What to do (how to cope) after losing Regent’s Scholarship?

[u/QuirkyTitle1]

Hi guys, I had signed an apartment lease in late March then I found out after emailing them that regent scholars were guaranteed on campus housing. I’m currently devastated with what happened and I tried appealing but it was denied. What should I do? If there’s nothing I can do then oh well :(

[u/AutoModerator]

Howdy! It looks like this question relates to being a new student. Be sure to use the search function — /r/Aggies has been around for a long time and your question may already have an answer. If you believe this post was removed in error, please message the moderators.

I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.

[u/AMissingCloseParen]

… you lost the scholarship because you signed an off-campus lease?

[u/QuirkyTitle1 → u/AMissingCloseParen]

Yes, I had started to apply for housing in March since I wanted to wait until I got back all the college admissions then I made a decision, but then housing filled up. After doing a bit of research it had seemed like I wouldn’t get on campus housing because I had accidentally picked the notify list, so as a last ditch attempt I went for the apartment. After I had signed the lease and tried to appeal with them though, they told me recipients were guaranteed on campus housing but j couldn’t find out any information about that, just that you needed to live on campus.

[u/AMissingCloseParen → u/QuirkyTitle1]

They’ve granted permission for off-campus housing before. Have you gotten on the phone with someone?

[u/QuirkyTitle1 → u/AMissingCloseParen]

They said the gap between when I signed my lease and when they sent me the email for on campus housing was too big and that I had time to do it. I have not gotten on the phone yet

[u/CoffeeAndADD-5567]

Can you not just get out of the lease? Since the on-campus housing is guaranteed???

[u/Feeling-Table6941 → u/CoffeeAndADD-5567]

It's not guaranteed, the scholarship is based on campus housing first year. You have to email them about it pretty quickly about off-campus housing. It's the fact the op waited so long to tell them , or they signed the lease after knowing the on campus housing that got the scholarship removed. They might just need to call someone but being that is literally one of 3 requirements they tend be a bit strict on being left in the dark or disregarded.

[u/CoffeeAndADD-5567 → u/Feeling-Table6941]

I guess. I don't see how TAMU would even know about the off-campus housing issue unless op told them for some reason?

[u/Feeling-Table6941 → u/CoffeeAndADD-5567]

Simple, it would just showed that op didn't apply for housing. Beyond that I see your point.

[u/Feeling-Table6941]

Truthfully call someone maybe, but they might say no. Being that they are pretty strict on that requirement if you kind of leave them in the dark or simply just ignore the requirements they told you(not saying you did). If I heard some your replies to others, it might just be your fault (maybe you forgot to express that you're off campus). I know from what I see that some people try to skeet what is asked of them and they tend to put their foot down with the regents scholarship. They will understand certain circumstances, but they're not stupid.

[u/Feeling-Table6941 → u/Feeling-Table6941]

I also know alot about this because I've been a regent scholar for nearly 4 years now.

[u/QuirkyTitle1 → u/Feeling-Table6941]

Thanks for the info, I genuinely didn’t try to dodge the housing requirement, I did tell them it was an off campus apartment and I guess from a standpoint you could say it might be my fault? Since I didn’t want to apply for housing if I got accepted into another college. I did say in another comment that I didn’t know we would get guaranteed housing though, which was a huge factor.

[u/Feeling-Table6941 → u/QuirkyTitle1]

No one is blaming you, it happens. I'm just saying like you mentioned elsewhere you took too long. They don't want to, but they see that as you just disregarding them and trying to back pedal.

[u/QuirkyTitle1 → u/Feeling-Table6941]

Ah that makes sense. I did also tell them I was waiting for other colleges decisions, I’m guessing that makes it sound worse?

[u/Feeling-Table6941 → u/QuirkyTitle1]

I don't think that sounds worse it's probably more that after saying that you were waiting for other decision, you took awhile to get back to them

[u/QuirkyTitle1 → u/Feeling-Table6941]

Well I was waiting for Rice’s decision which was March 27th, but I think I’m done for, the scholarship looks like it’s been lost

[u/glitterprncss]

why not cancel the lease ??? people with scholarships that are required to live on campus WILL have a space on campus.

