Sh and tc handbook 2014

Student livingStudent house and Taylor Court flats handbook

Accommodation Office staff 1House Tutors 2Useful contacts 3Security and safety 4

General security and safety 4Electrical safety 5Using gas appliances safely 5Fire Action Procedures 6More about fire safety 7

Living in your community 8Service standards 9Domestic information 10

Your house should have … 10Cleaning 10Mice 11

Maintenance and repairs 12Common problems 12

Showers 12Blocked sinks and drains 12Light bulbs 12Fridge/freezers 12

Condensation and how to prevent it 13Internet 13Using your microwave 14Using your cooker 15Using your vacuum cleaner 16Doing your laundry 17

Washing 17Drying 18Useful symbols found in clothing 18

Guide to heating 19About central-heating systems 19Electric storage heating 20

Energy management and water conservation 21Household rubbish collection and recycling 22Insurance 23

Contractual information 24Payment of residence fees 24Keys 24Inspections 24International and exchange students

leaving early 24Continuing next year in Universityaccommodation? 25Can I be released from my residence contract? 26Additional information 26Codes of practice for student accommodation 26Accommodation Office – complaints procedure 27Head Leasing 28Visitors’ accommodation 29The local area 30Fines and Damage Tariffs 31Moving out checklist 32Cleaning advisory notice procedure 33

Contents

Accommodation staff

Student living 1www.hull.ac.uk

Jill CooperHead of Accommodation

Pam LeachCustomer Liaison Officer

Emma FoxProperty Management Officer

Fay PowdrellAccommodation Assistant

June ClunieAccommodation Assistant

Pauline AndrewsSenior Accommodation Assistant

Tracy FinchamSenior Accommodation Assistant

Cristian ArvatAccommodation Assistant

Denisa RusAccommodation Assistant

Bilkis JaigirdarAccommodation Assistant

Clare CorfieldAccommodation Assistant

House tutors

Student living2

Julia Goodall Neil Gordan Karen Hillison Andrew Holmes

Cathy Hughes Tom Kane Graeme Reid

Linda ClementsShaun ClaterClare CorfieldMatt Beecroft

Olga VertijaLisa Revell Debbie Stansfield Michelle Clifford

Kerry Harrison

Sam Kendall Fay Powdrell

Raymond Swaray

Moira Barker

Internal calls are calls made from within the University or in your student residence.

If you are using your mobile, you will need to dial the area code (01482), but if you are in Hull and using alandline, you can just ring the external number without the code.

Useful contacts


Internal External/email

Emergency 5555 (01482) 465555

Security Assistance (including out of hours repairs) 6868 (01482) 466868

Reception (Venn Building) 5318 (01482) 465318

Accommodation Office 6042 (01482) [email protected]@[email protected]

Advice Centre 6263 (01482) [email protected]

Computer Centre Helpdesk 2010 (01482) [email protected]

Student Support Services 2020 [email protected]@hull.ac.uk

Disability Services 6833 (01482) [email protected]

Counselling 5166 (01482) [email protected]

HUU (students’ union) 4000 (01482) 464000

General security and safety

While we at the University of Hull do all we can toensure your safety during your time here, we also needyour help to make this possible. The Security receptionlocated in the Venn Building is open 24 hours a day, 7days a week. The Security staff frequently patrol thecampus and surrounding residences. If you noticeanything suspicious, please do not hesitate to contactthem or the Accommodation Office.

Please be mindful of the following.

In your accommodation

Security• Keep all doors and windows firmly shut and locked

when you are out of your room, leaving the houseor going to bed. If you have problems with anylocks, contact the Accommodation Office.

• Do not leave valuable possessions, such aslaptops or house keys, in a place that is visible topotential thieves.

• Do not leave keys in locks – ensure that they areput away, even if you are at home.

• If you have one, use a security marker pen to markyour postcode on your property – enabling policeto return any stolen property to you. Make aninventory and keep your list in a safe place. A‘Coded for Keeps’ booklet is available atwww.homeoffice.gov.uk/crime-victims/how-you-can-prevent-crime/mark-your-property/?version=

• If possible, lock your computer away in a cupboardor cabinet when you are not using it.

• A laptop security bolt can be bought from anygood computer retailer.

• When leaving your house at night, leave a landinglight on (for example). Although we generallyadvise you to turn lights off for environmentalreasons, leaving a light on when no one is homecreates an impression that people are inside thehouse and may therefore deter any potentialintruders.

• Do not leave curtains closed during the day whenyou are away as this is a sign to intruders that yourroom is empty.

Safety• All houses are fitted with smoke alarms in each

bedroom, and a heat sensor in the kitchen, whichare annually tested by the facilities department.

• Some houses have hardwired carbon monoxidedetectors fitted. These houses have signs to tellyou what to do if the alarm sounds.

• Keep the hallway, stairs, landing and exits fromyour house clear of rubbish, storage, bikes, etc.This is to enable residents to escape quickly andsafely in the event of a fire.

• Never use candles, oil burners or joss sticks. If youare caught with these items in your room, you willbe fined.

• Remember only one plug per socket and do notattach multiple extension leads.

• When cooking, do not leave pans unattended.Always double-check that cookers have beenturned off properly when you have finishedcooking.

• If the fire extinguisher in your house appearsfaulty or damaged, or there is no ‘fire action’notice above it, please contact theAccommodation Office immediately.

Out of your accommodation• Stick to well-lit and busy areas, particularly when

out alone.• If you must carry a laptop computer out with you,

carry it in a rucksack rather than a computer case.This conceals the fact that you are carrying avaluable item.

• Try not to draw attention to other valuable itemsyou may be carrying, such as mobile phones andjewellery.

• Let a friend know where you are going and whattime you can be expected to arrive or return home.

• Ensure that your car is secured and does notattract potential thieves. Do not leave valuablessuch as your purse, CDs or mobile phone on viewin the car. If you have one, always apply yoursteering wheel lock.

For security assistance outside office hours, pleasecontact the Security Office on 6868 from thecommunal telephone in your house, or on 01482466868.

For any other emergencies, please call 5555 (internal)or 01482 465555 from your mobile.

Security and safety

Student living4


Electrical safety

Electricity is not dangerous when used properly. Keepsafe by following these common-sense tips:

• Make sure that any appliances you bring with youare Portable Appliance Tested (PAT) if they aremore than 12 months old.

• Never touch plugs, switches or electricalappliances with wet hands.

• Check plugs and flexes regularly, looking out fordamaged, loose connections and scorch marksaround plugs, and report any defects immediatelyto the Accommodation Office. Do not use anythingthat appears damaged.

• Do not overload wall sockets. If you need to use anadaptor, use a multi-socket trailing adaptor, not amulti-way adaptor that plugs straight into thesocket. Never plug one adaptor into another one.

• If you need to use an extension cable, do not use alonger one than necessary. Do not keep extensioncables coiled, as this can cause them to overheat.

• Do not leave wires and cables trailing across thefloor where you might trip over them.

• Never hang anything over convector, fan or electricheaters.

• Never use mains-powered electrical equipment inthe bathroom.

• Electric blankets are a common cause of fires.Always follow instructions carefully. It isrecommended that you get your blanket servicedevery three years.

• Always switch off and unplug hair appliances afteryou have used them.

Using gas appliances safely

Always read the instruction booklets that come withany gas appliances before use, and keep theinstructions in a place where all residents can accessthem in case you need to refer back to them.

• It is a legal requirement to use qualified people toinstall, modify or service gas appliances, and theUniversity strictly adheres to the law. If there is aproblem with your gas appliance, contact theAccommodation Office.

• It is very dangerous to cover up ventilators or airbricks which supply air for boilers, gas fires oropen-flue wall heaters. The same applies tochimneys and flues, which must be kept clear.

