SAR COURT — BOOKING CANCELLATION & TENANCY RELEASE POLICY
When you sign your Common Law Tenancy Agreement, you enter into a legally binding contract for the full Tenancy Term. This policy explains how you can cancel a room reservation or be released from your contract.
🔑 Key Definitions
- The Room: Your assigned Room or Studio.
- Advance Rent: A £75.00 prepayment made to secure your room, deducted from your future rent.
- Tenancy Agreement: The legally binding contract signed by you, your Guarantor (where required) and the Landlord.
1. Before You Sign Your Tenancy Agreement
Standard Bookings: You must sign your Room Offer within 3 calendar days or it will expire.
Peak Clearing (August–September): Offers expire automatically after 1 calendar day due to high demand.
Retention Rules for Non-Signees: If you make a £75.00 holding payment and then withdraw your application, fail to complete your booking, or provide false/misleading information before the contract is signed, your £75.00 payment will be retained under Schedule 2 of the Tenant Fees Act 2019 to cover administrative, referencing and marketing costs.
2. After You Sign, But Before the Tenancy Starts
We offer a voluntary 72-Hour Cooling-Off Period to give you peace of mind when signing your Tenancy Agreement.
2.1 The 72-Hour Cooling-Off Window
Within 72 Hours: If you cancel in writing within 72 hours of the Landlord signing your agreement, your contract is cancelled and your £75.00 Advance Rent will be refunded in full.
After 72 Hours: You cannot cancel unless you find a replacement student or qualify under the “No Place / No Visa” rules below.
2.2 First-Year “No Place, No Pay” (Undergraduates)
If your university place is withdrawn because you missed your grades, or if you exceed your grades and choose a different university in another city, you will be released from your contract subject to proof.
Action Required: Email your official UCAS or university rejection letter to office@sar-studentliving.com within 3 calendar days of your results being published.
2.3 International “No Visa, No Pay”
If your UK visa application is rejected, you can cancel your agreement without penalty subject to proof.
Action Required: Email your formal Home Office rejection letter to office@sar-studentliving.com within 3 calendar days of the decision date.
3. After Your Tenancy Has Started
Once your tenancy begins, you are committed to the contract unless you meet one of the following criteria:
3.1 Course Withdrawal or Serious Illness (ANUK National Code)
You may terminate your tenancy early by giving 4 weeks’ written notice if you:
- formally withdraw, are excluded, or are refused continuation of your course; or
- suspend your studies due to illness that causes you to miss more than 60 course days.
Evidence from your university or registrar must accompany your notice. Rent remains payable until the 4-week notice period ends.
3.2 Finding a Replacement Tenant (Tenancy Assignment)
If you wish to leave for personal reasons, you must find a replacement occupier. You remain fully liable for rent until they take over your contract.
Landlord Responsibility: We will make reasonable efforts to re-let the Room where possible, but we cannot guarantee success and are under no obligation to find a replacement for you.
Liability: You (and your Guarantor, if applicable) remain liable for all rent instalments until a new tenancy agreement begins.
Eligibility: The replacement must be a full-time student over 18 who meets our booking criteria.
Admin Fee: A £50 contract variation fee applies under the Tenant Fees Act 2019.
Room Cleaning Fee: A £50 room preparation fee applies if you have already lived in the room.
💰 Summary of Policy Costs & Fees
| Your Scenario | Administrative Fee | Your Advance Rent / Rent Status |
|---|---|---|
| Pre-Sign Voluntary Withdrawal | £0 Fee | £75 retained under Tenant Fees Act |
| No Place / No Visa (Within 3 Days) | £0 Fee | Full Refund Issued |
| Valid 72-Hour Cooling-Off | £0 Fee | Full £75 Refund Issued |
| National Code 4-Week Release | £0 Fee | Rent stops after notice period |
| Mid-Term Replacement | £50 Variation Fee | Released once new contract is signed |
⚖️ Landlord Cancellations, Disputes & Appeals
Missed Payments: If you fail to pay rent before moving in, we may cancel your tenancy and retain your Advance Rent.
False Information: We may cancel bookings if false or misleading information was used to secure the room.
Unforeseen Events: If we must cancel your booking for reasons beyond our control, we will notify you and issue a full refund.
Appeals: If you believe this policy was applied incorrectly, please submit a complaint via the SAR Court Complaints Procedure here: