ACCOMMODATION SERVICE LIVING IN HAVELOCK ROAD

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1 ACCOMMODATION SERVICE LIVING IN HAVELOCK ROAD a guide for students

2 welcome Our mission is to deliver good quality affordable accommodation to our students and lead by example in the private sector. We very much hope that you enjoy living in Havelock Road The university is your landlord and should be the first point of call if there are any problems or queries. Please take the time to read through this booklet, as it contains important information about your tenancy and some helpful tips for a happy group. We want your experience of living at Havelock Road to be a good one and welcome your feedback to help us improve the scheme. You can any comments to accomhastings@brighton.ac.uk CONTENTS about us 01 your tenancy 02 moving in 08 general advice 09 end of tenancy 12 contact details 13 Emergency? If you have an urgent problem contact us, our details are on page 13. If the issue is outside of office hours please see page 7.

3 about us The Accommodation Service The accommodation service is part of Accommodation and Hospitality Services. We are responsible for managing your property on behalf of a private owner; but we are your landlord. We have three offices in Brighton, Eastbourne and Hastings where you can access support throughout your stay at the university. If you have any questions or problems with your accommodation please contact the accommodation team. Our contact details are on page 13. Code of standards All university accommodation meets the criteria of the Code of Standards, developed in association with the Students Union, to provide landlords and tenants with a set of guidelines about how they wish to do business with one another. The criteria in the code have been chosen to reflect a balance of common sense obligations and responsibilities between landlords and tenants and set standards that are achievable without significant expenditure of time and money, and without prejudice to their respective legal rights. code of standards better homes for students Student Accommodation Code The Universities UK (UUK) Code of Practice sets out the main elements of good management practice within student accommodation. It covers, among other matters, health and safety, maintenance and repair, and relationships between accommodation staff and student tenants. It also assists students in understanding both the standards and procedures applying to their accommodation and their obligations as tenants or licensees. University accommodation is compliant with the UUK Code of Practice and is subject to an annual audit to ensure standards are maintained. If you would like to know more about the code, please visit Equal opportunities The University of Brighton is committed to providing a fair environment that embodies and promotes equality of opportunity and values the diversity of all members of our community. Discrimination on grounds of disability, gender, sexual identity, marital status, family or caring responsibilities, race, colour, ethnic origin, sexual orientation, age, gender identity, national origin, nationality, trade union membership and activity, political or religious beliefs, work or study pattern or contractual status may be unlawful as well as representing a breach of university policy. Data protection Personal data, i.e. any information from which a living person can be identified, is covered by the Data Protection Act 1998 whether it is stored manually or on computer. All personal information provided will be treated strictly in terms of the Act. This means that confidentiality will be respected, and that all appropriate security measures will be taken to prevent unauthorised disclosure. The data which we require is necessary for the proper administration of our relationship. We will not share information with other parties unless required to by law or unless authorised by the individual themselves. Questions? Our contact details are on page 13 and we are happy to discuss any questions you may have. 01

4 your tenancy Students are allocated a single study bedroom. The tenancy agreement is a single tenancy and contains rights for students to use the shared parts of the property. When you accept your place in university accommodation, you agree to abide by terms and conditions which form your legal contract with the university. This document is referred to as your tenancy agreement and you are required to agree the terms before you take up occupation. The contract is for a student tenancy and is legally binding so it is very important that you read this guide and the agreement before you accept your offer of accommodation. Your tenancy agreement A tenancy agreement creates a contractual relationship between the university and the resident and the obligations are legally enforceable. The tenancy agreement operates within a framework of housing law, landlord and tenant law and consumer law, all of which place obligations on both you and the university. The university s tenancy agreement is a detailed document that explains both the student s and university s obligations so that it is clear and fair to both parties. The agreement is formed of six sections: The student s obligations (Section 1) The university s obligations (Section 2) Other conditions (Section 3) Termination of the agreement (Section 4) Consumer protection regulations (Section 5) Additional special conditions applicable International students should be aware that the tenancy agreement is made under English law, which may be different to the law applicable in their own countries. Take advice before making a commitment if you feel you need it. The tenancy is an exempt student tenancy under paragraph 8 of Schedule 1 of the Housing Act The tenancy agreements expire on the stated end date without separate notice being required (or can be terminated earlier under clause 4.2 of the agreement) and the student has no contractual right to remain in the room after that date. When does the tenancy agreement become binding? If you are a student new to the university who has been allocated a room as part of the online application process, the agreement between the university and the student becomes legally binding once the first instalment of rent (due in advance) is paid. This means that the student has confirmed reading and accepting the information including terms and conditions and the accommodation service has confirmed the booking in writing by . In the case of returning students the agreement between the university and the student becomes legally binding once the student has confirmed reading and accepting the tenancy agreement at the point the contract is signed. Paying your rent You are legally obliged to pay rent to the university throughout the entire period of your tenancy agreement (clause 1.1). We do not charge a deposit. You will need to pay one instalment equivalent to 28 days rent by the end of August 2016 followed by three termly instalments which are timed to coincide with student loan payments. Please contact us as soon as possible if you have any difficulties with this first instalment. If you think you may have a problem paying your rent you must contact the Income Office ( ) at the earliest opportunity for advice. The Student Advice Service ( ) can give advice about loans or grants you may be eligible for. More information can be found here: fees-and-finance/index.aspx Please do not ignore reminders about rent due. The university can and will pursue outstanding debt using debt collectors and the courts, and is entitled to terminate your tenancy agreement if the payment is overdue by 28 days or more. If the university has to sue you for non-payment, solicitors fees and court fees will be added to your debt, and you will also be charged interest at a rate of 7% per annum. 02