• A faulty or poorly ventilated gas appliance canproduce carbon monoxide. This is a dangerousodourless gas which can be fatal. Yellow or orangeflames, staining and soot marks on or near theappliance can indicate a problem. Feelingunusually drowsy, sick or headachy when theappliance is in use could be a danger signal.If you believe there is a gas leak, contact theAccommodation Office immediately on 01482466042 or, out of hours, call Security on (46)5555.

• A gas safety check is carried out every year by aGAS SAFE registered engineer, who will check:

• the gas supply pipe work • that all gas appliances are working safely • that all gas flues are working safely and are

suitable • that gas appliances have adequate ventilation

The University of Hull has a legal duty to arrange this.As a tenant you must allow a GAS SAFE gas engineeraccess to your accommodation to carry out safetychecks and, if necessary, repair work.

A copy of the gas certificate for your house should bedisplayed on your communal notice board. If acertificate is not visible, please inform theAccommodation Office.

Student living6

Fire Action Procedures

For the safety and wellbeing of all residents, it isimportant that students are familiar with theprocedures they must follow when the fire alarmsounds. Procedural arrangements for individualshouses must be abided by. It must never be assumedthat the alarm is sounding for practice purposes.

If, after any activation of the fire alarm, a student isfound to be disregarding the fire action procedures,thereby putting their life and the lives of housemates,staff and the Fire Rescue Service personnel at risk, heor she may face University disciplinary proceedings.This also applies to any individual who activates thefire alarm or a fire extinguisher unnecessarily.

The fire warning system and firefighting equipmentare there for your protection in an emergency.Familiarise yourself with them.

If you see a fire or smell smoke• Evacuate the area immediately and call 999.

Remember to give precise and relevantinformation and the full address of the house.

• Call Security on (01482) 465555 and inform themof the situation.

If you hear the fire alarm• Immediately evacuate the building using the

nearest available exit. Close windows and doorsbehind you, and – if it is safe to do so – switch offany gas or electrical equipment in the vicinity asyou leave.

• If it is safe to do so, ensure as you leave thepremises that all study-bedrooms, bathrooms andcommunal areas have been vacated. Shout ‘FIRE’to alert other occupants.

• Assemble outside together with your housemates,as follows:

Taylor Court – assemble at marked assemblypoints

Student Houses – assemble across the road fromyour house

Smoke detectorsIn your house there are two types of device fordetecting fire:

• The one in the kitchen is a ‘rate-of-rise’ heatdetector. It will not go off if you burn your toast butwill be activated by a rise in temperature.

• The smoke alarms in your rooms and in thehallways will activate if they detect smoke. So, forexample, if the smoke from your burnt toast risesthrough the house to a detector in the hallway, thealarm will go off.

GeneralYou are responsible for the safety of guests while theyare on the premises.

Each student also has a responsibility to his or herhousemates. In the event of an evacuation, eachgroup of students must check that all residents areaccounted for and must be ready to report the namesand room numbers of any absent person(s). Do notre-enter the house until the Fire Brigade tell you it issafe to do so.

It is important that this procedure is carried outquickly. In the event of a fire, the Fire Rescue Servicewill ask for a list of rooms which may still be occupied.

Any student deliberately hindering this procedure willbe reprimanded after the incident, as such behaviourmay endanger the lives of guests, other students andthose working in the Fire Rescue Service.

Other points to note• Sometimes the fire alarm may be silenced on the

arrival of the Fire Rescue Service. This does notmean that the building is safe to re-enter.

• At no time may a student re-enter the houseunless permission has been given by a member ofstaff, Security or a Fire Officer.

• If you intend to be absent from your houseovernight or longer you must let someone know. Inthe event of a fire, this will facilitate the reportingprocedure outlined above.

If there is any doubt about the Fire Action Procedures,please do not hesitate to contact your House Tutor orthe Accommodation Office.


More about fire safety

General fire precautions• NEVER LEAVE COOKING UNATTENDED. This is a

main cause of fire.• The use of candles, joss sticks, oil burners etc are

not permitted within bedrooms or communalareas. The use of chip pans is NOT permitted.

• Housekeeping within your room is yourresponsibility. Remember, a tidy environment is asafe one.

• Waste bins must be emptied regularly. They arenot to be left in corridor areas.

• Electrical multi-blocks are not to be used. Useshort extension cables.

• DO NOT WEDGE OPEN FIRE DOORS. They aredesigned to prevent the spread of smoke and fireand could save your life!

Penalties for breaching safety rulesPlease be aware you will be charged for

• covering smoke detectors (immediate charge of£50)

• damaging or misusing fire extinguishers (chargefor replacement – up to £50)

• blocking fire exits or propping open fire doors(immediate charge of £50)

• using non-permitted items such as chip pans,candles, joss sticks or oil burners (immediatecharge of £50)

BarbecuesHaving a barbecue should be a safe and enjoyableexperience for everyone. Cooking over hot coals canbe hazardous. It is easy to be distracted when youhave family and friends around you while cooking.

Always …• Make sure that your barbecue is in good working

order.• Keep a bucket of water, a bucket of sand, an

extinguisher or a garden hose nearby in case ofemergencies.

• Make sure that your barbecue site is flat and atleast five metres from the property, openwindows, sheds, fences, trees and shrubs.

• Use only enough charcoal to cover the base of the barbecue to a depth of about 50 mm (two inches).

• Keep any garden games, visiting children or petswell away from the cooking area.

• When you have finished cooking, make sure thatthe barbecue is cool before trying to move it.

• Empty ashes onto bare garden soil.

Never …• Use gas barbecues in University owned or

managed accommodation.• Leave the barbecue unattended.• Put hot ashes straight into a dustbin or wheelie

bin (they can melt the plastic and cause a fire).• Light barbecues indoors!

Student living8

Some things to do or bear in mind:Living in a student house means that your neighbourswill not all be students. You will be a part of acommunity comprising families, couples and elderlypeople as well as other students. Please beconsiderate towards your neighbours andhousemates and embrace being part of a community.

Health and safetyLook out for each other and report any concerns to theUniversity.

NoiseRemember that everyone has the right to the ‘quietenjoyment’ of their home. If you’re having a party, letthe neighbours know and be reasonable about thenoise levels.

SecurityGetting to know your neighbours means that they cankeep watch on your property if you go home for theholidays and vice versa.

Rubbish and recyclingA selection of different bins will be supplied for yourfortnightly rubbish and recycling collections. You mustensure that these are put out on to the street on thecorrect days and put away around the back of theproperty (where possible) after they have beenemptied.

Collection times should be on stickers on the bins. Ifnot, call Hull City Council on (01482) 300300. This isalso the number to call for further information aboutrubbish and recycling.

Please see pages 14 and 23 for more advice aboutrubbish collections and recycling.

www.hullcc.gov.uk/recycling

Living in your community

Relaxing in a head-leased bedroom.

Students relaxing in a student house kitchen.

Service standards


Service standards for theAccommodation Office, Student Housesand Taylor Court flats

Our aim is …To provide a service that is professional, courteous,friendly and responsive to customer needs.

The Accommodation Office will …• Act lawfully and ethically to assist you.• Provide an offer of University-owned, -managed or

-directed accommodation to all first-yearundergraduate students who request it (with thepossible exception of a few late applicants).

• Ensure that information is readily available for themost common enquiries.

• Provide and operate a published complaints andsuggestions procedure.

• Monitor customer satisfaction by conductingregular feedback exercises.

• Reserve the right to withdraw its services to you ifyou have behaved in a manner found not to beacceptable.

Student houses and Taylor Court• We will provide a system of pastoral care for

University-owned and -managed accommodation.• We will ensure that all requests for repairs

received in the Accommodation Office duringnormal working hours are reported to the EstatesDepartment within two hours.

• We will comply with all applicable legislation (e.g.health and safety regulations).

The Accommodation Office expects you …• To notify us immediately when repairs are needed.• To treat staff and fellow students with respect and

courtesy at all times.• To acknowledge the demands of a busy working

office on staff time and show appropriatepatience.

• To observe the University of Hull Regulations.• To not cause deliberate damage to your residence.

