STUDENT ACCOMMODATION AND CAMPUS GUIDE

Transcription

1 STUDENT ACCOMMODATION AND CAMPUS GUIDE

2 ACCOMMODATION - It s Your Choice... After you have decided which course you want to study and where, deciding where to live whilst studying is the next big question! This guide will advise you on the options and help you to make the correct choice. 2

3 Contents LIVING ON CAMPUS Page 4 THE HALLS Page 5 POINTS TO CONSIDER Page 8 WHAT S INCLUDED Page 9 WHAT TO BRING Page 10 HOW TO APPLY Page 11 ACCOMMODATION POLICY Page 12 COLLEGE FACILITIES Page 13 OTHER CAMPUS FACILITIES AND SERVICES Page 14 LIVING OFF CAMPUS Page 16 LIVING IN A SHARED HOUSE - (no resident landlord) Page 17 LIVING IN LODGINGS Page 18 COUNCIL TAX Page 19 USEFUL CONTACTS/WEBSITES Page 20 APPENDIX 1 Page 21 3

4 Living on Campus Halls of Residence Most first year students choose to live in halls. Living in halls offers the opportunity to make friends, be close to facilities such as the library, computer suite, sports facilities and is generally a great way to start your life at College. Students come to Writtle from a wide range of backgrounds and experiences. Being in a mixed and integrated community is a valuable way to learn to live together, make friends and observe different cultures and beliefs. The success of the living experience depends on students being tolerant and co-operative. It can be a lot of fun and students often make friends for life, however, there may be students who don t feel comfortable in an open community like this, perhaps for cultural or dietary reasons. If you prefer to cook all your own food then you may prefer to live off campus, as all places in hall include a meal provision. The Accommodation Office will be pleased to help you choose the most appropriate place for you to live. 4

5 The Halls Hamilton Hamilton provides single en-suite accommodation for 50 students on two floors of a modern u-shaped development. The rooms are furnished to a high standard and the en-suite facility includes a shower, toilet and washbasin. Most bedrooms have a double bed. There are four common rooms incorporating snack kitchens, equipped with a hob, combi microwave, fridge, toaster and kettle. All the bedrooms and common rooms have *TV aerial sockets. Free internet connection is also available via a wireless connection and all rooms have a safe for valuables. Hamilton Hall Hamilton Study Bedroom Hamilton Common Room Maddison Maddison consists of three separate halls each housing 17 students in single study bedrooms. All rooms have en-suite facilities. There are *TV aerial sockets in each bedroom and in the downstairs common room. Internet connection is also available via a wireless connection, and a safe for valuables. The common room/snack kitchens are equipped with a hob, combi microwave, fridge, toaster and kettle. Maddison Common Room Maddison Study Bedroom 5

6 The Halls Tabor Tabor is a large modern building made up of three halls. Tabor 1 & 3 (32 & 36 rooms respectively) have standard single study bedrooms with single beds. All rooms have en-suite facilities of toilet, shower and washbasin. The rooms are comfortably furnished with wardrobe, desk, desk chair and easy chair. The common rooms/snack kitchens are equipped with a hob, combi microwave, fridge, toaster and kettle. Every room in Tabor has free internet access via a wireless connection, and a safe for valuables. Tabor Halls Tabor study bedroom Tabor 2 Tabor 2 sits between Tabor 1 & 3 and has 24 double sized rooms which were originally intended as twin rooms but are now allocated for single occupancy or for couples (reduced fee). These extra-large rooms have a double bed, two double wardrobes, desk plus desk chair and easy chair. The common rooms/snack kitchens are equipped with combi microwave, hob, toaster, kettle and a fridge. All rooms have free internet access via a wireless connection, and a safe for valuables. Tabor Halls Tabor common room 6

7 The Halls Dent / Gill Dent and Gill have 41 and 37 rooms respectively. All are single bedrooms situated on two floors and each room in Dent has its own washbasin (Gill rooms do not have washbasins in the room) and a safe. There are two kitchens and a common room in each hall. Kitchens are equipped with a hob, combi microwave, fridge, toaster and kettle. Only the common rooms have *TV aerial sockets. There are several showers and toilets on each floor. Free internet access via a wireless connection is available in these halls. Dent study bedroom Gill Study bedroom Dent / Gill kitchen Harvey Harvey halls 1, 2 and 3 are four storey buildings which take 22 students each. All bedrooms have their own washbasin and *TV socket and are comfortably furnished. Free internet access is available in each hall via a wireless connection and there is a safe for valuables in each room. The upstairs rooms are arranged in groups of six, with two toilets, a shower and kitchen/common room. The ground floor has four bedrooms and a shower/toilet room. Students on the ground floor share the common room on the upper floor. A hob, combi microwave, fridge, toaster and kettle are available in each common room. The laundry is located in Harvey 1. Harvey halls Harvey Common room Harvey study bedroom 7