5 Student regulations and disciplinary procedures Information about the university s student regulations is contained within the student handbook (section 3A). We recommend you read this before accepting your place in university accommodation so that you understand your obligations and responsibilities as a student of the university. Information about the university s policies and code of conduct can be found on Drug and alcohol policy The university has a legal responsibility for the health, safety and welfare of its students, staff and visitors and aims to provide a safe and high quality learning environment. This includes addressing the risks posed by substance misuse, informing students of their responsibilities, codes of conduct and providing help and advice on request. All students have a legal responsibility to take reasonable care for their own safety and that of others and to comply with this policy (clause 1.15). Who is covered by the policy? The policy applies where there is a safety risk to the student or others, or where their conduct or quality of work affects others or the reputation of the university. The aim of the policy is to: promote health and safety and wellbeing by providing information, advice and support inform students about drug and alcohol use and misuse provide advice on the support options available enable individuals with drug and alcohol related issues to seek help offer guidelines to all students and staff regarding their responsibilities and the required code of conduct explain how misuse may lead to disciplinary or legal action. The university has a legitimate interest in protecting those at the university and its own reputation from the likely consequences of substance misuse. Details of our current policies can be found on current-students/my-student-life/ health-and-wellbeing. Smoking policy Smoking is prohibited in all areas of any university residence, including private bedrooms. A fine of 50 will be imposed if evidence of smoking inside the property is found. You may smoke in the garden, providing you keep the area free from cigarette ends. Since 1 July 2007, England became smoke free and a new law was introduced to protect employees and the public from the harmful effects of second-hand smoke. It is against the law to smoke in virtually all enclosed public places, workplaces, public and work vehicles. Failure to comply with the law is a criminal offence and carries financial penalties. The law clarifies that smoking refers to smoking tobacco or anything which contains tobacco, or smoking any other substance. Pets No animals of any kind may be kept in a university residence (clause 1.25) unless used as an aid for a disabled person and by prior arrangement. Subletting The subletting of rooms is strictly prohibited (clause 1.21). This includes allowing the use of or sharing your room with relatives, friends, boyfriends or girlfriends. Visitors You are responsible for the behaviour of any visitor you invite into your accommodation. This includes repairing damage they might cause (clause 1.22). Daytime visitors are permitted in your university accommodation, subject to the fire regulations that there should be no more than six people in any study bedroom at any one time. Overnight guests are permitted: to stay for a maximum of two nights in a period of seven nights when the guest is over the age of 18 when agreed by your housemates only when you are in residence during your guests stay. To allow any visitor to stay at the accommodation on more than an occasional basis will be regarded as subletting and is in breach of the tenancy agreement. 03