Jill CooperHead of Accommodation

Students outside student houses on Cranbrook Avenue.

A bedroom in Taylor Court.

Domestic information

Student living10

Your house should have …

• Microwave• Fridge/freezer (two for properties with more than

five occupants)• Cooker (two for properties with more than six

occupants)• Iron• Ironing board• Vacuum cleaner• Mop and bucket• Sweeping brush• Dustpan and brush• Kettle

If any of these items are missing from your property,please report them to the Cleaning Office at 55Salmon Grove.

CleaningStudent housesA cleaner will clean the communal areas of your houseonce a week. The day of cleaning and the name of yourcleaner should be displayed on the notice board inyour house. The cleaner is responsible for thefollowing operations.

Kitchen: Clean cooker tops and ovens; check filters incooker hoods and change when necessary; clean theinside and outside of the microwave ovens; wipedown all surfaces, tiles and sinks; clean the floor,including behind the cooker; empty rubbish bins.

Bathroom and toilets: Clean toilets, water pipes andtiles; clean sinks and taps; clean baths and showers;clean mirrors; mop floors; check shower curtains andchange when necessary; empty rubbish bins.

Common room and other areas: Wipe down surfacesin common room; vacuum common room, hallways,stairs and landings; empty rubbish bins.

Over a four-week period, skirting boards, windowledges, staircases, banisters and ledges to toplandings and hallways, all communal door frames,inside and outside, outside front door and externalfront way will be cleaned. In addition vacuum bagsand mops will be checked and replaced whennecessary.

Taylor CourtA cleaner will clean each floor once a week. The nameof your cleaner will be displayed on your notice board.The cleaner is responsible for the followingoperations.

Kitchen: Clean cooker tops and ovens; check filters incooker hoods and change when necessary; clean theinside and outside of the microwave ovens; wipedown all surfaces, tiles and sinks; pull cookers outand sweep and mop behind where possible.

Hall, stairs and corridors: Weekly vacuum and wipe-down of woodwork.

En-suite bathrooms: Clean all sanitary ware and washfloor once a week.


Please note that the cleaner must have access to youren-suite bathroom once a week in order to clean it. Thecleaner will tell you on which day your bathroom willbe cleaned and give you an approximate time. Your fullcooperation in allowing access at the given time isexpected. Failure to allow access will be reported to theAccommodation Office and/or the Non-resident Tutor.

Over a four-week period, skirting boards, windowledges, staircases, banisters and ledges to toplandings and hallways, all communal door frames,inside and outside, outside front door and externalfront way will be cleaned. In addition vacuum bagsand mops will be checked and replaced whennecessary.

Tenants’ responsibilitiesTenants are responsible for maintaining a safeenvironment for University employees who may haveto enter the premises. Among other things, thismeans that

• floor areas must be clear of debris (shoes removedfrom hallways, no bikes in hallways, no trailingwires, etc)

• the sink and kitchen surfaces must be clear• any food waste must be in the rubbish bins

provided (please do not leave plates of food on thefloor!)

• you must remove and dispose of all rubbish fromwithin your rooms

Please be aware that …• Cleaning services will be reduced over the

Christmas and Easter holidays.• The cleaning staff have the right to withdraw their

services if the house or Taylor Court flat is in anunacceptable condition. You may be fined forcontinually leaving your accommodation in such acondition, and this may affect your eligibility tocontinue in the accommodation for the followingyear.

• Photographic evidence will be taken in order tosupport any disciplinary action.

For further information about cleaning services,please visit the Cleaning Office at 55 Salmon Grove orcontact the Cleaning Services Manager, Gill Shores,by emailing [email protected].

MiceOccasionally a house will suffer from unwantedvisitors such as mice. Here are a few notes on ways ofpreventing or dealing with the problem.

How to prevent mouse infestation• Good hygiene is essential. Food scraps and

rubbish provide the ideal environment for mice tolive and breed and should be removed regularly.

• Always clear up any spilt food immediately, andkeep food in sealable plastic containers.

• Store all food products at least 24 cm off theground to make access harder and to make iteasier to see signs of an infestation.

What to do if you see a mouseReport it to the Accommodation Office immediately!We will arrange for a pest control expert to be called.

What the Accommodation Office doesOnce a mouse sighting has been reported we contactthe University’s Facilities Department, who requestEcolab (Pest Elimination) to attend. The contractor willcontinue to attend until the problem is resolved.Please note that this does not immediately remove theunwanted visitors from your house. It is a processwhich could take a number of weeks.

If you wish to get rid of a mouse problem yourself,mouse traps and poison are available from mosthardware stores and supermarkets – but please followthe instructions carefully.

Always remember that the most effective way ofgetting rid of mice and preventing them is to keepyour house clean and tidy!

Maintenance andrepairs

Common problems

Student living12

Reporting faultsPlease report anything requiring repair to theAccommodation Office. Faults can be reported by

• calling the Accommodation Office on (01482)466042

• emailing [email protected]• visiting the Customer Service Desk located on the

Second Floor of University House

Please remember to give as much detail as possible,including the location of the problem, and alwaysstate your name, address and room number whencontacting us by any of the above methods.

Your problem will be reported to the MaintenanceDepartment, who will make every effort to deal withthe request within a reasonable amount of time.However, if there seems to be an unreasonable delay,please inform the Accommodation Office and we willenquire about the progress of your request. We rely onyou to tell us if your problem has not been dealt with ina reasonable amount of time. Please see the ServiceLevel Agreement in the Accommodation section of ourwebsite, under ‘Downloads’.

Outside normal office hours, emergency repairrequirements can be reported to Security by calling01482 466868 or 6868 from your communal phone.But please call the Reports Centre only if yourproblem is an emergency and cannot wait until thefollowing day.

What is an emergency repair?• Risk to life or substantial damage to property• Smell of gas• Major water leak resulting in flood and immediate

danger to the structure, services, or fixtures andfittings

• Major loss of power• Smell of burning (electrical)• Major structural damage, such as ceiling collapse• Main drain blockage• Total loss of heating in building • Lighting fault on staircases, landings and areas

likely to be a health and safety issue

ShowersPlease ensure that shower curtains are drawn insidethe bath or that doors to standing showers areproperly closed. Leaving the doors open or the showercurtain outside the bath when you shower can causeextensive damage to the floor and to the ceiling of theroom below. If excessive amounts of water are foundon the bathroom floor, please mop it up and check thatall housemates have been following these instructions.

Any damage resulting from a lack of such care mayresult in the household’s being charged for repair.

Blocked sinks and drainsIf you have a blocked shower (for example), and youcannot clear the blockage easily yourself, report itimmediately and do not let water build up in theshower tray so that it overflows onto the floor. Thiscould cause major damage to the floor and to theceiling of the room below, and the household will beheld responsible and charged accordingly for anyrepairs.

If you report a blocked sink, shower or drain, we willsend a maintenance engineer to unblock it for you. If itis blocked with food, grease, hair, soap scum, etc, thiswill be classed as damage and the household will becharged for the repair.

Do not pour foodstuffs and fats down kitchen sinksand toilets, as this causes blocked drains. Carefullydispose of fats and foodstuffs by putting them in thekitchen bin provided.

Light bulbsIf your light bulb needs replacing, please report it as a‘repair’ by

• calling the Accommodation Office on (01482)466042

• emailing [email protected]• visiting the Customer Service Desk located on the

Second Floor of University House

Fridge/freezersFridges and freezers need to be defrosted once everythree months. Failure to defrost them causes leaksand may also cause appliances to stop workingcorrectly. The cleaners can do the defrosting for you,but you must liaise with them first and make sure thatthe fridge/freezer is completely empty on thearranged date.

Condensation andhow to prevent it


Condensation and dampness occur when warm aircarrying vapour comes into contact with a coolsurface. This can lead to staining and mould growth,damaging wallpaper, wall surfaces, window frames,furniture and clothing. It can also prove verydamaging to the internal structures of the University’saccommodation, making the living experience difficultfor you. The guide below will help you prevent or dealwith the problem of condensation.

