Off CampusAccommodation

Informationfor students

Foreword 3

Equal Opportunities 4

The Accommodation Team 5- Publication Of Registered Housing List - Advertising Vacancies- Advice And Support- Property Visits- Student Regulations- Streetwise Booklet- Data Protection And Human Rights

Renting a Property 7- Location Of Properties- Map Of Ormskirk

Looking For A House – Useful Tips 9

Property Checklist 10

Types Of Student Accommodation 11

Contracts 11- Fixed Term Contracts- Joint And Several Contracts- Licence Agreements

Deposits 13- Tenancy Deposit Schemes- Guarantors- Summer Retainers

Dealing With Landlords 14- Illegal Evictions- Harassment

Repairs And Maintenance 15- Gas Safety- Electrical Safety

Rents And Bills 17

Contents

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Useful Information 17- Moving In- Council Tax- Housing Benefit- TV Licences- Insurance

Living Together 19- Money- Cleaning

Staying Safe 19- Staying Safe At Home- Staying Safe When Out

Living In The Community 20- Noise- Parking

Refuse Collection And Recycling 21

Useful Contacts 22

This handbook is intended as a guide to students and provides useful advice as you lookfor a property to rent in the private sector. It also details the standards that have becomecommon practice for students and landlords

The Accommodation Team provides a broad range of services. We provide a link betweenstudents and local property owners through our comprehensive information service andwe strive to promote good practice within the sector.

We aim to visit all properties registered on our list every eighteen months and insist ona current gas safety certificate before we consider advertising a property.

We try to promote a stress free experience for you by explicitly outlining our expectationsof landlords and students. We also aim to support you when dealing with the complexitiesof renting a property.

Ultimately however, the decisions you take about renting a property are yours. Anycontractual agreements you enter into with any landlord are strictly between yourselvesand the landlord and do not involve Edge Hill University.

We welcome any feedback or comments you may have on the content of the handbooktogether with any suggestions you may have about how we could improve our services tostudents.

Edge Hill Accommodation Team

Foreword

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Our Equal Opportunities Policy:Equality and Diversity has been a central tenet of Edge Hill since its founding days. Itunderpins our continued commitment to root equality and inclusion firmly in all we do.

Edge Hill University’s vison is to’provide an environment where everyone feels able toparticipate, contribute, enjoy and influence their experience; and whre inclusive practicesunderpin everything we do. Respect for and celebration of individual diversity will shapeinstitutional strategy, direction and behaviour.’

The University seeks to identify and eradicate any practice which discriminates on thebasis of race, disability, sex gender re-assignment, age, sexual orientation, marriage andcivil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, religion, belief or none, or socio-economicbackground.

Our Equality and Diversity Policy acknowledges the importance of recognising andtreating people as individuals, as complex human beings with multiple and diverseidentities. We take as our starting point that equality is a core human rights principleand that it is wrong, on the basis of someone’s status or identity, to deny them theirhuman rights. We are committed to the promotion of equality of opportunity for all thosewithin the University’s community, whether staff, students, visitors, contractors orsuppliers.

Our Policy applies to all, irrespective of: - Disability - Age - Race - Sex - Gender Reassignment - Religion, Belief or non-Belief - Sexual Orientation - Marriage and Civil Partnership - Pregnancy and Maternity

If you feel that either a landlord or student is in breach of this policy you should contactthe Accommodation Office immediately.

Equal Opportunities

We are based in the Student Information Centre and deal with all aspects of housing forstudents on and off campus. For students who wish to live off campus we provide generaladvice in a number of areas.

Publication of Registered Housing Lists and Advertising VacanciesOver 300 properties are registered with Edge Hill. All of these properties have a currentregistration form and gas certificate and all have been visited by a member of theAccommodation Team within the last eighteen months. *New properties are subject to aproperty inspection before they are registered.

Our accommodation list, which shows all available vacancies for the following September,is released in mid December and is made available on the Go Portal and in hard copyfrom the Student Information Centre.

Our advice to students is to wait until the official Accommodation list is released beforemaking arrangements to sign a contract for a house. In this way, you have far more choiceand can be sure that all houses on the list are registered by the Accommodation Team.

When the September list of vacancies is released in December there is usually a fairly highdegree of competition amongst students. However, if you act in a timely and organisedmanner, we are confident that you will find a house that is just right for you.

The Accommodation Team is happy to advertise vacancies for landlords but we ask thatthey let us know when a room has been signed for so that we can update our database andensure the information we provide to students is accurate.

Advice and SupportThe Accommodation Team are experienced professionals in the area of housingmanagement and keep up to date with changing legislation by regularly attending eventsand training sessions.

We are happy to check contracts prior to a student signing for a house and will point outanything that we feel the student should clarify with the landlord. However, please beadvised that we are not legal experts. If you want a contract thoroughly checked andratified you should see a solicitor.

The Accommodation Team offers advice on ways to resolve landlord and tenant disputesand disputes amongst tenants and can provide a mediation service where necessary.

In collaboration with the Fire Service, Police and West Lancs Council we provide informationwith regard to preventing fire, staying safe and behaving responsibly in the localcommunity and how to go about identifying and reporting a badly maintained property.

Student Services hold free legal advice sessions every four weeks. You can book a sessionby contacting 01695 657265 or 01695 584454.

The Accommodation Team

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Property VisitsAs stated in our correspondence to landlords, all properties must be subject to a propertyvisit every eighteen months in order to stay registered with us.

The main aim of property visits is to ascertain whether landlords are complying withcurrent Housing and Buildings legislation. The Accommodation Officer checks thatminimum health and safety standards are being met, satisfactory fire safety provision isin place and that the property is in a good state of repair.

Any recommendations are explicitly stated in a letter to the landlord after the visit andwe request that the landlord lets us know when the requested recommendation has beenimplemented. We may occasionally ask the Environmental Health Officer for WestLancashire Council to visit a property separately if we feel that their input is required.

The Accommodation Team reserves the right to remove a property from our list if eitherthe property is deemed to be in a very poor state of repair at the time of the visit or alandlord refuses to implement a recommendation.

Property visits also provide landlords with the opportunity to raise any issues or voiceany concerns they may have. As part of our partnership work with Lancashire Fire andRescue Service and West Lancashire Borough Council representatives may accompany uson property visits in order to provide further advice and guidance to landlords.

Student Regulations (Incorporating Code of Behaviour and Disciplinary Procedures)A copy of the Student Regulations handbook is provided to students at the start of eachacademic year. The handbook stipulates the basic minimum behavioural requirements ofall students at Edge Hill.

It is important to thoroughly read this at the start of the year to familiarise yourself withthe university’s expectations of you. Behaving responsibly is especially important whenyou are living in a residential area off campus and it is vital to remember at all times thatyou are an ambassador of Edge Hill.

The Accommodation Team has the power to impose disciplinary action against anystudent living off campus found to be in breach of any clause of the Student Regulations.

Streetwise BookletThis is distributed to all students living in registered properties off campus at the start ofthe academic year. It is designed to provide students with useful general information withregard to fostering good neighbourly relations, staying safe, drinking sensibly, steps youcan take to reduce the risk of fire, recycling and much more.

The Streetwise booklet is produced in partnership with Lancashire Constabulary, LancashireFire and Rescue Service and West Lancashire Borough Council. It is important that you read it.

Data Protection and Human RightsPlease note that in all dealings with you and with the landlord, Edge Hill adheres strictlyto the requirements of the Data Protection and Human Rights Acts. This means that we cannotdisclose information about any individual to any third party without their permission.

Living in a student house is fun as well as challenging. As well as other people to talk toand socialise with, you will find that rent and bills work out cheaper.

There are downsides of course. The more of you there are, the more potential there is forfriction. Simple things like keeping supplies stocked up and keeping the house clean canlead to disagreements. If you have previously lived in halls you will be aware how quicklythings can get out of hand.

Therefore, it is vital that you give careful consideration to who you want to live with. Youmay think you know the people in your halls now, but living in a house with three or fourothers changes things.

Once you know who you’re going to live with you can start looking for properties withthe number of bedrooms you need. Student houses generally contain three to sixbedrooms and these often vary in size and therefore rent. Make sure you all discussbetween yourselves who is prepared to take on the larger rents for the bigger rooms andwho prefers the smaller rooms for the smaller rents

Location of PropertiesThe majority of properties on the Accommodation List are located in the small markettown of Ormskirk. Most are in or near to the centre of the town so are within a twentyminute walking distance of Edge Hill. Alternatively, you can use the EdgeLink bus service,which operates every 20 minutes from Ormskirk bus station and is free.

The map overleaf will help you locate Ormskirk based properties.

A small number of properties on our list are in Southport and Liverpool, both of whichare easily accessible from Edge Hill via public transport.

If you would prefer to live outside of Ormskirk and need some further advice, please callin to see the Accommodation Team.

Renting a Property

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Map of Ormskirk

Searching for a place to live can be a frustrating and time consuming experience. However,if you are organised and remember the following useful tips, you will find that the processis much less stressful than you envisaged:

1. Wait until the official housing list is released in December. This will provide you with more choice and you can be sure that the house you select is registered by the Accommodation Team.

2. Allow yourself plenty of time. Don’t take the first house you see.

3. Be well prepared. Take paper and a pen with you to take notes of each house you visit, as well as any discussions you have with the landlord.

4. Ensure you have a clear idea of how much deposit and how much weekly rent you can afford to pay. Average Ormskirk rents are £70.00-£100.00 per week.

5. Check your contract to see if your rent includes payment of bills.

6. Be patient. Don’t let your fellow house hunters rush you just because they don’t want to look anymore.

7. If possible, take a parent with you to look around properties. Their experience may prove extremely useful.

8. Make sure you thoroughly read all information provided by the Accommodation Team prior to visiting properties, including this booklet. If you are unsure of anything,contact us as soon as possible for advice.

9. Don’t be afraid to seek clarification from the landlord about any issues of which you are unsure. This is particularly important with regard to the contract.

10. Ask the property owner to put everything in writing to avoid any misunderstandings later.

11. Make sure you get a comprehensive inventory of the property’s contents and that you check things in the presence of the property owner. Only sign and date it, together with the property owner, when you both agree that the inventory is correct.

12. Clarify with the property owner whether you have to pay a summer retainer. This is a reduced rent that you pay for June to September to reserve the house but it does not mean that you can live there during the summer.

13. Make sure you obtain a copy of the contract after you have signed it.

14. Finally, don’t sign a contract unless you have viewed the property first and you are one hundred per cent sure! Please remember, any contract you sign is a legally binding agreement between you (the tenant) and the landlord and does not involve EdgeHill University.

Looking for a House - Useful Tips

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Whilst the Accommodation Team does undertake regular visits to check whetherproperties are up to standard, it is extremely important that you too thoroughly inspecta house before signing a contract. The following checklist provides a useful guide as towhat information you should find out.

Try to visit at least three houses. In this way, you can look at the checklist and see whichof the houses is best for you.

Remember to record as much information on the checklist as possible. This informationwill really help you when it comes to making a decision about which house to choose.

Property Checklist

Address

Property 1 Property 2 Property 3

Name andcontact details of landlord

Weekly rent

Bills included?

Arrangementsfor bill paying

Deposit

Any other charges(e.g summer retainer,internet, registration,replacing lost keys)?

Type of contract

Length of contract

Accredited?

Standard of house(record any defects ormaintenance issuessuch as damp, mould orlack of appropriatefurniture)

Gas safety (is there a gas safetycertificate?)

Fire safety (is there a fire blanket ,fire doors and a clearescape route?)

Smoke alarms (Are they mains wiredor wireless?)

Security(do the doors andwindows have adequate locks?)

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Student accommodation falls into two broad types: self-catering and lodgings.

Self-catering accommodation - this is subdivided into three distinct types, all ofwhich mean that the student has access to a kitchen area or cooking facilities. Averagerents range from £70.00 to £100.00 per week, depending on the standard of theaccommodation, facilities provided and whether bills are included.

Shared house accommodation – most properties on our accommodation list fall into thiscategory. Students share all amenities of the house (kitchen/bathroom etc) but have soleoccupancy of a bedroom/study room.

Bed-sit accommodation – a bed-sit is a unit that contains a self-contained cooking area.Bathroom facilities are usually shared.