6 Cleaning All students are responsible for cleaning their study bedrooms, washing dishes and keeping the communal areas tidy and safe. Refuse must not be allowed to accumulate and bins must be emptied regularly. Cleaners will visit three times a week to clean the communal areas. In cases where students do not maintain an acceptable standard of cleanliness and hygiene, additional visits will be arranged and the student household will be charged for professional cleaning services. For advice on rubbish, recycling and cleaning, please see pages 6 and 10. Internet Wireless connection is provided by cyberair. Connect to your strongest Cyberair-XXXXXX signal Open your web browser You will now be presented with the cyberair login portal (if not try going to any website such as bbc.co.uk or google.com and you will be redirected) Now simply click signup and under the apply for inclusive Internet access click apply for access Then simply complete the form and your application will be approved by the building owner. T-hen simply connect with your address and password you have chosen. Please note you will only be able to connect one device at a time. If you need any technical support please call cyberair direct on or support@cyberair. co.uk. TV licence From 1 September 2016 you will need to be covered by a TV Licence to download or watch BBC programmes on demand, including catch up TV, on BBC iplayer. This applies to any device and provider you use. Don t forget, you still need a TV Licence to watch or record programmes on any channel as they are being shown on TV or live on an online TV service. For more information, visit www. tvlicensing.co.uk Safety The university aims to be a responsible landlord providing safe and comfortable accommodation to our students. Please familiarise yourself with the safety equipment provided and make sure you know how they operate. Be sure to contact us as a priority if something appears faulty or is missing. Fire blanket A fire blanket is a fire-resistant sheet which can be placed over a small kitchen fire or can be wrapped around a person whose clothes are on fire. You will find the fire blanket in the kitchen, mounted to the wall, within easy reach of the cooker. Although we hope you never need to use the blanket, please read the instructions on the outside so you know what to do if it is needed. In cases where a fire blanket has been used, it must be replaced so please be sure to tell us. Fire evacuation procedure When a fire occurs, it is important to leave the property immediately and make your way to the fire assembly point outside Absolute Financial on Havelock Road, stay out and call 999. Unless it is safe to do so, you should never attempt to tackle a fire yourself. Emergency equipment can be helpful, but it is important to know how and when to use it. The full fire evacuation procedure can be found inside the main entrance and basement entrance to the property, please ensure you familiarise yourself with this. A simplified version is also provided on the noticeboard in your bedroom. Smoke alarm Your university accommodation is fitted with a mains interlinked smoke alarm system and a heat sensor in the kitchen. These also have a backup battery system, in case the main electricity supply fails. Under no circumstances must you tamper with, or cover, the smoke alarm. Doing so could put you and your housemates at risk, and also carries a university fine of 200 (clause 1.12). If the alarm is making a chirping sound, the battery may need changing, and you should contact your local accommodation service as soon as possible. To make sure that the system is working properly, it is good practice to test the alarms at least once a week. If there is a fault please contact the accommodation service as soon as possible. The accommodation office will also do weekly tests of the whole system. During this time the alarm will be sounded. 04

7 Carbon monoxide detector Faulty gas appliances are one of the main causes of carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning. Carbon monoxide is a tasteless, colourless and odourless gas, so it is only possible to detect with the correct equipment. There will be a CO detector in the property which will alert you if there is a carbon monoxide leak. The CO detector should be sited close to gas boilers and gas hobs, and will sound an alarm if there is CO. If the detector goes off you must: Switch off all gas appliances Switch off the gas supply Call the National Grid on Contact the accommodation service Please regularly check the operation of your carbon monoxide detector by pushing the test button. Contact the accommodation service immediately if it appears to not be working. All gas appliances in your property are checked annually by a registered Gas Safe engineer. Fire doors Your university accommodation has fire doors with a self-closing mechanism fitted to the kitchen to isolate the area and protect your means of escape in the event of a fire. The door is there for your protection and should not be propped open. Propping fire doors open may cause the door to become misaligned so that it does not close properly. If this happens you might be charged for repairs. Candles The use of candles is prohibited in university accommodation (clause 1.12). Please do not use candles under any circumstances. Portable gas or electric heaters Portable heaters are not permitted in university accommodation (clause 1.12). The gas central heating at the property should provide sufficient warmth for you not to require additional heaters. If you experience problems with the heating please contact your local accommodation service. Glass If you break a window or glass door, you need to notify the accommodation service immediately. Depending on the circumstances, you will be responsible for arranging and paying for an immediate repair with matching glass. Cookers with gas grills If your cooker has a gas grill, the door to the grill section must be left open during use. Leaving it closed may cause a build up of potentially dangerous carbon monoxide gas. Noise and anti-social behaviour Your university accommodation is located in a regular neighbourhood comprising of different kinds of living arrangements. There will be families, elderly people, working individuals or other students with differing lifestyles. We expect you to be aware of the people around you and to be considerate to everyone, including those you live with. You must not cause any nuisance, offence, disruption, harassment, threatening behaviour or persistent disturbance to others (clause 1.23). Complaints about noise are taken very seriously, and will be investigated. Persistent complaints have resulted in the university taking disciplinary action, or the local authority confiscating equipment and taking legal action. The university also has the right to terminate the tenancy agreement under clause 4.2. You should also consider the other tenants in the house, as late night noise, untidiness and other forms of inconsiderate behaviour can cause friction between housemates. It is worth having a friendly discussion with your housemates as early as possible to try and establish some ground rules. If you are experiencing noise nuisance from other households you should contact your local council s environmental health team (page 13) who will be able to advise on the best course of action. You will be required to keep a record of dates and times of incidents. Environmental health teams have authority to remove stereo equipment and prosecute people for causing noise nuisance. 05