Areas prone to condensation• Cold surfaces (e.g. windows)• Kitchens and bathrooms• Walls of unheated rooms• Cold corners of rooms and areas where air cannot

circulate• Wardrobes/cupboards and behind furniture

against an outside wall

How to control condensation• Check that the walls are not already suffering from

damp or mould. If they are, report this to theoffice.

• Make sure you swith on extractor fans in Kitchensand Bathrooms.

• Clean off any moisture which collects on yourwindows and windowsills with a damp cloth.

• After a bath or shower ventilate the room to theoutside, not to the rest of the house. Opening awindow and closing the door will help.

• Ensure that your heating is on in colder months.• When drying clothes indoors, 5.5 kg of water goes

in to the air. Make sure that the room is ventilatedby opening a window.

• When cooking, keep lids on saucepans, close thekitchen door and open a window.

• Try to open all windows once a day. This can helpto combat condensation in the winter as theoutside temperature drops and the temperatureindoors rises (because of the heating).

• Make sure that furniture, particularly the bed, isnot situated against an outside wall.

If mould does start to appear, you can prevent thisfrom getting out of control by wiping down the areawith hot, soapy water. Alternatively, you can ask yourcleaner for advice on how to alleviate the problem.

For more information on condensation, please visitwww.diydata.com and look it up in the index.

Internet accessEach room has free internet access. The internet isaccessed via wifi and the network.

If you have applied for accommodation via UCAS, youwill be able to use your MYADMIN username andpassword to get online.

Problems? please call in to the Applied Sciencebuilding with ID and we will do what we can to connectyou early.

Television licenceA television licence is needed to watch anything liveonline, as well as on television. Please go towww.tvlicensing.co.uk for more information.

Contact numbers

Accommodation OfficeT (01482 46)6042F (01482) 466020E [email protected]

[email protected]@hull.ac.uk

ICT HelpdeskT (01482 46)2010E [email protected]

Internet KeycomT 0300 103 0043

Internet

Using your microwave

Student living14

All our kitchens have a microwave in them. Whilethese may not be the most attractive appliances, theyare certainly one of the most useful.

What can you cook?The microwave is surprisingly versatile, and there areplenty of occasions when it is quicker and simpler touse than the conventional oven. As with all kitchenappliances, it is best to start off by preparingsomething very simple. Try cooking a jacket potato, forexample. Obviously (re)heating is one of its main jobs,but casseroles, vegetables, chicken and other meatcan all be cooked in the microwave, which saves timeand effort.

The microwave is a particularly useful gadget for astudent kitchen, since there are often going to be twoor more people in the kitchen cooking different meals.When this happens, you don’t necessarily need to waitfor your turn at the oven: just pick something that canbe cooked in the microwave.

A healthy optionBelieve it or not, microwaving can be a healthy way tocook. It is healthier than frying, since you don’t useany oil and your food will have a lower fat content.Vegetables steam themselves and therefore retainmore minerals than they do with other types ofcooking. They also cook a lot more quickly than theywould if you were boiling them, so again fewernutrients will be lost. It is possible to use yourmicrowave to create complete, healthy meals.Whenever conventional cooking seems like too muchhassle, having this gadget might also mean thatyou’re less likely to dial for a takeaway. A couple ofpotatoes and a tin of beans are all you need to create afilling, nutritious meal that takes less than 10 minutesto prepare.

Top tips for microwaving• Never put metal containers or implements in the

microwave.• Pierce film lids, or foods with skin, before cooking

to stop them ‘exploding’.• If you’re heating a meal or soup, stir it halfway

through cooking to ensure that the food is warmedevenly.

• Allow your food to stand for a minute or two beforeyou eat it. Microwaves can be deceptivelypowerful.

• Use your microwave to defrost food quickly andsafely before cooking.

• Freeze meal leftovers in individual, microwaveablecontainers so that it’s easy to heat up just oneportion.

Make the most of itCooking in the microwave is not a cop-out. As long asit doesn’t become the only cooking method and youdon’t end up standing in front of it every evening as aready meal spins around, it’s fine. Get creative anduse your microwave to save time, washing up and cutdown costs!

More information about microwaving is available at

• busycooks.about.com/od/microwaveovens/a/microwavemagic.htm

• www.recipe-ideas.co.uk/microwave-recipes.htm


There are probably a million more exciting things to bethinking about during your time at university than thepros and cons of your cooker. However, no kitchenwould be worth stepping into without a functioningoven, and mealtimes wouldn’t be quite such an eventif you had to eat cold dinners every night. As with allkitchen appliances, there are a number of differenttypes of ovens, or oven-and-hob combinations, andit’s a good idea to get fairly well acquainted with yoursbefore you attempt any culinary events for yourfriends.

Electric cookerThis is the one that you’ll find in most kitchens: anupright appliance with four plates on the hob, a grillsection and a main oven. The oven is fairlystraightforward to use, but all ovens are different andeach will have its own quirks. Some will cook thingsmore quickly (especially if fan-assisted, which meansthat the air is constantly circulated); some will cookthings more slowly.

Gas cookerThis is similar to an electric cooker but powered bygas. Some systems will have a gas hob and an electricoven. Many people prefer gas hobs as they heatinstantly and it’s easier to control the temperature.However, it’s all down to personal preference andwhat you get used to. If you have a gas oven thatneeds to be lit manually, always use a proper gaslighter and not matches (for obvious reasons!). Youcan get a gas lighter from 55 Salmon Grove CleaningOffice.

Separate hob and ovenThis is where the oven is integrated into the kitchenunits and sits off the floor. You then have a separatehob, either alongside the oven or elsewhere in thekitchen. The benefit of a higher-level oven is that youdon’t have to bend down to lift food in and out of it orto make checks during cooking.

Top tipsIf you’re unfamiliar with your oven, you probably won’tbe able to cook confidently. Even the mostexperienced chefs have problems when they arecooking with an oven different from the one that theynormally use. Here are a few tips to get you started:

• Begin with something really simple like a jacketpotato, so that you can test the temperature andtimings of your oven.

• Clean the oven before you use it for the first timeand then regularly after that. Leftover food cansoon build up, and unsavoury smells will bewafting around the house every time the oven isturned on.

• Try not to open the oven while food is cooking.This lowers the temperature and will delay yourdinner!

• Don’t leave the kitchen while food is cookingunless you have set a timer. It’s very easy to getcaught up in something else until the smoke alarmreminds you that your food is burnt.

With a bit of oven know-how, you can really cook withconfidence. It doesn’t take long to learn about thepeculiarities of your oven and how to use it, and it’stime well spent.

Using your cooker

Using your vacuum cleaner

Student living16

Please remember this advice whenusing the vacuum cleaner:

1 Inspect the area before you vacuum. Pick upobjects that could cause a clog in your vacuumcleaner, such as paperclips and coins.

2 Check the vacuum bag to make sure that it isn’talready full. If it is, change it. Your cleaner willshow you what to do.

3 Vacuum forwards, not backwards: you’ll get thejob done faster.

4 Overlap your strokes to ensure that you get all dirtand residue.

5 Change your vacuuming direction occasionally toreduce matting in your carpet.

6 Use a crevice tool attachment for corners.7 Get rid of dust particles by vacuuming under your

bed.

Do not …• Vacuum up any liquids.• Drag the cord too far. Always plug the vacuum into

a suitable socket so that you don’t stretch thecable. Stretching the cable could cause electricalaccidents.


Washing

What you need• Dirty clothes• Detergent (washing powder, liquid, tablets or

capsules)

Types of detergentYou can buy detergents for colours and detergents forwhites. ‘Coloured’ is the most useful as it can be usedfor whites as well. Detergents can be really expensive,so it’s a lot cheaper to have only one type. But if you’regoing to get another type of detergent for your whites,make sure that you don’t wash your colours with it!