Flat accommodation - a flat usually contains a bedroom(s), kitchen, bathroom, livingroom and toilet. All amenities listed are usually for the sole use of the registered tenant.

Lodging accommodation- lodgings are rooms in private households, in the landlord’shome. This kind of accommodation is generally offered on a five or seven day basis. Theaverage rents range from £70.00 to £100.00 per week, depending on how many days thestudent stays and whether meals and/or cleaning are provided.

Landlords who are prepared to offer flexible contracts, for example termly or weekly lets,are more likely to be successful in attracting applicants.

Types of Student Accommodation

It is essential that you understand the contract that you sign and that you recognise yourrights as a tenant or licensee. When you sign a contract, you are creating a legal agreementbetween yourself and the property owner.

We strongly recommend that you obtain a written contract from your landlord.

Please be aware that under the 1988 and 1996 Housing Acts, you have certain statutoryrights, which protect you regardless of what contract you sign. However, although youare protected by the legal system to a certain extent, it is still extremely important that youexamine the contract before signing it.

The type of contract you sign will depend upon when the contract started, whether youlive with the landlord and whether you share the flat/house with other tenants.

The Accommodation Team offers all landlords the opportunity to use the Edge HillUniversity Tenancy Agreement. This contract clearly sets out the rights andresponsibilities of both you and the landlord. The most important section of this contractis the clause which allows you to vacate a property by giving four weeks notice or by payingfour weeks rent in lieu of notice.

Depending on your living arrangements, the type of contract you will sign will either bean Assured Shorthold Tenancy Agreement or a Licence Agreement.

An Assured Shorthold Tenancy agreement is used if you and any other tenants have soleoccupancy of the property. A Licence Agreement is used if you have a resident landlord.

Fixed Term ContractsWhen you receive a contract it will most likely be Fixed Term. This means that you areguaranteed occupancy of the property for the duration stated in the contract. This isnormally a minimum of six months if it is an Assured Shorthold Tenancy. However, it alsomeans that you are committed to paying rent for the entire period. Therefore, if you decideto move out of a property before the fixed term ends you will still be liable to pay the fullterm of the contract.

The fixed term is valid as long as you and your landlord keep to the terms and conditionsof the contract. If you are concerned that a breach of contract has concerned pleasecontact Student Services to book a free legal advice session on 01695 657265 or01695 584454 or visit Shelter: www.shelter.org.uk or the Citizens Advice Bureau:www.citizensadvice.org.uk.

Contracts

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Joint and Several ContractsIf you and your fellow house hunters all sign the same contract it becomes joint andseveral. This means that all tenants are liable for the full rent of the property. Therefore,if one of the tenants withdraws from Edge Hill and leaves the property, the rest of thetenants are liable for the full rent of the property until a replacement is found.

Licence AgreementsA licence agreement gives you the right to live in a house but does not give you exclusivepossession. The licence agreement merely gives you permission to stay in the premisesand leaves the general control of the household with the landlord.

Permission to stay in the property can be taken away at any given time and consequentlythe landlord can effectively evict you without having to acquire a possession order throughthe courts. However, if you have signed a fixed term licence agreement, the propertyowner cannot evict you until the stated period has expired.

A landlord must have the premises as their main residence before they can legally askyou to sign a licence agreement. Any student or group of students who have sole andexclusive occupation of premises will be tenants not licensees. If the landlord tries toprovide you with a licence agreement in such circumstances, it will not be valid.

Often licence agreements are used when the property owners are trying to reduce yourlegal rights as a tenant so please be vigilant.

Remember, if you are unsure about any aspect of your contract, don’t sign it before firsthaving it checked.

Most landlords ask future tenants for a deposit. This is to safeguard against any damagecaused to the property or against any unpaid rent or bills. However, money cannot bededucted for reasonable wear and tear.

Remember to retain a copy of your signed inventory. It may prove very useful in the eventthat you and your landlord disagree on whether damage was caused by you or was alreadypresent when you moved in.

Tenancy Deposit SchemesTenancy deposit protection (TDP) schemes guarantee that tenants will get their depositsback at the end of the tenancy, if they meet the terms of the tenancy agreement and donot damage the property.

