Exposing Unihomes

Student renters are being screwed over, we say no. Follow for updates as we try to stop unihomes from raising prices on supposedly "fixed" contracts.

[Exposing Unihomes @exposeunihomes]

In the last few days, students across the country have received emails telling them their Unihomes costs are going up.
Unihomes market themselves as an all-inclusive rent+bills package that promises "there are no additional or hidden costs".
THREAD

[Martin Lewis @MartinSLewis]

I'm seeing some misunderstanding the benefits debate as if it were workers v unemployed.

Roughly 40% of those who receive Universal Credit get them as in-work benefits to top up low incomes. Many others too have disabilities or mental health problems making work difficult.

[Exposing Unihomes @exposeunihomes]

This Company Promised Students Their Energy Bills Were Fixed. Now They’re ‘Bullying’ Them Into Paying More

https://t.co/JCaVn1Ko0e

[Vivien Koh-Milburn @FromVivien]

@UniHomes Now that the government is proposing to cap energy bills from Oct 1 will @UniHomes stop threatening to raise students bills and be inline with the cap. At the moment students are paying £3600 @exposeunihomes

[joe brindle 🇵🇸 @JoeBrindle_]

I talked to the Telegraph about the cost of living crisis for students and our problems with utilities provider UniHomes:
"These contracts were horrendously mis-marketed. They are taking advantage of students who just wanted some certainty,”
https://t.co/wb7j9G01jF

[Mark @markorm98]

Not only are they ripping off students they’re now actively fucking up their customers essential services 22 days before the end date and pocketing the cash. Utterly utterly disgusting

[Mark @markorm98]

Cancelled my @UniHomes package due to an unexpected and unannounced price rise… paid up til 24th Sept and the WiFi has been cancelled this morning with their call centre shut until Monday (WiFi provider can’t do anything for us)

@exposeunihomes

[Exposing Unihomes @exposeunihomes]

It wasn't until the customer pushed back, fortunately aware of the commitment UniHomes had made to us, that they conceded he didn't have to pay.
Ridiculous - they're trying to rinse students of more money because they know many won't have the experience to assert their rights.

[Exposing Unihomes @exposeunihomes]

⚠️ Unihomes are still trying to rip off students ⚠️
Last week they confirmed to us that students who want to leave their contracts because of the price rises can do so for free, but we've just found out that today they told a customer he had to pay a fee! 1/2

[Don't Pay. @dontpayuk]

🚨 Roads blocked outside #OFGEM!

We can’t pay, and won’t pay, to fund the energy companies obscene profits.

Sign up and join the fight back:
https://t.co/VYYrIqUMH5

#FreezeProfitsNotPeople
#CostOfGreedCrisis
#dontpayuk

[Exposing Unihomes @exposeunihomes]

https://t.co/0L60gprCSr

[Exposing Unihomes @exposeunihomes]

Inflation is at 9.4% but our already measly maintenance loans are only up 2.3%

Why don't you do your job and support students through this crisis?

[Dame Andrea Jenkyns DBE 🇬🇧 @andreajenkyns]

Delighted to be at @SF_England today. A huge thanks to all the inspirational staff members I met, who are working incredibly hard to process student finance applications ahead of the new academic year.

@educationgovuk

[Exposing Unihomes @exposeunihomes]

to add to this
- price cap 178%
- maintenance loan 2.3%

How will students cope?

[Trades Union Congress @The_TUC]

Catastrophic.

Cancel the rise. Take the retail energy companies into public ownership.

[Trades Union Congress @The_TUC]

NEW 🚨📈 | Ofgem have confirmed that energy bills are set to increase by £2,270 per year.

That's 35 times faster than wages.

Ministers must immediately cancel this catastrophic increase and bring the energy retail companies into public ownership.

[Jonathan Ball @JonathanKBall]

Alas, strikes me that @UniHomes 'fixed price' contract is a gimmick designed to hook students into a costly services contract. They've hiked prices mid-contract before, they'll no doubt do it again. Buyer beware.

[Exposing Unihomes @exposeunihomes]

Interesting that unihomes have removed this from their website... "this fixed cost for each tenant won't fluctuate throughout the contract"

[Exposing Unihomes @exposeunihomes]

It's one thing to claim that they have had to unexpectedly raise prices now - but if they've already had to do this at least once, why weren't new customers warned this could happen?

[Exposing Unihomes @exposeunihomes]

SO it turns out that unihomes raised prices for students back in March.

Why were their services continued to be marketed as 'fixed prices' after this?

[The Tribune @sheffieldtrib]

“I remember saying, is it a fixed price? Will it go up?” Jake tells me. “They said no.”

Thanks to @sheffielduni student @jdannatt14 for speaking to me about how UniHomes’ decision to increase energy prices could impact hundreds in Sheffield this winter 🥶
https://t.co/aK9K2Udmod

[Martin Phipps @MartinPhipps13]

These T&C's also stated:

"6.11... For the avoidance of doubt, if the amount due from you to the Principal Providers for the supply of the Utilities Package exceeds the Fixed Charge, you will not be liable for any additional payment unless otherwise stated in these terms."

[Exposing Unihomes @exposeunihomes]

Are you being hit by unihomes price rises despite a promise of them being fixed? Message us!

[Exposing Unihomes @exposeunihomes]

Another example of Unihomes or an associated lettings agent guaranteeing students fixed prices during their contracts.
How can they claim that price rises were allowed in the contract when their customers were clearly told otherwise?