8 Security As tenants, you and your housemates are ultimately responsible for the security of the building you occupy (clause 1.16). This means that you must make sure windows and doors are locked before you leave the property, using the keys provided. All ground floor and basement windows will be lockable, and each study bedroom is fitted with a lock. Burglaries Student houses containing laptops, TVs and other gadgets are attractive to burglars. You may want to invest in a property marking kit (more information can be found online). If the worst does happen, at least you have a better chance of having your items returned if they are found by the police. If you are burgled please report the incident to the police and accommodation service straightaway. You will be given a crime reference number which you will need if you decide to make a claim on your insurance. More information about insurance can be found on page 9. Lost keys If you lose your keys, you must contact your local accommodation service so we can arrange replacements. The bedroom keys will need to be cut by an authorised locksmith. There will be a charge for this and any other replacement keys. Where keys are standard, the charges which apply when they are lost together are listed below. If a set of two keys were lost and reported separately then a charge of 25 per key would apply for example. 25 for one key 35 for a set of two keys 45 for a set three keys 55 for a set of four keys Charges for non-standard keys may be higher. If your keys are lost outside of office hours you will need to make your own arrangements but please be aware that you are responsible for any actions you choose to take. In most cases it is best to stay with a friend or gain access via a housemate until new keys can be issued. If you cannot wait your only option is to arrange your own locksmith to attend. However you will be responsible for any costs which may arise as a result. Under no circumstances should you try to force entry to the property or cause any damage. Please be aware that it is our policy to always leave study rooms locked after visiting. Furniture All furniture in the property will comply with the Furniture and Furnishing (fire safety) regulations There is enough furniture in the property for your needs, so please do not bring your own items unless you have requested to do so and this has been agreed by the accommodation service (clause 1.19). Here is a list of what you can expect to find in your property. As mentioned, please ensure you check the furnishings carefully and tell us if they do not match the description in the inventory. Study bedrooms Bed with a clean, stain free and firm mattress Wardrobe Mirror Chest of drawers Desk or table Upholstered desk chair Book case or wall shelving Rubbish bin Desk lamp Lined curtains and/or blinds Kitchen Cooker with a separate four-ring hob, clearly visible operating controls and working auto-ignition Refrigerator Microwave Freezer Plumbed in washing machine One cupboard for each student and adequate food preparation areas Chopping board Rubbish bin and a recycling box Fire blanket 06