Landlords must protect their tenants' deposits using a TDP scheme if they have let theproperty on an assured shorthold tenancy which started on or after 6 April 2007.

If these conditions do not apply - for example, if the landlord lives in the property withthe tenants – the landlord does not have to protect tenants' deposits. However, it is stillgood practice to do so.

Landlords or agents must use one of the three approved TDP schemes to protect tenants'deposits where these conditions apply. If any other scheme is used, deposits are notprotected in law. The three approved schemes are:- Deposit Protection Service (DPS): www.depositprotection.com- MyDeposits: www.mydeposits.co.uk- Tenancy Deposit Scheme: www.tds.gb.com

Failure of a landlord to protect your deposit can result in them being taken to court andmade to repay your deposit plus between one and three times the amount of your deposit.

Within thirty days of paying your deposit, your landlord must provide you with thisinformation:- The contact details of the tenancy deposit scheme- The contact details of the landlord or agent- The address of the rented property and the amount of deposit paid- Name and contact details of any third party that has paid the deposit- Items or services covered by the deposit- The circumstances under which the landlord will be able to retain some or all of the deposit- What to do if there is a dispute over how much deposit should be returned

Your deposit should be paid back within ten days of the end of your tenancy.

Deposits

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If you break the terms of the tenancy agreement the landlord and tenant should agree onhow much should be deducted from the deposit. If you are unhappy with the amount thelandlord wants to deduct from the deposit or the landlord/agent refuses to engage in thedeposit return process, you are entitled to raise the issue with the relevant tenancy deposit scheme.

For more information visit www.direct.gov.uk.

GuarantorsAs part of their contract, most landlords will ask for a guarantor. A guarantor is someonewho agrees to vouch for a tenant’s ability to pay rent, as well as any damage that thetenant may cause. Should the tenant default on rent payments and/or fail to pay for anydamage caused to the landlord’s property, the landlord may proceed against both thetenant and the guarantor for payment to be made.

Summer RetainersYour landlord may ask for a summer retainer to reserve your room for you over thesummer. It does not mean you can occupy the property unless otherwise agreed by yourlandlord. As a rule, retainers are not returnable and do not constitute payment of rent.

It is important to make an effort to develop a cordial relationship with your landlord fromthe moment you sign your contract.

If you feel that you are not receiving a fair service from your landlord you can call in tothe Accommodation Office for advice. Alternatively, you can contact the Student Unionto book a free legal advice session or visit the Shelter or Citizens Advice Bureau websites.

Illegal EvictionsAs a tenant you have security of tenure, whereby you can’t be evicted without the correctnotice. If you have an Assured Shorthold tenancy you can only be evicted with a courtorder.

Without this documentation, a landlord cannot legally evict you, even if you owe rent orhave breached your tenancy agreement.

HarassmentHarassment is classed as something done by your landlord that interferes with youroccupation. Examples of harassment are:- Refusing or restricting your access to parts of your accommodation- Stopping you from having a guest- Frequent visits from your landlord without prior notification- Offering you money or threatening you- Entering the property whilst nobody is there- Neglecting the property so that it is in such a bad state of repair as to be dangerous

or unfit for human habitation- Forcing tenants to sign agreements which reduce their rights

If you feel that you are a victim of harassment you should inform the AccommodationOffice as soon as possible.

Dealing with Landlords

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Regardless of what your contract states, landlords must carry out specific repair duties asdefined by law. Under the Landlord and Tenant Act 1988, the Housing Act 1996 and theEnvironmental Protection Act 1990 the landlord must keep the structure and exterior ofthe property in good repair and maintain all installations in good working order.

However, please remember that whilst your landlord is responsible for generalmaintenance of the house, it is up to you to report any issues if and when they do arise.It is also your responsibility to ensure that the house is left in an acceptable state at theend of the contract.

We recommend that from the outset, landlords and tenants are aware of theirresponsibilities in relation to repairs and maintenance to the property.

When reporting faults, it is a good idea to confirm any requests to your landlord via apolite email. Make sure that you clearly state the issue and ask that it is resolved withina reasonable time frame. If the issue is not resolved within the specified time frame it isadvisable that you send a formal, signed letter. You can also visit the AccommodationOffice for further advice.