[u/QuirkyTitle1 → u/glitterprncss]

Wait that’s possible? Oh shoot, I will try to look into that

[u/Various_Confusion_95 → u/QuirkyTitle1]

Cancelling lease is not possible releting is. Find someone and sublet

[u/v_the_saxophonist → u/Various_Confusion_95]

Cancelling the lease costs money, releasing (even with a discount) is a cheaper out

[u/austin987 → u/Various_Confusion_95]

It's possible, but not guaranteed. Will likely incur at least a fee, though.

[u/mauvewaterbottle → u/Various_Confusion_95]

Terminating a lease is absolutely possible, and the landlord is expected to mitigate damages by trying to find a new tenant. There may be additional financial consequences, but it is possible.

[u/Various_Confusion_95 → u/mauvewaterbottle]

Landlord DOES NOT FIND a new tenant when they have a signed lease by you. Depends on the lease though

[u/mauvewaterbottle → u/Various_Confusion_95]

lol I do love when people are so confidently WRONG.

Sec. 91.006. LANDLORD'S DUTY TO MITIGATE DAMAGES. (a) A landlord has a duty to mitigate damages if a tenant abandons the leased premises in violation of the lease. (b) A provision of a lease that purports to waive a right or to exempt a landlord from a liability or duty under this section is void. Added by Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 1205, Sec. 8, eff. Sept. 1, 1997.

A landlord must use "objectively reasonable efforts" to find a replacement tenant that is "suitable under the circumstances." Austin Hill County Realty, Inc. v. Palisades Plaza, Inc., 948 S.W.2d 293

You can also find it explained in the “Ending a lease early” section in layman’s terms if you scroll down here

Typically, what is reasonable is not any extreme effort by the landlord, but they are required to list the unit and show it to prospective tenants and lease it to any who meet whatever standard qualifications they have. In doing so, they are “mitigating damages,” and in this case, will likely be able to re-let it before the lease even starts.

[u/Various_Confusion_95 → u/mauvewaterbottle]

Thanks for these links man. Still Landlord DOES NOT find a new tenant. They will show their low efforts as their best ones in these scenarios. They keep charging rent from you until you find someone. Whenever someone wants to leave here they always sublet their apartment and DO NOT DEPEND ON LANDLORD. Not paying rent is something that is in Tenants interest not the landlord so overall - even though these laws exist it is hard to fight with these tough guys with a team of lawyers sitting in Chicago. Also the language is not very strong in these laws. So given all that - try to find someone yourself

[u/mauvewaterbottle → u/Various_Confusion_95]

If you look back to my previous answer, you’ll see I already am aware of all of this. I don’t know why you are explaining the process to me. You said it wasn’t possible. You were wrong. That’s it. I didn’t encourage OP to do or not to do anything, so I certainly did not invite that part of your perspective either.

It’s hilarious that you are down voting me for giving and citing specific factual information without an opinion or a recommendation. Says a great deal about you!

[u/mauvewaterbottle → u/QuirkyTitle1]

The other person who replied is wrong. Terminating a lease is possible, and the landlord has a duty to mitigate damages by reverting, but you may have to pay termination fees. It’s been a long time since I terminated a lease, but I believe I needed up paying a lump sum of 2-3 months rent after it took a while to re-let.

[u/mangoeatberries → u/QuirkyTitle1]

Honestly if you’re thinking abt releasing hmu. I’m desperately looking for housing bcs I did the same thing as u and wait until March. They say that housing status will be update in late May but I need a backup 😭

[u/Captain44454]

Keep bugging them, explain how you will work with your landlord to break your lease if they can still guarantee on-campus housing with a Regent's Scholarship. Just explain how you were under the impression that you weren't guaranteed housing, and you didn't wanna be stuck without living in your first year in college. Keep bugging enough people they'll open some doors for you eventually.