Tablets or capsules are usually the best choice. Theyare easy to use, whereas powder can spill everywhereand it’s always difficult guessing the amount to put inthe machine.

When buying detergent, bear in mind that

• bleach is for whites (don’t use it with colours)• ‘biological’ detergent has enzymes in it which

supposedly help the cleaning process

How to wash your clothes1 Put your clothes in the washing machine. Be

careful not to overload the machine as this cancause it to break. Leave a bit of space at the top,so that the clothes have room to move about(important for the cleaning process).

2 If using tablets or capsules, follow the instructionson the box. (Tablets are sometimes placed in astring bag before going in the machine; capsulescan be put straight into the drum with yourclothes.)

3 If using powder or liquid, open the drawer andpour it into the large compartment.

4 Firmly close the door.5 Choose your cycle (see below). A ‘pre-wash’ is an

extra wash before the main cycle. If you choose tohave a pre-wash, put extra detergent into thesmall dish in the drawer. The pre-wash is good formuddy sports kits but is not an essential part ofthe washing process.

Choosing a cycleOne thing you need to consider is the desiredtemperature of the wash. Choose according to yourrequirements:

• 30˚ – environmentally friendly• 40˚ – best for colours• 60˚ – best for whites

The higher the temperature, the more chance there isthat the clothes will shrink or fade or both. If you’renot sure, it’s best to stick to 30˚ or 40˚. For whites 60˚is about right as there is no colour to fade and stainsshow up more on white clothes, but make sure thatyou check the care labels in your clothes (see page19).

Remember: the hotter the wash, the longer the cycleis likely to take.

Most cycles are described on the front panel of themachine. Cottons at 40˚ is probably the safest andmost common cycle used.

Doing your laundry

Student living18

Drying

Student houses: Some houses have a tumble dryerwhere there is space for one, but if you don’t haveone, there is plenty of space to dry your clothes. If theweather is nice, create a washing line at the rear ofyour house (washing lines and pegs can be boughtcheaply from local shops) and hang your clothes out.

If using a tumble dryer or the dryer cycle on yourwasher dryer, first make sure that your clothes aresuitable for tumble drying. On your clothes label, ifyou see a circle within a square with a cross throughit, this means DO NOT TUMBLE DRY!

Taylor Court: Washer dryers are supplied in TaylorCourt as students don’t have sufficient space to drytheir clothes.

For washer dryers:

• Make sure the power is switched on at the wall• Do not try and open the door before the cycle is

finished. (The red key will turn green, then you willbe able to open the door).

• If a washer dryer is reported faulty and the abovehave not been followed and no fault is found, thestudent may be charged £30 for the engineer’svisit.

Useful symbols found in clothing


About central-heating systemsModern gas central-heating systems are safe,controllable and efficient to run but can causeconfusion as they have a number of controls that maynot be fully understood. Using heating controlsproperly, you can

• improve the comfort of your home• reduce the energy used• avoid the risk of condensation dampness

Why have controls on a central-heating system?For gas central-heating and hot-water systems tooperate efficiently, they must be controlled so thatheating and hot water are provided at a suitabletemperature, when and where required. Most systemsinclude

• boiler • room thermostat• radiators• thermostatic radiator control valves• programmer

The boilerA boiler heats up the water which is circulated throughradiators to provide heat. It also heats up a coil in thehot-water tank – if you have one – and the water isstored for household use. If yours is a combinationboiler, there is no tank and the water is heated upinstantaneously when the hot-water taps are turnedon. The thermostat on the boiler controls thetemperature of the water circulating around thesystem.

Preset heating and hot water In some accommodation, the temperatures andtimings have been preset by the Facilities Directorate,in order to conserve fuel and prevent the unnecessaryrelease of CO2 (a greenhouse gas).

The settings are shown in the graph below. It isimportant to note that these relate to thetemperatures in the hallway. The hallway is subject tofrequent air changes (e.g. because of doors opening),so it is likely that temperatures in the rooms will behigher than those indicated in the graph.

Water will be heated from 7.00 am until 11.30 pm.Heating will come on between 7.00 am and 10.30 pm ifthe temperature in the property drops below 21 °C. Ifyou have any problems, or feel that the timings arewrong, please contact the Accommodation Office andwe will organise a visit by the Energy Manager.

Guide to heating

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Student houses heating time settings

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Tp 1

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frostsetting

maxman

Student living20

Feeling too hot or cold

If your room is too hotIf there is a thermostat in the hallway that can bealtered, you can use this to reduce the temperature.Otherwise there will be thermostatic controls on yourroom radiator which you can adjust.

If your room is too coldIf there is a thermostat in the hallway that can bealtered, you can use this to increase the temperature.Otherwise there will be thermostatic controls on yourradiator which you can adjust.

If you are coming to Hull from somewhere that is muchwarmer, please remember that you may need to adaptto a certain extent by wearing more or thicker clothing,especially in the autumn and winter months.

If you have taken this in to account and still feel yourroom is too cold, there may be a fault. Report this tothe Accommodation Office.

Electric storage heating

Some of our properties have electric storage heatersin the bedrooms. These store thermal energyovernight and then expel heat during the daytimehours. Ensure that the appliance is plugged in andswitched on at the wall. Heat will be stored at a ratedepending on the ‘input’ setting. The ‘output’ settingallows you to control the rate at which heat is givenout. During the winter months, the stored heat maynot last until late evening if the output is set high allday, so please ensure that you adjust your outputsetting accordingly.

If your room is too hotLower the ‘output’ setting or switch off the power atthe wall. If you do switch off at the wall, however,remember that it will take 24 hours to store enoughheat to warm your room again.

If your room is too coldCheck that the power is switched on at the socket onthe wall. Then make sure that the ‘input’ setting is atmaximum and raise the ‘output’ setting. If you findthat the heater is still not working properly, pleasereport this to the Accommodation Office.


The University of Hull is committed to reducing itsimpact on the environment. In practical terms, it isparticularly committed to

• reducing its carbon emissions by increasing theefficiency of consumption

• considering the purchase of renewable energywhen procuring electricity

• installing water conservation devices andtechnology

• creating a culture of energy and weatherconservation through training, education,curriculum and awareness campaigns

To conserve fuel and prevent the unnecessary releaseof CO², the space heating of offices, student houses,other residences and academic buildings has beenpreset by the University. This is in line with thestatutory instrument – The Control of Fuel andElectricity – The Fuel and Electricity (Heating) (Control)(Amendment) Order 1980. Heating in the propertieswill come on if the temperature drops below 21 ˚Cbetween 7.00 am and 10.30 pm. From 10.30 pm to 7.00 am, the heating will come on if the temperature inthe property drops below 15 ˚C.

Top environmental tips• Close your curtains at dusk to stop heat escaping

through the windows.• Always turn off the lights when you leave a room.• Don’t leave appliances on standby, and remember

not to leave appliances on charge unnecessarily.• Turn computers, monitors and laptops off at the

wall when not using them.• If you’re not filling up the washing machine, use

the half-load or economy programme.• Boil only as much water as you need (but

remember to cover the elements if you’re using anelectric kettle).

• A dripping hot-water tap wastes energy and in oneweek wastes enough hot water to half-fill a bath,so make sure that yours are fully turned off andreport any that leak.

• Use energy-saving light bulbs. Just one can savemore than £100 over the lifetime of the bulb – andthey last up to 12 times longer than ordinary lightbulbs. Your house will already be provided withthese.

Interesting facts and figures• Leaving a 3 kW electric heater on while you’re at

lectures incurs the release of 774 kg of CO² per yearinto the atmosphere, contributing to globalwarming.

• Replacing a standard 60 W light bulb with anenergy-efficient alternative prevents the release of12 kg of CO² per year.

• Not turning the tap off properly can waste as muchas 90 litres of water a week.

For further information on energy management at theUniversity, go to www.hull.ac.uk/facilitiesdirectorateand click on ‘Estates and Buildings’, then look under‘Estate Management’.