It is a good idea to keep a copy of all emails, letters or other correspondence so that, ifrequired, you can provide evidence that you have raised issues to your landlord.

Under the Landlord and Tenant Act 1988, landlords are legally bound to keep thestructure and exterior of the house in repair and in proper working order. This includes:

- Installation of water, gas and electricity supplies- Repairs to the roof, floor, walls and windows- Upkeep of the gutters, pipes and drains- Repairs of plumbing and sanitary convenience, i.e. baths, showers, toilets, sinks- Repair of electrical wiring, gas plumbing, fixed heaters, central heating and

water heaters- Repair of window frames, internal doors and glass frames- Repairs to the bath, basins, boiler and pipework

In addition, property owners are expected to keep their property up to a standard fit forhuman habitation. Under the Environmental Protection Act 1990, local authorities havethe legal power to take court action against any property owner who provides poor livingconditions.

Repairs and Maintenance

As stipulated in The Housing Act 1996, local councils have the authority to take actionagainst any properties that are a statutory nuisance. For a property to be defined as astatutory nuisance there should be a number of faults or be in such a condition that thecomfort of the tenants is affected.

Examples of faults that cause statutory nuisance are as follows:

- Major structural problems e.g. subsidence and dilapidated brickwork- Dry rot- Burst pipes- Falling plaster- Damp, mould growth or condensation- Leaking roof- Faulty windows- Faulty or dangerous wiring- Infestations (mice, rats, lice, etc.)

If a landlord refuses to carry out essential work in the property in which you live you canseek help from the Environmental Health section of the relevant local authority.

An Environmental Officer will visit the property and make a judgment on whether it is fitfor human habitation and whether any repairs need to be carried out. The landlord isthen legally required to implement the recommendations.

If a landlord fails to respond to this notice, the local council can arrange for externalcontractors to complete the repair and transfer the costs to the owner. The landlord canappeal against the decision but non-compliance to the notice could lead to prosecution.

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Gas Safety The Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998 deal with landlords’ duties tomake sure gas appliances, fittings and flues provided for tenants are safe. As of 1 April2009 this must be done by a Gas Safe Register registered installer.

A landlord who lets a property equipped with gas appliances has three mainresponsibilities:

Maintenance: pipework, appliances and flues must be maintained in a safe condition.Gas appliances should be serviced in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions. Ifthese are not available it is recommended that they are serviced annually unless advisedotherwise by a Gas Safe registered engineer.

Gas safety checks: a twelve monthly gas safety check must be carried out on every gasappliance/flue. A gas safety check will make sure gas fittings and appliances are safe to use.

Record: a record of the annual gas safety check must be provided to the tenant within28 days of the check being completed or to new tenants before they move in. Landlordsmust keep copies of the gas safety record for two years.

The Accommodation Team will only advertise a property on the Edge HillAccommodation List if the landlord has provided a Gas Safe Register gas safety certificate.

If you find your student accommodation from sources other than the Edge HillAccommodation List, it is vital you check that the gas appliances have been examinedwithin the last twelve months by a Gas Safe Registered gas fitter. It is important that youinsist that the owner provides written confirmation that the gas appliances have beenserviced.

Always remember that you need to protect yourself against the dangers of carbonmonoxide poisoning.

If you smell gas or think there is a gas leak, turn off the gas at the meter, extinguish nakedflames, open windows, leave the area and call the Gas Emergency Freephone number0800 111 999 immediately.

For more information about gas safety contact www.gassaferegister.co.uk or ring0800 408 5500

Electrical SafetyLandlords must ensure that all electrical wiring in a rented property is tested by a NICECcontractor every five years. You can ask your landlord to see the electrical safety certificate.

The Accommodation Team will only advertise on a property on the Edge HillAccommodation List if the landlord has provided an electrical safety certificate.

Make sure that you are clear as to how much your weekly rent is and if a deposit is payable.Your contract should state the total amount due over the course of the fixed term andhow much is payable on which dates.

Landlords usually ask for rent to be paid in three instalments in September, January orApril to coincide with student loan payments. However, most are flexible in altering thedates to suit your financial situation. Always retain proof of payments.