9 Communal areas Seating area such as a table & chairs or coffee table (if not in kitchen) Working television aerial Working broadband internet Bathroom Shower Sufficient cabinet or shelf space for those sharing Shower curtain or screen Towel rails and/or hooks Mirror Toilet brush Other Ironing board with cover Vacuum cleaner Broom, dustpan and brush Mop and bucket Dustbin (or local authority provided bin) and recycling bins Doormats A clothes airer or other means of drying washing Noticeboard Rubbish and recycling Putting your rubbish out on the wrong day can create a nuisance. Seagulls and other animals can tear rubbish bags open and spread the contents around. Not only is this a risk to health, but it will make you very unpopular with the neighbours. You could also face an on-the-spot fine. When you move in, make sure that you find out when the rubbish and recycling collection days are for your street. You can find out by checking your local authority website (page13). At Havelock Road rubbish is stored in the basement bin store at the front the building. For information on the recycling scheme for your area please contact your local authority. Please do not allow rubbish to build up inside the house. It is unhygienic, can attract vermin such as rats and mice and constitute a fire risk. Reporting maintenance items All maintenance requests should be reported immediately to the accommodation team by phone or (page 13). All emergencies must be reported by telephone. The repairs standards are: Urgent repairs Any repairs to defects which materially affect the comfort or convenience of the residents e.g. failure of heating or hot water supply, partial power failure, etc within 5 working days of report of defect. Non-urgent day-to-day repairs Any reactive repairs not falling into the above categories, e.g. broken light fitting, broken shelf, dripping tap, etc. within 28 working days of report of defect Please note emergencies are problems that present immediate risks to your safety, security or health. The emergency number for the fire brigade, police and ambulance service is 999 (or 112 from a mobile). These calls are free and can be made from any telephone or mobile. Should you smell gas, leave the property immediately, and call National Grid on If the office is closed, the property owner can be contacted on These contact details can also be found in the communal areas of your property. If you are faced with a problem that does not constitute an emergency please wait until the office re-opens. Emergency repairs Any repairs which are required in order to avoid a danger to health or safety of the residents or serious damage to the building or residents belongings, e.g. flood, gas escape, electric shock, etc. within 24 hours of report of defect. 07

10 moving in Before you arrive Your bedroom will be furnished, but there are some things you will need to bring before collecting your keys: Photographic identification (passport or driving licence) Basic provisions for the first few days, until you have time to get to the shops Washing powder or liquid Bed linen, pillows and a duvet Towels and tea towels Crockery - plates, bowls and mugs Cutlery and cooking utensils, including a tin opener and a bottle opener Pans - a couple of saucepans, frying pan and baking tray Hair dryer and toiletries Please remember you are sharing your accommodation with a number of other students, so try not to bring too much as there will be limited space. Collecting your keys You can collect your keys between 10am and 4pm from your local accommodation service in Hastings from the first day of your tenancy, which is Saturday 24 September. You will be prompted once you have accepted the offer of your room to book your arrival slot. This is the only time at the weekend where key collection is available but if you can t make it, you can come instead Monday to Friday between 10am and 4pm. As mentioned, you will need to provide photographic identification. In return you will receive your keys, a mattress protector and your welcome pack. Your inventory Your bedroom inventory will be available for collection when you collect your keys. You are responsible for checking your own bedroom. The inventory is a list detailing the condition of the property and its contents before you moved in. It is important to check you agree with the comments on the inventory, and make a note of anything that has been missed. If you see any discrepancies please record as much detail as possible in the Tenants Comments column. If possible, please take photographs in case of disputes later on. Please return your inventories to your local accommodation service within five working days of the date you collected your keys. If you do not return the inventories, you may be held responsible, and invoiced, for damage not noted. 08

11 general advice Appliances You will be supplied with electrical appliances to make your stay with us more comfortable. If you have any problems with these items or are not sure how to use them, please seek advice from either instruction booklets if they are supplied, or accommodation staff. Washing machine To avoid damaging the machine empty pockets before washing your clothes and take care not to overload the machine. It s also important to clean the filter and the soap drawer regularly. Vacuum cleaner Be sure to pick larger items such as tissues or odd socks up off the floor, before you vacuum, because these can block the cleaner and stop it working. You will also need to clean the brush roll and change the bag or empty the chamber of the cleaner regularly. It s always worth checking the manual if there is one or search online for the cleaner model and specific cleaning guidance. Oven Greasy ovens will set off smoke detectors, so do keep your oven clean. You may want to line the bottom of the oven with foil, which you can easily remove when it becomes dirty. Fridges and freezers With several people sharing a fridge it s easy to forget about what s inside. Regularly go through the fridge and throw away old food. Extractor fans These are essential in helping to prevent condensation. There will certainly be one in your bathroom and may be one in the kitchen too. You must not tamper with the extractor fan, and report any faults with it straightaway. Our access We will require access on certain occasions, and you are obliged to allow us entry subject to conditions outlined in clause 1.6. We will normally give you 24 hours notice of our visit, unless in an emergency. In most cases we will have keys so your presence is not necessarily required, unless we specify otherwise. Termly property checks Part of our contract with the owner of your accommodation is to carry out regular property checks. These will normally be carried out termly. We will give you at least 48 hours notice, in writing, of our visit. The visit is an opportunity for us to identify any areas of concern, and for you to let us know if there are any problems. We may offer advice about housekeeping, or property care, and we will always give you feedback after our visit. We also let the property owner know if there are any matters which require their attention. Please be aware that it is our policy to always leave study rooms locked after visiting. Contents insurance One of the benefits of living in university accommodation is that individually your contents are covered by Endsleigh Insurance. Details of the cover and how to make a claim are explained in a separate leaflet which will be given to you when you collect your keys. If you think you might need to increase your cover this can be done directly via Endsleigh at Council tax As students, you are exempt from paying council tax. 09