Energy management and waterconservation

Student living22

Recycling

Student HousesIt is the responsibility of all student house residents toput household waste/rubbish in the black and bluewheelie bins behind each house.

Your Blue Bin will be collected on Tuesday 23September 2014 and then every 2 weeks.

Your Black Bin will be collected on Tuesday 30September 2014 and then every 2 weeks.

Over Christmas, Easter and Bank Holidays, the day ofyour collection may change. There will be details inyour house of all the exact dates.

Your cleaner will leave some bin liners for you, but thismay not be enough and you may need to buy more.

After collection, residents are requested to return theirbins to their previous positions. Failure to do this mayresult in the bin being lost. A replacement bin costs£30.00 and can be ordered from Hull City Council01482 300300. Please note the University will not payfor replacement bins.

Taylor CourtStudents living in Taylor Court flats must take theirrubbish bags to the bin store at the side of BartonHouse. Rubbish must be put in to the big bins thereand not left on the floor. Any rubbish not put in thebins will be cleared away and all residents in TaylorCourt will be charged a percentage of the cost for this.

The big bins are emptied by a private company everyMonday, Wednesday and Friday.

Remember the ‘three Rs’

• Reduction at the source: Reduce waste by makingthe best purchasing choices.

• Re-use: Re-use equipment where possible, andrepair in preference to buying new whereeconomically possible.

• Recycle: Recycling is the final process. Any wasteleft after recycling is destined for landfill.

You will have a black bin and a blue bin outside yourstudent house. The Blue bin will take the following;Paper, Cardboard, Tins, Cans, Foil, Glass Bottles andJars, Plastic Bottles, Tubs, Food and Yoghurt Pots,Carrier Bags, Tetrapak (Food and Drinks Cartons),Telephone Directories, Books. All other items must goin the Black bin.

If the wrong items are in the blue bin, Hull City Councilmay stop collecting the blue bin or fine the householdto empty a ‘contaminated’ bin, so please be careful.

Household rubbishcollection


A basic contents insurance package comes with youraccommodation, the cost being included in your fees.The period of cover is from 1 September until 31August each year.

The insurance package covers all goods, clothing andpersonal effects belonging to you or for which you arelegally responsible other than money, credit cards,keys, mobile phones or any other item specificallyexcluded by the policy.

Please note that bicycles are excluded from the policy.If you are bringing a bicycle, or will be buying one, youwill need to ‘top up’ the policy to cover it.

For the duration of your accommodation agreement,you will be covered for loss of or damage to yourcontents and portable computer equipment kept inyour room – or in locked storage designated by theUniversity – caused by

• theft or attempted theft, following forced/violententry

• fire or smoke, lightning, explosion, thunderbolt orearthquake

• subsidence, heave, landslip or landslide• storm or flood• leakage of either oil or water from any fixed

appliance, tank or pipe• riot, civil commotion, strike, political disturbances

or impact damage

You will also be covered against

• malicious damage following forcible and violententry into your room

• accidental damage that happens in your room orin University buildings (though this excludescomputer equipment)

‘Portable computer equipment’ is any computerequipment which is or can be battery-powered,including laptops, palmtops (PDAs) and portableprinters.

The maximum amount payable on claims for portablecomputers is £2,000. The maximum amount payableon claims for contents is £4,000.

To view details of the cover provided, please visit

www.endsleigh.co.uk/reviewcover.

Contractual information

Student living24

Payment of residence feesAll new students arriving at the University of Hull whohave not already set up a payment plan (by visiting theonline payment service) will be asked to complete anAccommodation Fee Contribution form. This formneeds to be returned to the Customer Service Desk onthe Second Floor of University House.

Residence fees can be paid in three ways:

• in full• in three instalments by DIRECT DEBIT • in three instalments by CREDIT CARD

If you are paying in three instalments, the money willbe withdrawn from your account in October (34%),January (33%) and April (33%).

If you have any financial concerns, please contact theFinance Office, Second Floor, University House, or thestudents’ union Advice Centre, Third Floor, UniversityHouse.

Please be aware that if you make a late payment oreven stop a payment to the University, the FinanceOffice may surcharge you.

For further information, please contact the FinanceOffice on (01482) 466362 or [email protected].

KeysAt the start of term each resident is issued with a keythat will unlock the front door, the back door and thedoor to their own individual room. This key will notopen any other room in the house.

If at any time during the term you lose your key, youmust go to the Customer Service Desk on the SecondFloor of University House to get a replacement.Outside office hours you can go to University Securityto report your key as lost. Security are available in theVenn Building 24 hours a day and will be happy tohelp you with a key emergency.

If you lose your barcode key fob, call to the CustomerService Desk for a free replacement. There will be acharge if you return your key without it at the end ofyour contract.

At the end of your contractYour key must be returned to the Customer ServiceDesk. When your key is returned, Cleaning Serviceswill be alerted and they will enter the room to clean it.It will be assumed that any items left in the room afteryour key is returned are to be disposed of. If anythingof value (such as jewellery) is found, it will be kept fortwo weeks and then disposed of.

Please be aware that you must return your key no laterthan the end date of your contract. Failure to do thiswill result in a £40 charge plus a daily charge, whichwill be taken from your deposit. There will also be a£10 charge for any key which is returned without itsbarcode fob.

InspectionsPlease be aware that Accommodation Office staff willregularly visit your house to monitor cleanliness andgeneral upkeep. They have the right to access roomsat all times if they feel that it is necessary but willusually give at least 24 hours’ notice.

A formal house inspection is done before occupantsarrive and then at least once again during thecontract. A final inspection will be conducted once thecontract has ended, and breakages or damages will becharged for. It is vital that you inform theAccommodation Office of any breakages or damagesas soon as they occur: they may not be your fault, andwe do not want to charge people unnecessarily.

If your house or room is left in an unreasonable stateof cleanliness, charges will be deducted from depositsfor remedial cleaning – including the removal ofrubbish from any room in the house.

International and exchange students leavingearlyWhen the time comes to leave how do you get yourdeposit back? Normally we should be able to pay itinto your UK bank account. Remember that part ofyour contract states: ‘You must open and maintain anaccount with a UK bank for the duration of the LicensePeriod and until such time as the University is able torefund the Deposit or any residues, if appropriate. Youmust inform Student Financial Services of the bankaccount number.’


In exceptional circumstances (e.g. if you will not bereturning to the UK and cannot leave a UK bankaccount open), you may be able to get the depositback in cash. To do this you must follow three simplesteps:

• Contact the Customer Service Desk 2–3 weeksbefore your flight home to arrange for a member ofAccommodation Office staff to inspect your room1–2 days before your leaving date.

• On the day of inspection, make sure that yourroom is clean and that you have packed most ofyour things away. If the state of your room doesnot indicate that you are leaving, you will not getyour deposit back.

• After the inspection a white deposit refund formwill be left in Student Financial Services' CashOffice for you. A member of staff will check youraccount details and, if everything is in order,refund the deposit in cash.

When arranging an appointment for us to check yourroom, please give us at least two weeks notice. Donot come to us on the day before you are due to gohome and ask us to check your room. This will not bepossible.

If you will be returning to the UK and/or leaving a UKbank account open, please help us by not arrangingan appointment to check your room. In thesecircumstances your deposit will carry over for thenext academic year or will be automatically returnedto your UK bank account after the end of yourcontract period.

Continuing next year in Universityaccommodation?You will receive an email asking whether you wish tocontinue in the same room and advising you aboutwhat to do next, so please check your universityemails regularly.

When you are thinking about your accommodation fornext year, the best policy is this: Do not be hurriedinto a decision that you may regret. You should beaware that Hull has a large supply of private sectoraccommodation. Take your time. Once a contract hasbeen signed, either with the University or with aprivate landlord, you cannot simply cancel it. Signonly if you are sure about the property, the terms ofthe contract and the people you will be living with!

After we make contact with you about staying on, anAccommodation Fair will take place. This will beadvertised throughout the campus.