It is important to carefully budget and plan your finances throughout the year so that youcan be certain of covering your rent payments. You can access advice and support bycontacting the Edge Hill Student Financial Support team on 01695 657 250.

Rents and Bills

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Moving InWhen you have moved in, make yourself familiar with the house. Find out where and howyou can turn off the water, gas and electricity in case of emergency and check all of themeters and take a reading.

If bills are not included in your rent, contact the appropriate utility company and informthem that the tenancy has changed hands. Make sure you provide them with the meterreadings and the date you moved in.

Telephone numbers of utility providers in your region can be found in the Yellow Pagesand on the internet.

Council TaxProperties occupied only by full-time students studying for at least 21 hours a week arecompletely exempt from paying council tax. You will need to send your Edge Hill counciltax exemption certificate, which proves your student status, to the property owner. Aproperty occupied by one part-time or non-student is liable for 75% of the tax. If you areliving with more than one such student, the property is liable for the full tax. It is yourresponsibility to provide the evidence of your status to your local authority. It is importantto update your term time address at Edge Hill. This can be done via the Go Portal.

Housing BenefitMost students in full-time education are not eligible for Housing Benefit during theircourse of studies. However, if you fall into one of the following categories you may beeligible for Housing Benefit and should contact your local authority for further advice:- Part-time students- Lone Parents- Lone foster parents with a child formally placed with him/her- Individuals in receipt of Income Support- Couples both full-time students with dependent children- Students with disabilities

Useful Information

TV LicencesYou need a TV licence if you watch or record television programmes as they're beingshown on TV - online, on a TV, or on any device (even a laptop). This is the case whateverdevice you use – whether a laptop, PC, mobile phone, games console, digital box,VHS/DVD recorder or anything else. It also includes programmes you watch online at thesame time as they’re being shown on TV, for example live sport.

If there is a joint tenancy agreement for the whole house, you may only need one licence.However, you may need your own licence if your accommodation is self-contained – i.e.you have exclusive access to washing facilities or you have your own entrance to theproperty. If you have a separate tenancy agreement for your room, you’ll need to becovered by a separate licence.

A colour TV Licence costs £145.50 and a black and white TV Licence costs £49.00. If youmove out of your term-time address for the summer months, you can apply to bereimbursed for the cost of the licence for that time – which could be around £37 (As longas your licence is still valid for at least three full calendar months and you don’t need itagain before it expires).

For more information, please visit www.tvlicensing.co.uk.

InsuranceIt is always a good idea to insure your personal possessions. Check any existing parents’insurance policies first in case your belongings are covered whilst at university. If not, besure to shop around the various insurance companies so that you get the best deal.

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Soon after moving in, it is worth spending some time as a group deciding on how thingswill be run in the house and how you can create an atmosphere conducive to everyone’swellbeing.

MoneyIt makes sense to set up a communal shopping budget at the start of your contract andagree a set amount each week that everyone must contribute. It may be the case that somepeople are absent from the house for a few days at a time so maybe try to agree how mucheveryone should pay and record everything on a wall chart in the kitchen or living room.

If you find that this arrangement doesn’t work and that some people are unfairly payingmore than others, consider going shopping together on a set day each week.

CleaningIn order to maintain a healthy and uncluttered environment it is important that everytenant has a commitment to regular cleaning. You could set up a rota and vary dutiesfrom week to week. Alternatively, like with the weekly shopping trips, you could haveregular group cleaning days.

RespectAs a student tenant it is hugely important to remember to be respectful to each other.Contribute fairly to the household finances, participate actively in cleaning, be flexible andmake a real effort to get along with your fellow tenants and life should be rewarding.