12 Cleaning You are individually responsible for keeping your bedrooms clean, and have shared responsibility for the communal areas (clause 1.3), so please make sure you do your share. A little-and-often approach to cleaning is best to prevent mess and dirt building up and creating a huge task at the end of the tenancy. Here are some cleaning tips: Kitchens Clean up after yourself. Wash up, leave the sink clear and wipe down kitchen surfaces after you have used them. Put your things away. You will have your own cupboard and enough fridge and freezer space, you should not need to leave items lying around. Clean the grill pan after each use. Leaving it dirty is not only inconsiderate, but is also a fire hazard. The oven will have been professionally cleaned before you took up residence, and you are expected to keep it clean. You may incur charges for a dirty oven at the end of the tenancy. Don t leave food out, as this can attract pests. Defrost the fridge and the freezer. Once a term should be enough. Keep on top of the rubbish and recycling by remembering to put it out on the correct day. Bathrooms Make sure your shower curtain is tucked inside the bath when showering, and wipe up any water that may have escaped. Use a bathmat. Clean the bath and basin after each use. Remove any hair from plugholes. Use the toilet brush provided and some toilet cleaner under the rim regularly to keep the toilet fresh. Clean up any spills. Communal areas, hallways and bedrooms Keep hallways free of flyers, menus, free newspapers and other junk mail. Recycle what you don t want and return unwanted mail to the sender unless it is addressed to the property owner (page 11). Do not keep bicycles in hallways. They damage walls, can dirty the carpet and also block fire escape routes. Regular vacuuming will keep the carpets in good condition. Mop up any spills as soon as possible. Invest in some carpet cleaner and use it to spot clean the carpet as needed. You will be charged for any new stains on the carpets. Take care not to burn the carpets. Putting hot hair straighteners and ironing on the floor will result in melted patches. You have been supplied with an ironing board, so please use it because you will be charged for new burn marks. Do not put posters up on the walls with blu tac or sellotape as this can damage the walls. Any damage will be charged back at the end of the tenancy. Use noticeboards instead. Do not smoke in the house under any circumstances. This is against the terms of the licence (clause 1.14). Drains Drains can easily become blocked, and if they do you are likely to be held responsible. Clause 1.17 clearly outlines your obligations. However, blockages are easily avoidable. Scrape leftovers into the bin before washing up. Rice is a common cause of blockages. Use a drain guard or sink strainer. Do not pour cooking fats or oils down the sink. Pour cooled oils (not hot!) into a suitable container and dispose of in the household waste, and wait for fats to solidify before disposal. Regularly clear hair from plugholes. Do not place anything other than toilet paper down the lavatory. Wipes, sanitary products, cotton wool or cotton buds are the typical culprits for a blocked toilet, and must be put in the bin instead. Slow draining plugholes mean there is a slight blockage. There are several drain unblocking products on the market that should get things flowing freely again. Pay attention to outside drains too. You may need to keep them clear of leaves or litter to prevent them becoming blocked. 10

13 Condensation There is always moisture in the air, but cooking, taking baths and drying clothes indoors can create more in your home. If it can t escape, moisture can build up in the air in your house. When it gets colder, the air cannot hold all the moisture and this is when condensation appears. Condensation that does not dry out causes mould, mildew and rot. It appears mainly in cold or wet weather, on cold surfaces like exterior walls, and in places where there is little air movement. It can be seen as black mould spots in corners, on or near windows and in and behind wardrobes. Allowing moisture to escape will reduce the build-up of condensation, so it s very important you heat and ventilate the property. Post It is likely that you will receive post for previous occupants. Please return unwanted mail to the sender by crossing out your address, writing return to sender on the envelope and putting it in a post box. Any post addressed to the property owner should be handed to your local accommodation service as soon as possible for forwarding. Here are some tips to help prevent it: Use the extractor fans. Do not switch them off or tamper with them. If you must dry your washing inside please open a window, and wherever possible use the outside washing line if one is available to you. Leaving a gap between the walls and your bed or other furniture also allows the air to circulate. Open the window or switch on the kitchen fan if you are cooking or washing up. During the cold winter months, heating your house is essential to prevent a build-up of condensation. If you notice black mould forming, you have a problem with condensation and should follow the above advice closely. If you allow the problem to get worse then it is likely that you ll be charged for the cost of redecoration. Electoral roll The electoral roll (or electoral register) is a listing of all those registered to vote in a particular area. It is published every November and around October you will be asked to complete an electoral roll registration form. It is a legal requirement that you complete the form and return it to the local council even if you are not eligible to vote. Should you have any further queries, please contact your local council. Their details can be found on page

