iQ Stephenson House

COVID-19 Cancellation Policy

As we have previously stated, we are very keen to ensure that the current circumstances do not deter students from booking their accommodation - or unsettle those who have already booked - for the 2020/21 academic year. We confirm that the protection under our current cancellation policy covers extenuating circumstances including being unable to travel and illness. 

 

In these circumstances, students who have booked for the 2020/21 academic year - or may wish to book - are eligible to cancel their booking at any time, and iQ will also fully refund any fees paid. Any cancellation application would go through our usual channels and the policy and process are here. We hope this gives reassurance to those who have booked - or want to book - that they can do so without suffering any financial consequences, should the circumstances surrounding COVID-19 make them unable to travel in the future. 

 

Cancellation Policy

Period before you enter into the Tenancy Agreement - Failure to complete your application and enter into the Tenancy Agreement by the Deadline

iQ Student Accommodation reserves the right to not return the Booking Fee and cancel your booking on notice if:

(i) you notify us before the Deadline that you have decided not to enter into the Tenancy Agreement;

(ii) we take all reasonable steps to enter into the Tenancy Agreement before the Deadline and you fail to do so, for example, if you fail to complete your application or provide guarantor details and supporting documentation in good time;

(iii) you provide us with relevant false or misleading information; and/or

(iv) we are prohibited from entering to the Tenancy Agreement because of the Immigration Act 2014 (persons disqualified by immigration status). From the date of cancellation, you will not be liable for the contractual obligations laid out in the Tenancy Agreement, irrespective of whether you have signed it.

Period from and including when you have entered into the Tenancy Agreement

Cancellation by us

Failure to collect your key within timeframe

If you enter into the Tenancy Agreement, and you then fail to collect your key within 5 weeks of the Tenancy Start Date, iQ Student Accommodation reserves the right to: (a) cancel your booking and terminate the Tenancy Agreement and (b) re-let your room. In these circumstances any rent paid by you (including the Booking Fee allocated to the first payment of rent) will not be refunded to cover any losses incurred by us for empty unlet rooms.  This provision takes precedence over any provisions in the Tenancy Agreement.

Provision of false or misleading information, persons disqualified by immigration status or failure to complete your application, provide guarantor details or supporting documentation in good time

We may also terminate your Tenancy Agreement for any of the reasons set out above, as set out in more detail in clause 2.4 of the Tenancy Agreement itself.

Cancellation by you

If you have entered into the Tenancy Agreement and you wish to cancel your booking, regardless of whether you have collected your keys,  you will remain liable for the contractual obligations set out in the Tenancy Agreement and you may not cancel the booking unless you can provide proof that you fit any of the following criteria:

You notify us of your intention to cancel your booking prior to 1 August.

Your UK Visa application has been denied.

You have failed to obtain the required qualifications to get into your first University of choice.

Extenuating circumstances e.g. ill-health, family circumstances.

Where proof is provided in accordance with these terms and conditions and to our reasonable satisfaction, you will be entitled to cancel the booking and you will not be liable for the contractual obligations laid out in the Tenancy Agreement from the date of cancellation.

Evidence required where there is a cancellation by you

Notify us of your intention to cancel prior to 1 August

No further evidence is required beyond notifying us, but your Booking Fee will be retained as a cancellation fee.

Failure to get in to your first university of choice

Should you fail to gain the required qualifications and are not accepted into the University you stated as your first choice, you may cancel your Tenancy Agreement and we will refund your Booking Fee and any rent payments made so long as you provide the following information within the timescales mentioned below: 

Written confirmation from you that you wish to cancel your reservation due to having failed to obtain the required grades for your first choice University; and

Supporting evidence from the University or UCAS.

This information must be provided to us within 72 hours of your exam results being published to be eligible for a Booking Fee refund. In these circumstances, your Booking Fee and rent payments will be returned in full within four weeks. If you fail to provide the information within 72 hours of your exam results being published, your Booking Fee will be retained as a cancellation fee.

Please note, if you are attending another University in a city where iQ Student Accommodation has a property, our team will be happy to support you in finding suitable accommodation. In this case, your Booking Fee and any rent payments made may be transferred over to your new booking.

Failure to obtain a UK Visa

If you fail to obtain a UK Visa before the start date of your tenancy, we will cancel your Tenancy Agreement and refund any rent payments made so long as you provide the following information:

Written confirmation from you that you wish to cancel your reservation; and

Supporting official evidence to show that the Visa was declined.

This supporting evidence should be supplied to iQ Student Accommodation within 72 hours of you receiving official confirmation. In these circumstances, any rent paid will be returned to you within 4 weeks but an amount equal to the Booking Fee will be retained as a cancellation fee. 

Extenuating circumstances

If you are no longer able to attend University and/or live away from home due to extenuating circumstances, such as ill health or family issues, please contact us in order to discuss the matter.

Cancellation by you no special circumstances

Where the reason for cancellation is not one of the three matters listed above, you will remain liable for the full contractual rent, unless and until a replacement tenant is found for your accommodation. You are responsible for finding an eligible replacement tenant, although site staff will assist where possible.

If you wish to cancel the booking and a replacement tenant is found, subject to our agreement, you will be released from the contractual obligations set out in the Tenancy Agreement and any overpaid rent money will be refunded to you, less an amount equal to your Booking Fee as a cancellation fee. Please note that all tenancies commence on a Saturday; therefore the relevant site team will confirm your official release date from your contractual obligations under the Tenancy Agreement.

If you cancel the booking, but you enter into a new tenancy agreement with iQ Student Accommodation in respect of a different room within the same academic year, you will be required to pay to us an administration fee of 50.

Any decision made to release you from the terms of the Tenancy Agreement outside of these criteria is made by iQ Student Accommodation, at its sole discretion, on an individual case by case basis.