The Lyra

COVID-19 Cancellation Policy 

Can I cancel my future booking?

If you are unable to enrol on your course due to your university course no longer running or travel restrictions or you have not been able to meet the academic or English language conditions of your offer you can cancel your booking under the No place, no pay guarantee. Cancellations are not available to students who are free to travel to the UK and can enrol on their course. In this case, you can request to re-let your room. 

What happens if my course start date is changed? 

We understand how concerned some of you will be, and we want you to be assured that we will manage changes to the external environment as they develop. This page will be kept up to date with the most recent guidance and advice. As your tenancy start date approaches, please review these pages to check for updates. We will continue to follow guidance and work closely with universities and will be sure to notify any affected residents.

Normal Days Cancellation Policy 

1. An Academic year covers the period 1st September to 31st August. Provided you havent collected the keys to the accommodation, you may be able to cancel your booking by writing or sending an email to the property, subject to the following terms:

• For bookings made before the 31st of July for the next academic year, you may cancel your booking within 48 hours from the time of booking. If you chose to cancel your booking with Downing Students during the cancellation period we will retain 50 from the deposit paid in lieu of costs incurred.
• For Bookings made between the 1st and 31st of August for the next academic year, you will not be able to cancel. (Please refer to the Re-let policy / No Place, No Pay policy)
• Bookings made in and for the current academic year may not be cancelled. (Please refer to the Re-let policy)
• In the instance where a deposit is paid and the offer of accommodation is declined i.e. the tenant fails to manually or digitally sign a Tenancy Agreement, we will retain 50 from the deposit in lieu of costs incurred.

Subject to the cancellation periods stated above once you have signed your tenancy agreement you will be legally bound by the terms stipulated in your tenancy document.  

1. Once the Cancellation Period has expired or if you have collected the keys for your accommodation you will be legally bound by the terms and conditions of the Tenancy Agreement and will be liable to pay all the amounts due. You cannot terminate, or be released from your Tenancy, until such time that you have successfully re-let your room (see Re-let Policy). Please note that a room can only be re-let at the higher of the rent specified on the tenancy agreement and the current prevailing rent. This may not necessarily be the same as the rent specified on the outgoing tenants agreement. Any outstanding amounts on your account must be paid in full prior to the landlord agreeing to re-let your room. You are not permitted to sublet your room; all rental agreements must be made through Downing Students. In order for Downing Students to re-let your room, you must complete a Re let form and administration charges will apply.
2. No Place No Pay: Provided you have not collected your keys the following will apply:-

If your offer of a place at your preferred/current University/Higher Education Institution is withdrawn by the University/Higher Education Institution as a result of you not achieving their required entry grades or passing your end of year exams, you may be eligible to be released from this agreement. You may also be eligible to be released from this agreement if you are a prospective first-year undergraduate student and you choose to go to a different University because you have exceeded your expected grades. To apply to be released from this agreement in the circumstances referred to above, you will need to supply us with a copy of

• a written rejection letter from your chosen university /college or UCAS or a screenshot of your UCAS status which confirms that the required results were not achieved; or
• a copy of the proof of acceptance of your new university by UCAS adjustment.

These document(s) must be received by us within 7 calendar days from the date your results are published or by 1st September (whichever date is the sooner). Please email the documentation to the property email. On receipt of the required documentation it will be verified and, provided we are satisfied, we will cancel your agreement and refund your deposit in full.  

1. If you cannot get a VISA to study in the UK: Provided that you have NOT collected the keys, and you have evidence in writing that your application has been refused, we will release you from the tenancy and refund the deposit, provided that you send this evidence to us within 1 week of your notification.

If the Tenancy has already commenced, and you have NOT collected your keys, you will be charged for the period from the Tenancy Start Date to the date you send us with evidence that you have not been granted a VISA, provided that we receive the evidence in writing within 1 week of your notification. If you have moved into the accommodation prior to your Visa application being declined you will be responsible for the rent until we can find a student to rent your room.  

1. Summer Let Cancellations:
2. Summer cancellation request made more than two weeks before the summer tenancy start date:

• May be cancelled and deposit refunded if the evidence is provided to support the reason for cancellation (e.g no summer course, unable to meet conditions of the offer, etc)
• In the case where the summer let is cancelled by Downing, the deposit will be refunded
• If customers want to cancel and are unable to provide supporting evidence to support the reason for the cancellation / they have changed their mind the deposit paid will be held in lieu of costs incurred

Summer cancellation requests made less than two weeks before the summer tenancy start date cannot be cancelled