14 end of tenancy Charges for damage The accommodation service will invoice students during the tenancy where possible, or after you have left for any damage caused whilst in residence. Where damage is caused anonymously the university is entitled to charge each student for a proportion of the cost. The university will exercise reasonable discretion in deciding whether to share the charges among all occupants of the house. Where accommodation has to be cleaned or decorated before it is fit to be re-let, we will charge the full cost of cleaning, decorating and repair to the outgoing tenant(s). Allowances will be made for reasonable wear and tear, and the replacement of items or redecoration required as part of ongoing property maintenance will not be charged to students. To avoid being charged you will need to have: Fulfilled the obligations of your tenancy outlined in the section Your Tenancy. Not damaged anything in the property, or allowed any visitors to cause damage. Thoroughly cleaned the entire house. Communal areas (kitchen, lounge, bathroom and hallway) are the responsibility of the whole group and you are responsible for the cleanliness of your own room. Full details of cleaning requirements will be detailed in your end of tenancy information. Not left any belongings without prior agreement. Responsibly disposed of any rubbish. This means putting it in local authority bins, taking any large items to your local refuse site, or arranging a special collection through the local authority or rubbish clearance company. Provided a forwarding address. In the event of a complaint about charges, please contact your local accommodation service in the first instance. Ending your tenancy agreement early If you wish to end your tenancy early, you must get in touch with the accommodation service to discuss your options. In some circumstances, it may be possible to break your contract with the university, provided that this has been agreed by us and is subject to conditions set out in clause 4.3 of your tenancy agreement. I am leaving university If you are withdrawing from university you will not be allowed to remain in the property. You will be required to complete an accommodation termination form, return your keys to the accommodation service, and leave your bedroom clean and tidy. Your rental liability will be ended when we receive your keys, and you will be charged an administration fee of 50. I am staying on my course, but would like to move out of my accommodation You have signed a legally binding contract with us and have committed to pay rent for the full tenancy period. If you wish to leave your accommodation before the end of the tenancy period, you will need to find another suitable full time University of Brighton student not already in one of our residences to take on your room before we can end your liability for paying rent. The university is under no obligation to find a replacement tenant. However, if the accommodation office is aware of students looking for accommodation they will try to help where possible. Bear in mind that it is not always easy to find another student to take your room. In the first few weeks of term there may still be students looking for accommodation, but as the year progresses the number of people looking decreases. Think carefully before committing yourself to any other living arrangement before choosing to leave your university accommodation. 12

15 contact details UNIVERSITY Hastings Accommodation Service Accommodation and Hospitality Services University of Brighton in Hastings Priory Square Priory Street Hastings TN34 1EA NON-UNIVERSITY Sussex Police (non-emergency) 101 Crimestoppers Hastings Borough Council Main Switchboard Environmental Health Conquest Hospital (Hastings) Citizens Advice Bureau Victim Support Talk to Frank (Drugs and alcohol advice) Samaritans Stagecoach Buses (Eastbourne and Hastings) National Rail Enquiries Southern Water South East Water July 2016: The University of Brighton makes every effort to ensure the accuracy of this handbook and will take all reasonable steps to provide the services described within it and in supplementary documentation. It cannot, however, guarantee their provision in the event of circumstances beyond its control (such as lack of demand, changes in government policy or industrial action) but in such an event, will make reasonable effort to provide a suitable alternative. It is the owner s responsibility to ensure that they are aware of and comply with any changes in current legislation. 13

16 This publication is available in alternative formats on request Return address University of Brighton Accommodation and Hospitality Services Exion 27 Crowhurst Road Hollingbury Brighton BN1 8AF AHS/DF/0815 better homes for students