8 The Halls Strutt Strutt is a large three storey hall with 46 rooms for single occupancy. Some rooms are large single rooms with double beds and are suitable for students who have a lot of equipment, e.g., drawing boards, easel, computer systems. Rooms have free internet access via a wireless connection and a safe for valuables. Strutt bedrooms do not have their own wash basin but there are convenient wash rooms, showers, and toilets on each floor. Snack kitchen/common rooms are equipped with a hob, combi microwave cooker, fridge, toaster, kettle and *TV socket. Strutt Hall Strutt common room Points to consider ALL HALLS OF RESIDENCE ARE STRICTLY NON-SMOKING Halls are a large community of students of mixed ages, sexes and from different cultures and backgrounds can be fun but can take some getting used to! No halls are fully self-catering. All hall fees include a meal provision equivalent to 40 per week (term time). If you prefer to do all your own cooking you may prefer to live off campus. You will be committed to taking a room for a full residential session and will have to pay for any periods you maybe away, including study tours. The room is yours through the Christmas and Easter Breaks we do not ask students to move out! If you do not have lectures every day and you live close enough to go home every weekend, you may wish to consider a room in lodgings off campus Mon-Fri. Students who are under 18 years old will only be considered for a place in halls where they will be studying on an undergraduate programme (terms and conditions apply). *TV - Not all halls have TV aerial sockets in the bedrooms and the signal quality in halls cannot be guaranteed. Students might like to wait before deciding to bring a TV and paying for a license. A licence will be required for your room and a separate one if you decide to place a communal TV in the Common room. Most students choose to watch TV via the internet and therefore might be able to save the cost of the licence fee. Check for details on what does and does not require a licence at 8

9 What is provided Please note that only certain rooms in Maddison Halls and Strutt Hall and only rooms in Tabor 2 have double beds. Your offer letter will state whether you have been allocated a room with a double or a single bed. 9

10 What to bring You will find details of what the College provides on page 9. Please see a list below as a suggestion for what to bring. This list is not exhaustive, just a suggestion of what you might like to think about bringing with you: Cooking items and utensils for making light snacks i.e. saucepans, microwavable dishes, mugs, plates, and cutlery. You may bring a SMALL (desk top sized) fridge (no freezers) for your room no larger than 2 cu ft. (Please ensure you inform the Accommodation Office if you bring one). Bedding pillows, duvet etc. Bedding packs consisting of duvet, pillows and pillow case (2 for double), cover and fitted sheet can be purchased at a cost of 25 for a single bed, 35 double. This can be requested on the Accommodation Request form if required. T.V. (licence required see Page 8). Music player, earphones, etc. Small desk lamp / torch Personal items, clothing, toiletries, towels etc. A box with lid for storing muddy boots/clothing Underbed storage boxes Strutt large room 10

11 How to apply First Years An Accommodation Request form will be sent to students with the course offer. If you require a room in halls then you should complete and return the request form as soon as possible. Please note that we will only make an offer of a place in halls to students who have accepted Writtle as their first choice. Students Under 18 years of age All students over 18 years of age studying on a full time* course at Writtle are welcome to apply for a place in Halls of Residence. Students under 18 years of age should only apply for halls if they will be studying on an undergraduate programme and additional terms and conditions will apply. You will be given details of the additional requirements on application please note that a place in halls cannot be confirmed until all requirements are met. *Includes Pre-sessional English language courses and Post Graduate programmes. Returning Students All returning/current students can apply for halls. Application forms can be found on Moodle, and students will be informed when they are available, usually around the end of February. Places are limited so apply early if you wish to return to halls. All Applicants Allocations for halls usually begin around February / March. If a place is available you will receive an offer of a room in halls along with an Occupancy Agreement to sign and return with the appropriate fee. If the limit of supply is exceeded then your application will be held for the next available room. Where halls are likely to be oversubscribed, your application will be dealt with in accordance with the Accommodation Policy (see page 12) Think carefully before deciding to take a place in halls. Once you have accepted an offer, you will be bound by the terms and conditions detailed in the Occupancy Agreement which is legally binding. General Information about living in halls can be found in the Writtle College Residents Handbook 11

