life might hold. I covered my little bald patch and got stuck in :).

I left my long term boyfriend behind, he went to a different uni, we had been all grown up about that choice. We hoped we could make it work long distance.

I didn’t get a place in halls of residence so lived in private rented from year 1. By the February I had moved in to a little flat with my new found bestie from my course. Life was a laugh, we were learning life together & sometimes the hard way  how to be independent. Our accents, mine Northern hers Welsh would combine into the most delightful blend. Some nights we would laugh so hard it hurt and we didn’t even know why we were laughing. It was great being a student....

I didn’t get to go home much, I couldn’t afford it. My parents couldn't afford to help me with money so I was on a very tight budget. When I did make it home, there were sometimes troubles there that worried me. In the summer vacation after my first year my mum fell poorly and my dad struggled to cope and I seemed to suffer the brunt of his frustrations. Perhaps he didn’t like that his girl was grown up. There was a blow up fight and dad threw me out, my boyfriend came to rescue me and I spent the summer living with a relative. I didn’t realise it but I was slipping along that sliding scale into the grey zone....

My relationship didn’t make it through the summer. I was shouting at my boyfriend in the street about why it wasn’t working out for us, he didn’t understand, he thought it was, I wasn’t making sense. My arguments were going round and round, the ends not meeting to tie into a neat conclusion. Inside I wasn’t convinced by my own fervour, but something was making me sad and it had to be him right??

We split up and both headed back to university. I was numb, missed him but was convince it was for the best, the long distance had been stressing me. My housemate had split up with her long term boyfriend too – high five!! We are free, let’s have fun!!

Somehow though, I wasn’t feeling in the mood for fun. We started the year in a new rented place, not the best but it was cheap. We were heavily involved in a uni society and that kept us busy after lectures and some days were long, too long. Organising events around my study, living further out of town, cycling back and forth, I was exhausted.

At times I would feel like an observer....not involved in what was happening around me. Inside I was losing motivation, going to lectures was a chore, and I found it easy to persuade myself to not bother. I always seemed to be run down, getting viruses and infections so easily. I felt miserable.

Dad and I placed a fragile patch over our differences, I moved back in at home in theory, though I didn’t actually visit.  I started a new relationship with a lovely person, I felt sure all this would lift my chin. It felt good to be with him but it did nothing for my studies. I was still managing to keep on top of my course work so no one at uni seemed to notice. 

A student - model not author

All the Adrenalin that had driven me through my A’ levels seemed spent. When it came to exam time, I couldn’t find any drive or energy. I was on a mental go slow, what was I doing this course for anyway? It felt like a waste of time and money. In addition I was becoming fearful....of what I had no idea. Everything was making me anxious, I was frightened to be out on my own, and sometime to be in on my own. I went to the GP, who said I was down but didn’t really offer any solutions. I hadn’t reached out to anyone at the university to help; it was all inside me....what was wrong with me?!! I went on the fail nearly all my exams, a first for me, quite an achievement!

I know now what was wrong. My first taste of depression, sadly not my last, but with support, learning to understand it, seeing my depression for the illness it is, not taking it so personally, I found how to live with that sliding scale. I readily recognise the signs that were so unfamiliar to me then. I speak about it, I get help, I get better and I won’t be beaten by it.

If you struggle like I did at university then reach out to the support services. People are there at the university to help you. Speak to friends, they have probably spotted a change in you anyway, it’s okay to talk about it. If you notice a friend suffering then do them a favour, help them find support. It’s lonely on the inside of depression – don’t let mental health issues take your potential, battle depression and anxiety and win!!