If you would prefer alternative accommodation, youcould apply for University managed accommodation(Head Leasing) through the Accommodation Office.

Demand for continuing places in accommodationowned, managed or directed by the University is veryhigh. The University has a quota for continuingstudents and cannot exceed the allocated number ofplaces. This is so that first-year students can beguaranteed accommodation in University-owned, -managed or -directed accommodation. Look on theUniversity website for choices of accommodation andinformation about it.

Student living26

Can I be released from my residence contract?The residence contract that you have signed with theUniversity is a legally binding document under UKContract Law. Generally you cannot be released fromyour residence contract unless you have found areplacement student to take over your room. This mustbe someone who is not currently residing in Universityaccommodation (i.e. they must not simply be makinga transfer request).

If you are unhappy with your current livingarrangements, there are various steps that you can take:

1 If you want to withdraw because of problems withyour housemates, the first port of call should beyour House Tutor. They may be able to ensure thatall residents comply with the conditions –including standards of conduct – set out in theresidence contract. Your House Tutor’s name andcontact details should be displayed on a noticeboard in your hall or kitchen.

2 Failing that, you can apply to transfer to anotherroom within our stock of accommodation – that is,in any hall, house or flat, where vacancies exist. Todo this, visit the Customer Service Desk, SecondFloor, University House to complete a TransferRequest Form. This will then be passed to theAccommodation Office who will make contact withyou to discuss transfer options.

• Finally, we can make a note of your desire to leaveyour room so that we are able to offer it to anyprospective occupants who enquire aboutvacancies. While we will do all we can to help,there is no guarantee that a suitable replacementwill be found in this way because we cannot predicthow many students will unexpectedly requireaccommodation outside our normal busy periods(September and January).

Where there are special circumstances, we willconsider withdrawal requests on an individual basis,but simply preferring to live elsewhere would not be areason to be released from your residence contractwith the University.

Any withdrawal request must be made in writing, witha detailed explanation of your circumstances and yourreasons for wishing to be released from your contract.The request should be sent to our general emailaddress ([email protected]) or to our postal address(Accommodation Office, Second floor, UniversityHouse, University of Hull, Hull, HU6 7RX), for theattention of Mrs Pam Leach, Customer Liaison Officer.

Code of practice for studentaccommodation

The Housing Act (2004) introduced licensing of housesin multiple occupation (HMOs). Most studentaccommodation falls within the HMO definition.However, large-scale student housing (in halls ofresidence) entails different management arrangementsfrom those for a ‘student house’. Moreover, licensinglarge student accommodation in the same way assingle off-street properties would be a logisticalnightmare and incredibly expensive. Consequently,when developing the Housing Act, the Governmentagreed to ‘exempt’ educational establishments frommandatory HMO licensing provided they signed up toan approved code of management practice.

The code of management practice is voluntary andaspirational and seeks to raise standards above thatwhich is required by law. It aims to help thosemanaging student accommodation to identify the keyelements of good management practice. It thereforesets out standards for everything from health andsafety through mail delivery to the returning ofdeposits.

The UUK/GuildHE Code was developed specifically foreducational establishments. Members are required tobe independently audited. The audit process involvestalking to student representative bodies as well asinspecting documentary evidence of the institution’scompliance with the code and a physical inspection ofa sample of the accommodation. Any formalcomplaints made by students around the code alsohave to be reported to Universities UK as part of theaudit process.

The following residences at the University are signedup to the UUK/GuildHE Code for the management ofstudent housing: Taylor Court, The Lawns, andThwaite, Needler and Ferens Halls.

Although the University student houses are not signedup to the UUK/GuildHE Code, the code is used as abenchmark to improve standards and the relationshipbetween the University as a landlord and the student.Student houses owned and managed by the

Additionalinformation


University do adhere to HMO licensing standards laiddown by a separate accreditation scheme inconjunction with Hull City Council, and are included aspart of the audit process.

Go to www.uukcode.info and find out more about thestandards you should expect your accommodation tomeet.

Accommodation Office – complaintsprocedure

The University of Hull’s Accommodation Office aims toprovide a quality service to tenants, applicants andmembers of the public.

We recognise that genuine complaints provide us withan opportunity to improve our services, but it shouldbe noted that a complaint may not always produce theoutcome desired by the complainant.

The Accommodation Office aims to provide a fair andaccessible complaints procedure which respondsspeedily to concerns and does not set up unnecessaryprocedural barriers.

If you have a problem, report it promptly to theAccommodation Office. We believe that most minorissues are best resolved in this way. If the problem isnot resolved to your satisfaction, however, please askto see one of the managers in the office:

• Pam Leach – Customer Liaison Officer• Emma Fox – Property Management Officer

Complaints are investigated in confidence.Information is disclosed only on a ‘need-to-know’basis.

How to make a formal complaint You should do this in one of two ways:

• Complete a Complaints Form (obtainable from theAccommodation Office or by downloading fromwww.hull.ac.uk/accomm).

• Write a letter.

Please ensure that the form or letter is signed and thatyour Student ID number is included, as no action willbe taken in response to anonymous complaints.

Please return the form or letter to

Mrs Jill CooperHead of AccommodationAccommodation OfficeSecond FloorUniversity HouseUniversity of HullHull, HU6 7RX

We will acknowledge receipt of a written complaintwithin three working days. Our letter will state who isdealing with the complaint.

We may need to discuss your complaint with you. If avisit or meeting is required, we will arrange anappointment within five working days of receipt of thecomplaint. We may, if appropriate, negotiate mutuallyacceptable approaches and outcomes.

We will issue a full written reply to your complaint assoon as possible and within 20 working days ofreceipt of the complaint. Where there is a delay (e.g. ifwe are waiting for information from a third party), wewill email you and explain the reason for the delay. Atthat point we will agree with you

• a reasonable timescale for action• how we should keep you informed• how frequently we should update you on progress

Final replies to complaints will give out findings andany actions proposed.

For monitoring purposes only, all formal complaintswill be logged and a record of actions taken will berecorded.

If, after exhausting the Accommodation Office’scomplaints procedure, you wish to take yourcomplaint further, please seek assistance from thestudents’ union Advice Centre and refer to theUniversity’s student complaints procedure(www2.hull.ac.uk/student/studenthandbook/regulations/complaints.aspx).

If you remain unsatisfied having have been throughthe University’s internal complaints process, you havethe right to contact the OIA (the Office of theIndependent Adjudicator for Higher Education). Forfurther information, visit www.oiahe.org.uk.

Student living28

Thinking of where to live next year?University Managed Accommodation (Head Leasing)provides accommodation for students in privatelyowned properties that are managed by the Universityon behalf of the property owners.

Head Leasing currently offers around 300 singlerooms in houses accommodating 2–8 students, butusually in groups of 4–6, in the student area within1–2 miles of the University.

Rent is paid to the University, and the AccommodationOffice staff deal with any issues.

What are the features?• All properties have separate kitchens and common

rooms. • Properties are fully furnished and have central

heating. • All premises are alarmed and fitted with smoke

detectors, and they hold current gas and electricalsafety certificates.

• Basic personal-possessions insurance is includedand can be extended for an additional fee.

• University Accommodation Office staff are on 24-hour call-out for emergencies.

What are the costs?Typical rents start at £70 per week, all inclusive ofbills, internet, TV and license. We also have someproperties available that are not inclusive of bills,starting at £65 per week.

ContractDates vary from year to year, but the contract for2013/14 operates for 46 weeks, from Friday 30 August2013 to Friday 25 July 2014 (inclusive).

Head Leasing enquiriesT 01482 466042E [email protected]@headleasing

Cooking in a head leased house kitchen

Studying in a head leased house.

University Managed (Head LeasingAccommodation)


The University has two guest houses which visitors,potential students and parents are welcome to use.

The Salmon Grove Guest HouseThis spacious eight-bedroomed property provideshigh-standard en-suite accommodation, featuring

• six single en-suite rooms• one twin en-suite room• one double en-suite room• towels in each shower room• fully equipped kitchen/diner• sitting room with dining table, TV and music centre• on-site parking

Each bedroom is furnished with a television, a fridge,a hairdryer, facilities for making tea/coffee, internetaccess and an internal telephone.