12 The Accommodation Office aims to help all students find the accommodation of their choice, within the limits of available places, both on and off campus. Places in halls are generally contracted for a full residential session, usually 37 weeks (Higher Education) or 42 weeks (Further Education) unless the programme of study is shorter, or for the remainder of a residential session if a residential session has commenced. All students over 18 years of age attending a full time programme of study at Writtle are welcome to apply for halls, whatever their home address and whatever their circumstances. You will be informed as to whether you have been successful. Students who are under 18 will only be considered for a place in halls if they are studying on a full time undergraduate programme - students will have to meet additional requirements details will be given on application. The Policy Objectives To ensure all students have fair access to a room in halls of residence and to the different levels of room. Identify priority groups. Accommodation Policy Priority Students New full time students living more than 25 miles away from Writtle. Any student with a disability or medical condition (medical evidence will be required). New students from overseas. Priority for ensuite rooms will be given to students who are under 18 years of age and any student with medical condition or disability that requires one (medical evidence required). Returning Students Priority will be given to students who live more than 25 miles from the College, who have not lived in halls before and those with a disability or medical condition that requires one (medical evidence required). Where applications are anticipated to be high, returning students may not be eligible for a room in hall for two consecutive years and not in the same hall or level of room. The number of places for returning students (2nd & 3rd years) will be limited. Once that limit is reached a waiting list will be maintained so that further allocations can be made after 1st September and throughout the year as vacancies arise. In order to ensure fair access for students to all halls, places for returning students will be limited in each hall. The College reserves the right not to admit to halls, any student who has presented campus problems previously, including, but not limited to, non-payment of fees. Any student not eligible initially will be placed on a waiting list. After 1st September, any room still available will be allocated to students on the waiting list on a priority basis, in accordance with this policy. All allocations are subject to availability. 12

13 Code of practice In accordance with the Housing Act 2004, the College has signed up to the UUK Code of Practice for Student Residential Accommodation. Details of the Code can be obtained from the Accommodation Office or go to Students with disabilities Students with disabilities receive priority consideration with regard to accommodation in halls. Some rooms have been adapted to accommodate students with mobility and hearing difficulties. Adaptations for other disabilities will be considered on request. Applications will be dealt with on an individual basis so please contact the Accommodation Office as early as possible to discuss your requirements Smoking Catering Included in the residential fee is a catering allowance equivalent to 40 per week (excluding Christmas and Easter breaks) which is added to your account every term. You can access this via your student ID card. Over Christmas and Easter, the meal service is either suspended or limited. The Garden Room is the main college restaurant which provides a varied menu, with a wide variety of dishes. The Garden Room opening times weekday 7.30am to 7.30pm Breakfast 07.30am to 10.30am Hot snacks 10.30am to 11.30am Lunch service 12pm to 2pm Dinner service 4.45pm to 7pm The Garden Rooms will close at 7.30pm The Garden Room weekend: Saturday Brunch service 11.30am to 1pm Sunday lunch service to 2.00pm Times may vary see notices for details. Writtle College is a NON SMOKING ENVIRONMENT. This means that smoking is only permitted in designated smoking areas. All buildings on campus are NON SMOKING including all Halls of Residence and students, staff and visitors are asked to respect this. Room occupation When you accept an offer of a place in halls, you will be expected to take the room and pay the fees for the full residential session as detailed in the Offer Letter unless you decide not to continue on the course or there are extenuating circumstances and the College agrees to release you. Terms and Conditions apply and will be detailed in the Occupancy Agreement. 13

14 Catering.cont The Baa is where all of the College s social events take place. Thyme Out is adjacent to the Baa and offers a selection of refreshments including Costa Coffee. Non Resident Students are welcome to use any of the catering outlets at the College. The Lordship Tea Rooms are run by Wilkin & Sons of Tiptree Jam fame and offers a wide range of freshly prepared sandwiches, soups, jacket potatoes etc. Cow Watering campus has it s own café offering hot and cold food offering snacks and beverages. Childcare Other campus facilities and services Cycle racks The Kiddi Caru Nursery located directly opposite the main campus, provides child care for College staff, students and the local community. Students with babies and young children benefit from subsidised rates. Visit for details of the Writtle Nursery. Computing facilities All Halls of Residence have free Internet access and there are eleven computer suites throughout the College. All students also have access to printing, copying and scanning facilities, including high quality colour laser printing. The College also has a wide range of software products available to staff and students. You can find more information about IS&T facilities at There are numerous cycle racks on the campus, including secure cages. Cycles are not allowed to be kept in halls or anywhere else on campus. You are advised to make sure your bike is insured and we suggest it would be best not to bring expensive bikes to College. For those students on the Cycling Performance course, dedicated cycle storage is available please check with your Course Manager for details on how to access this. Laundry The campus laundry is located in Harvey 1 and is available to all students (including nonresidents) and staff. It has a number of automatic washers, tumble dryers an ironing station and soap vending. All machines are coin operated. Students can access Laundry View via the internet to report faults, see machine availability and usage. 14