Living Together

Ormskirk is a safe place to live with a low level of crime. Nevertheless, it is vital that youremain vigilant at all times and remember these tips:

Staying Safe At Home- Check that the property has decent door and windows and that the locks work. If this

isn’t the case, raise the issue immediately to your landlord- Lock up when you leave the house – don’t leave it to someone else- Don’t leave your possessions on show through windows- Be careful who you invite into the property- Be especially alert when there are visitors in the house- Keep valuable possessions locked up and out of sight

Staying Safe When Out- Try to go out as a group and don’t become separated- Use taxis and public transport to get around wherever possible- Don’t walk up dark alleys or poorly lit pathways- Keep your cash, mobile cards etc. close to your person - Control your alcohol consumption – you are far more likely to be a victim of crime

when you are drunk

Fire SafetyIn order to remain registered with Edge Hill, landlords must fit their properties withsmoke alarms (mains wired or wireless) and a fire blanket in the kitchen. All propertiesmust also have a clear escape route or means of escape directly from bedrooms via anescape window or dooor. If you notice that any of these are either not present or notworking, please contact the Accommodation Team immediately.

Keep these useful tips in mind at all times in order to greatly reduce the risk of fire:- Before going to bed, close all doors to prevent the spread of fire- All final exit doors should be easy to open without the use of a key- Plan an escape route, making sure that there is nothing blocking the way- Don’t leave pans unattended- NEVER use water to extinguish a chip pan fire. Doing this will create a dangerous fireball- Take care when smoking in the house, especially if you have consumed alcohol- Don’t smoke in bed and make sure your cigarette is fully extinguished before going

to sleep- Keep candles away from flammable surfaces or textiles such as curtains, TV sets, or

bath tubs and never leave them unattended- Don’t overload plug sockets and remember to switch off electrical equipment when

not in use- Secure portable heaters against a wall so they don’t fall over, keep them away from

curtains and furnishings and never dry clothes on them

Staying Safe

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Living in a town is a completely different experience to living on campus. As well as manystudents, you will be part of a wider community made up of a whole host of differentpeople and how you integrate yourself into the community will play a big part in shapingyour experience of off campus living.

Try to get to know your neighbours. Introduce yourself and let them know a little aboutyou in order to put their minds at rest.

NoiseBe respectful of noise levels and remember that there are many working families withyoung children in most areas. If you do decide to hold a party, let the neighbours knowin advance, keep the music to a reasonable level and ask your guests to leave quietly.

If you do receive a complaint about noise it is essential that you act on it. TheEnvironmental Health section of the council has the power to fine you and if the situationworsens the police have the power to serve a closure order notice on the property. Thiswill mean that you will be evicted from the property but will still have to pay rent until theend of the contract.

ParkingParking in Ormskirk can be difficult so it is advisable to check with the landlord whetherthere is an allocated parking space for the property and with the council to see if you areeligible for a parking permit.

Refuse Collection and RecyclingIt is your responsibility to ensure that your rubbish is disposed of correctly. Not doing sowill annoy your neighbours and may lead to a fixed penalty fine from the local authority.

West Lancs council recycles paper, card, glass, cans and plastic bottles, garden waste andtextiles and provides each household with bins, bags and boxes. Make sure you put thecorrect material into the correct receptacle and try to get into the recycling habit.

For information on collection arrangements and recycling in Ormskirk, visit West Lancscouncil website at www.westlancsdc.gov.uk/refuse__recycling.aspx.

Living in the Community

Accommodation TeamKate McAdam – Head of Accommodation ServicesHelen Knowles - Accommodation Operations ManagerKaren Jones – Accommodation OfficerDavid Coffey – Accommodation OfficerNeil Dixon – Accommodation OfficerRichard Pugh – Accommodation Finance Officer

Telephone: 01965 584 200Email: accommodation@edgehill.ac.ukWebsite: edgehill.ac.uk/studentservices/accommodation

The Accommodation Team is based in the Student Information Centre at Edge Hill. Weare open from 08.45-17.00 Monday to Friday and operate a ‘drop-in’ service for any offcampus issues. Alternatively, you can arrange an appointment with a member of staff bytelephoning or emailing us in advance.

Students’ UnionTelephone: 01695 657 301Email: su@edgehill.ac.ukWebsite: www.edgehillsu.org.uk

Lancashire Fire ServiceTelephone: 01695 572 223Website: www.lancsfirerescue.org.uk

Ormskirk Police Station Telephone: 01695 566 430

West Lancs Council Environmental OfficerTelephone: 01695 585 247

Useful Contacts

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Edge Hill UniversitySt Helens Road, Ormskirk,Lancashire,L39 4QP United Kingdom