COVID-19 Accommodation Information & Advice

This page is here to provide accommodation related information in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.

If you require any advice in relation to your accommodation and the impact of COVID-19 please get in touch by emailing ausaadvice@abdn.ac.uk

Are you self-isolating/quarantining?

If you are in the position where you are either self-isolating or you are having to undertake a 2-week quarantine on your arrival in Aberdeen, please see the information below which may help:

Useful Information:

• Aberdeen University FAQ’s - https://www.abdn.ac.uk/about/coronavirus/
• Coronavirus (COVID-19): international travel and quarantine - Quarantine rules and information on the process for people entering the UK.https://www.gov.scot/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-public-health-checks-at-borders/pages/self-isolation/
• University accommodation information - https://www.abdn.ac.uk/accommodation/faq/index.php
• Aberdeen Uni Students- COVID-19 Community Group on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/646638289452570
• https://www.facebook.com/sharedplanetsociety/ - worth keeping an eye on for local student help and information

Shopping:

• ASDA https://www.asda.com/ (Groceries and household items delivered to your door)
• TESCO https://www.tesco.com/ (Groceries and household items delivered to your door)
• https://deliveroo.co.uk/ - local grocery shops/ morrisons etc
• https://www.shoply.co.uk/ - app that locates local shops in your area and arranges contact free delivery.

Cooking:

• Hello Fresh: www.hellofresh.co.uk – delivers ingredients and recipes to follow
• BBC Good Food website – easy cook recipe ideas -https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/?

If you are struggling for whatever reason during your isolation/quarantine please get in touch with us at ausaadvice@abdn.ac.uk or contact the Student Advice & Support Office at student.support@abdn.ac.uk  

 

Below you will find information relating to the responses of some PBSA providers (3rd party providers) regarding students who may have had current contracts with them when the pandemic hit.

There is also advice and information for those in the private rented sector.

Please also find University FAQ's, here, for information in relation to university updates regarding COVID-19.

letter from Karl Leydecker regarding the University accommodation contracts here.

For more general housing advice and up to date information you can check out Shelter Scotland. In particular please refer to The Shelter Scotland COVID-19 Advice Pages, here you will be able to find all up to date housing information and advice relating to the recent pandemic.

UPDATE!

• The 2nd Coronavirus Act (Scotland) came into force on 27/05/2020, putting in place notice periods for students who've left their accommodation due to COVID 19.
• If you have already left your accommodation due to COVID-19 you will be able to give 7-days’ notice to be released from your contracts, from when the law came into force (27/05). Any new contracts that are taken out while the legislation remains in force will be subject to a 28-day notice period so if you want to end a contract for new years terms, you can do it now.

 

3rd Party Student accommodation providers (PBSA) have been looking at their policies and we will try to keep you up to date below:

• Hello students agreed to let students out of their contracts.
• LibertyLiving has also agreed
• UniteStudents agreed 
• Ardmuir has agreed as well (no official statement as of today but students have received emails)
• Hunter accommodation - allow students out of their contracts regardless of COVID-19 but it will be stipulated on individual’s contracts. Contact them directly to discuss your own situation.
• HomesforStudents - private landlords collective so case by case basis unfortunately at this time. contact Shelter Scotland for further advice re private landlords.
• Aparto - have updated info on how they are supporting students with part refund offers - see here for more info on their FAQs
• Prestige Living Student: You will receive a 50% discount from the 1^st of May if you fill their form. You can fill the form for Fraser Studios here.
• Student Roost: Student Roost has agreed and residents should have received an email.

 

We understand that many students are struggling to pay rent and we recommend they get in touch with their private landlord/letting agencies to see if they can agree to an alternative payment plan. We've created a template letter to help you, we know it can be scary and daunting to email your landlords. There is a short explanation on how to use the template letter at the top, so please remember to delete it before sending. For further advice, please contact ausaadvice@abdn.ac.uk or Shelter Aberdeen.

The NUS (National Union of Student) Scotland believes it's unfair that students were ever charged rent for homes they'd left. If this affects you, they have prepared a template letter you can send to your accommodation provider to request a rent refund.

Please delete/fill in your details as appropriate, and then send it on to the accommodation provider. NUS Scotland is campaigning for all unfairly charged rents to be refunded, so please get in touch to let us know what response you get.