15 Library Transport Writtle College Library is a bright spacious building housing an extensive book collection, journals and magazines and other resources to support your studies. The Library is a busy though peaceful area of the College, open over twelve hours a day during term time with qualified, experienced staff on hand to help with any information requests. Lockers Lockers are available to non-resident students for storage of boots and other equipment during the day. For details contact Barbara.Taylor@writtle.ac.uk Free car parking on campus (designated areas only) is available for registered vehicles only. You must have a vehicle permit details of how to obtain one will be issued with course details via the Admissions Office. The College provides morning and evening minibus services from major towns in Essex with priority being given to full time Further Education students. Payment is termly in advance and no refunds will be given. A free minibus service runs between Chelmsford Station & the College between 8.15am and 9.15am from the Station, and between 4.15pm and 5.15pm from the College. For further information on transport services please contact the College Transport Office on: transport@writtle.ac.uk Recreation Centre The Recreation Centre is located on the main campus. As well as housing the Bar and a second food outlet, you will also find the Sports Hall, Squash Courts, Gym and Multi-faith chapel, as well as vending machines and a Cash Point. 15

16 Living off campus Student Campus Shared housing Whilst all students are welcome to apply for halls each year, often, 2nd or 3rd year students choose to live off campus with a group of friends. The Accommodation Office is able to provide details of off campus properties owned by private landlords. This accommodation may be in a shared house (living with other students no resident landlord) or in lodgings (renting a room in the landlord s house landlord in residence). Housing lists are made available via Studentpad and are accessed using a password. Do not be tempted to rush into taking a house too early as many houses will not be listed until the landlord knows if the current tenants are staying on and you may therefore miss out on some of the better properties if you do not wait for the full list. You can also find houses through the Private Sector, local estate and letting agents and websites and these will usually require financial guarantors. Arrangements for off campus accommodation are entirely a matter for the student and landlord. The College does not fix the rent or arrange any contracts, nor is the accommodation inspected or approved by the College. Advice is available and help will be given, but it is the student and landlord s responsibility to ensure the accommodation is suitable and compliant with current law and housing regulations. 16

17 Living in a shared house no resident landlord Rent Rents range from around per room/person per week depending on the location, room size and facilities offered. This is usually exclusive of bills although the landlord may decide to include some bills in the rent. Rent is normally paid monthly or termly in advance, and you should ask for a receipt for any payments made. You will normally be expected to pay full rent during the Christmas and Easter holidays. Some landlords will not expect you to pay any rent at all during the summer vacation unless you are resident in the property during this period, but others may charge half or even full rent. Deposit A deposit will normally be paid to hold the property (usually one month s rent). The landlord should lodge this deposit with one of the Tenancy Deposit Schemes which will ensure fair play when the deposit is returned. It is not acceptable to use your deposit in lieu of your last month s rent. This deposit, less deduction (if any) should be returned to you promptly on vacating the property and this will be done via the scheme. Contract / Agreement A formal document or Assured Shorthold Tenancy Agreement should be given to you. Make sure you understand the conditions of the tenancy as once signed you will be responsible for the rent even if you decide to leave before the tenancy ends. Be aware that some agreements make you liable for the whole rent on the property if a member of your group leaves without finding a replacement. If you are not sure about anything, ask for clarification. 17

18 Living in Lodgings with a resident landlord As a guide, the majority of rents are in the following range depending on the location and the facilities offered, and are usually inclusive of bills (except telephone). Internet access may be extra. Rent is normally paid weekly or monthly in advance, and you should ask for a receipt for any payments made. Self-catering per person per week Bed & Breakfast per person per week Bed, Breakfast and evening meal per person per week (Prices are a guide only). You should have a written agreement which covers rent, facilities, period of notice and any restrictions. It is essential that you give the landlord a deposit to hold the room. This amount will then be held for the duration of your stay to cover any damage or outstanding bills. This deposit, less deductions (if any), should be returned to you promptly on vacating the room. The period of notice is linked to the payment of rent, i.e. one week s notice if rent is paid weekly and one month s notice if rent is paid monthly. You may be charged a retainer during the Christmas and Easter holidays if you leave your belongings in the room. However, you would not normally be expected to pay any rent at all during the summer vacation unless you are resident during this period or leave things in the room. Study facilities should be provided i.e. desk and chair either in your bedroom or in a separate room. It is usual for the landlord to supply bedding and offer the use of a washing machine. If self-catering facilities are provided, the rules of the kitchen should be clearly outlined and adequate cupboard and fridge space should be provided for you. NB: Parents of, and students who are under 18 years of age, wishing to live off campus should especially note that neither the accommodation nor the landlord/lady are checked or vetted and it is the responsibility of the parents/guardian to make sure that the accommodation is suitable. 18

