General Chat

Can anyone tell me whether this applies to Halls of Residence? Do students require individual licences in Halls? Ann

Yes Anne, students need to have their own licence in the Halls of residence. Christine

I think they do Ann. If I recall correctly our daughter claimed back some money for when the Halls were closed and she was back home. My friend's son in a student house was told that he must have a licence if his rooms had a lock to his area of accommodation. They sneakily class that as a separate residence and rake in the money. Will check with daughter later, on her facts.

Hi Anne, found this, hope it's helpful As a student at university or college, it's important that you realise that you will no longer be covered by your parents' TV licence. In fact, a TV Licence is required for each separately occupied place. Each room in a hall of residence is a separately occupied place, and this means that, if you're using a TV, you will need a TV licence of your own - regardless of whether the hall itself has one. If you are going to be sharing a house, a separate tenancy agreement would normally mean your room is occupied as a separately occupied place. In this case, if you have a TV in your room, you will need your own TV licence. However if there is only one TV being used in a communal area, then only one TV licence is required. Similarly, if your house can be treated as one place shared by all, then you only need one TV licence (a joint tenancy agreement would usually show this, as there is only one separately occupied place). If you do not need your TV Licence again before it expires, you are entitled to a refund of any unused quarter (three full calendar months). Christine

Thanks - more additional expense! Just hoped Halls might be exempt - silly me. Yesterday I spent a small fortune on basic groceries, cleaning materials, radio alarm with CD - then Saturday night g.daus. hairdryer blew up! So replaced that. Ann

Thanks Christine - that is clear enough. I just hope she begins to manage her money a bit better as not one bean has she saved in past 2 years from w/end/holiday job. Husband wants to make her an allowance - I say no - I will help her every way which way I can - but only if she helps herself. Am I being a rotten grandma??? Ann

Look on the bright side Ann. You probably won't have to replace the cleaning materials for some time! Space can be very limited for storing things so don't send whole sets of crockery, saucepans etc. just bare minimum. Multi use items that can go in a microwave are useful.

I think you are being kind in setting her up with requirements. If she doesn't HAVE to manage, maybe she won't see the need. I'm with you in this. Don't know what laundry arrangements are, but my daughter found one of those multi-peg hangers available from cheap/pound shops useful for undies and tights.

Her mother has been raiding her loft for the minimum of equipment - lord knows I have plenty in mine but I was surprised at the cost of just buying basics in groceries - all in packets/tins etc - things like salt, ketchup,mayo, pasta, tea etc etc. and yes I did remember a tin opener!!! Good idea about the laundry bag. She is only travelling about 1 1/2 hours away - think she was off to outer Mongolia - probably be home every weekend unless there is something better to do and she doesn't need clean washing! Bless them. Ann

She will indeed need one, and they DO send people round to check, because they know students often don't bother. There is a way to claim 3 months' money back, but it can be quite tricky. Nobody I knew could ever get it back.

Hi Anne, my daughter never bought a TV licence for the year that she was in halls. All her friends were advised by the caretaker not to bother because they never check. Luckily none of the rooms were checked, but it's a gamble that you take. My little tip would be, don't buy expensive kitchen equipment because anything that is out of the ordinary in a communal kitchen will get pinched! Maggy

Anything that is not kept in her room and even some that is, is either out of the loft or been bought cheap and cheerful - in case of loss or theft!!!!! Ann