19 Council Tax Full time students are exempt from payment of Council Tax for the duration of their course. Students should be aware that if their current course has ended and they are re-enrolling to a higher level of course, they would not be exempt from Council Tax during the interim period. A sole house owner can claim 25% discount if all the lodgers in the house are students. Similarly, the owner of a shared house totally occupied by students is not liable for Council Tax on that particular property. Students will be given proof of student status on request from the Accommodation Office, and this should be passed on to either the Landlord or the Borough Council for Council Tax exemption. A valid student ID card must be presented to the Accommodation Office when requesting proof of student status. Better off at home? Many students now live at home and travel to College on days when they have lectures, practical, tutorials or other commitments. It usually works out as the cheapest option but it could mean missing out on the total College experience. 19

20 Useful contacts / Websites Chelmsford City Council General enquiries: Citizens Advice Bureau Essex County Council Details of local area including jobs, property, Estate Agents Writtle College Accommodation Office mailto:accommodation@writtle.ac.uk Chelmsford, Essex. CM1 3RR Tel: +44 (0) Fax: +44 (0) Minicom: Typetalk/TextDirect: info@writtle.ac.uk Shelterline Freefone UUK (Universities UK) (Accommodation Code of Practice) Environmental health Every effort is made to ensure that the information in this guide is correct. Writtle University College does not accept liability for any errors or omissions and reserves the right to make changes. The websites referred to in this guide are provided for reference only. With the exclusion of its own website, Writtle University College does not operate these sites and is not responsible for their content. Furthermore, inclusion of these sites does not imply any recommendation or endorsement of services provided or material contained on such websites. 20

21 Appendix 1 If you are viewing a property, you might like to take this list with you: Utilities Does the property have a supply of gas/electricity/oil (where applicable)? If oil heating, what are the arrangements for delivery and payment of oil? Is the cost of utilities included in the rent? Is there a limit on utilities spending? Facilities What are the cooking arrangements? Does the cooker and any other appliances work? Are they clean? Heating what type of heating does it have, does it work? Does the property have enough furniture? Does the furniture comply with current Fire Regulations? Do all taps/sinks/showers/toilet flush work? Is there enough crockery/cutlery etc. Who is responsible for providing and paying for TV licenses/broadband/telephone etc.? Safety / Security Is the house secure? Are there adequate locks on windows and doors? Are keys available for all window/door locks (if applicable)? Are smoke detectors fitted? Are there enough? Do the batteries work? Are they mains wired? Are Carbon Monoxide detectors fitted (where applicable)? Do you have a good escape route in the event of a fire? Do you have insurance for your personal possessions? Have you seen current gas (where applicable) and electrical certificates? Condition Is the property in sound condition inside and out? Is there any damp? Is the property clean? If there are current residents, will the property be cleaned in between lets? Have you agreed repairs etc. that you feel are required with the landlord? (Do this before you sign the contract). Is the decoration in good order and clean? Are carpets/furniture clean/worn? Outside Things to consider when living off campus Does the property look sound and in good condition? Is there a garden, if so, who looks after it? Does the landlord provide lawn mowers etc. (if applicable)? Is window cleaning included in the rent? When is rubbish collected? Are there adequate wheelie bins? What are the re-cycling arrangements? 21

22 Agreements Things to consider when living off campus Have you been offered a contract and do you understand it? What type of agreement is it? Are you jointly responsible for the rent? How long is the agreement for? If the property is accredited, have you seen the accreditation certificate? Has the landlord given you an inventory and have you checked and agreed it? Landlords must lodge your deposit with a Tenancy Deposit Protection Scheme has the landlord advised you which scheme they are using? Take photos of any damage to the property and keep copies. Ensure photos are dated and both parties should sign them to agree damage was not done by you. Has the landlord provided a House Pack? This could be a folder that provides details of the property such as the landlords contact details, details of emergency numbers, location of stop cocks/gas taps etc., and details of the company that the deposit is lodged with. Council Tax is not payable on a property if all the residents are full time students. The landlord should get certificates from you (available from the Accommodation Office) and send them to the Council. This is not an exhaustive list but will give you an idea of the sort of things that you should be considering when looking at property. Writtle University College does not inspect or recommend any property and at all times it is the responsibility of the landlord/tenant to ensure the property is suitable. 22