The Ferens Avenue Guest HouseThis pleasant property provides the same standard ofaccommodation as the Salmon Grove Guest Houseexcept that it has shared rather than en-suitebathroom facilities. It features

• three single rooms• one twin room• one double room• towels for guests• fully equipped kitchen• sitting room• on-site parking

Each bedroom is furnished with a television, a fridge,a hairdryer, facilities for making tea/coffee, internetaccess and an internal telephone.

Further informationThe University of Hull Guest Houses are availablethroughout the year. Please contact theAccommodation Office for further details.

The Accommodation Office

T (01482) 466042E [email protected]

Visitors’ accommodation

Guest house kitchen.

Salmon Grove Guest House.

Student living30

Newland AvenueNewland Avenue, off Cottingham Road, is located afew hundred yards from the University. Its situation isexcellent for students living in the properties onCranbrook Avenue and Auckland Avenue, as it is ashort stroll away. Students and locals enjoy the lively,energetic environment and the useful selection ofshops, cafes and bars.

There is a Tesco Express store located at the end of theroad, near the Cottingham Road junction. There is alsoa similar-sized Sainsbury’s store located halfway downNewland Avenue. Both stores are open from early inthe morning until late in the evening and are popularplaces for students to buy their food and drink.

The other shops on Newland Avenue include grocerystores, butchers, fishmongers, fruit and vegetableshops and bakeries. You can buy fresh food atcompetitive prices. Shops selling specialistingredients (for Indian or Chinese food, for example)can also be found here.

There is no shortage of places for students to get ahair cut, find a bargain or go for a pampering session.There is a large post office, and a launderette forstudents who have washing or drying difficulties, andmany takeaway food outlets are located all along thestreet.

For students, Newland Avenue is a great place to gofor a night out. If you don’t want to go clubbing at thePiper, the cafe bars provide a relaxed environment inwhich you can relax over a meal or a drink or enjoysome live music.

Bus stops are situated all the way down NewlandAvenue, providing regular transport into the citycentre.

Beverley RoadBeverley Road is a right turn at the end of CottinghamRoad, just a few yards further on than NewlandAvenue. Only a 10-minute walk from the campus,Beverley Road is a student-oriented area with manypubs and takeaways. At the junction of CottinghamRoad and Beverley Road, you will find a Lidl and aSainsbury’s supermarket.

Princes AvenuePrinces Avenue is approximately a 20-minute walkfrom the University and offers a more sophisticatedambience than Newland Avenue and Beverley Road.There is a lively atmosphere during the day, and atnight the avenue has something for everyone. Thereare various boutiques and places to eat, plus plenty ofcafes and bars all along Princes Avenue. If you’refeeling lazy or it’s raining, you can catch a bus onNewland Avenue to take you there.

The local area


Nature of Offences and Minimum TariffsDepending on the seriousness of the offence, most disciplinary measures will be preceded by a verbal warning.This decision ss at the discretion of the House Tutor or Accommodation Office staff member.At Second Offence stage, a notice to quit will be served which will be held over the Contract for its full term andperpetrators will not be allowed to continue for the next year in University owned or managed accommodation

First Second ThirdDescription of Offence Offence Offence OffenceCovering smoke alarms (Immediate Charge) £50.00 £100.00 £200.00Damage/Misuse of Fire Extinguishers £30.00 £50.00 £100.00Blocking Fire Exits/ propping Fire Doors open £50.00 £100.00 £200.00Smoking (in a no smoking area) £50.00 £100.00 £200.00Noise after 11pm £30.00 £50.00 £200.00Excessive noise other £30.00 £50.00 £100.00Burning Candles etc £100.00 £150.00 £250.00Use of cooking equipment bedrooms £50.00 £1oo.00 £200.00Unauthorised Guests £50.00 £100.00 £200.00Removal and Disposal of abandoned pots £20.00 £50.00 £75.00

Abuse to staff Disciplinary Hearing, fine and possble evictionUse of illegal drugs Disciplinary Hearing. Report to police. Possible

termination of University courseActing so as to cause distress t0 other students Disciplinary Hearing, fine and possible evictionActing in a manner likely to cause harm to Disciplinary Hearingyourself and others

ChargesAll damages t0 property will be chargeable. There will be no preceding warning.Where a replacement is needed, that cost will be charged.Disciplinary measures may also be put in place

First Second ThirdDescription Offence Offence OffenceDamage to chairs £10.00 per person or cost of replacementExtra cleaning to house £20.00 £50.00 per person or cost of contract cleanExtra cleaning to room £20.00 per room or cost of contract cleanGrafitti on door £30.00 per door surfaceKey not returned £30.00Barcode not returned £10.00Barcode returned but key not returned £30.00Room carpet has burns £50.00 or cost of replacement plus fittingRoom carpet to be cleaned £20.00 per roomRoom carpet to be replaced cost of replacement plus fittingRoom smells badly of smoke £100.00 per room (£50 smoking fine - £50 cleaning)Room to be redecorated due to smoking £150.00 automatic deposit taken, plus will be charged any

extra costsRubbish removal from exterior £20.00 per personRubbish removal from kitchen £20.00 per bagRubbish removal from room £20.00 per bagStickers on door £30.00 per door surfaceWalls damaged – holes, marks, from blu-tak etc £20.00 per wallBlocked toilet – for 2nd callout onwards £30.00 split amongst entire house If not an en-suite roomBlocked drains (showers, sinks) £30.00 split amongst entire house– for 2nd callout onwards

Student Discipline in Student Housesand Taylor Court

Student living32

What you need to do when you are leaving your roomfor the last time:1. Check your Room—remember the back of the door

and under the bed!• Common Areas• Kitchen and cupboards, fridge and freezer• Bathroom

For all your belongings and remove them before youleave.

2. Ensure that you lock your bedroom door and thehouse door when you leave—remember to think ofthe security of others who may still be living there.

3. RETURN YOUR KEY! Collect an envelope from theAskHU desk, 2nd Floor, University House.

Complete the front with your details and then return it,with your key and fob inside, either to the AskHU desk,or to Security in the Venn Building if you leave out ofnormal office hours. You will be charged £40 for nonreturn of key.

Please DO NOT give your key to a friend, or leave yourkey in your room.

What we will do if your room key is returned beforeyour contract end date:We will clean the room and put any items that havebeen left in black bags, which will be left in the room.

The bags will be removed and disposed of at the endof your contract at a cost to you.

WE WILL NOT REMOVE ANY ITEMS FROM YOUR ROOMUNTIL THE CONTRACT ENDS

What we will do after the contract ends.If your room is to be used for Vacation Residence, anyitems left in your room will be bagged up and stored.

We will contact you at your University email address, totell you that you have left things and we will give you adeadline for you to respond by, after which your itemswill be removed and disposed of at a cost to you.

Moving out checklist


Cleaning advisory notice procedure

Sometimes, we may need to advise you on the cleanliness of your house/flat. So that we can be open andtransparent with you, we have developed an Advisory Notice Procedure. Please read the details below carefullyso that you know what will happen in these situations.

Your House Tutor will visit on both arrival weekends and hold a welcome meeting in the first 2 weeks ofsession. Students will sign a Visit Card to prove attendance.

If a student has not attended, the House Tutor will contact them to arrange a separate meeting

If the student will not engage, the House Tutor will send another email to the student, and ALL STUDENTS willalso receive the House Tutor Welcome Meeting Checklist to ensure that the information has been shared to allresidents

The House Tutor will complete the Visit Card showing who attended and who did not. They will then forwardthe completed information to the Accommodation Office.

If accommodation or a specific area are found to be unacceptable FIRST time:

1. a Cleaning Advisory Notice will be completed by the Cleaning Supervisor and attached to the notice boardin the house along with a letter with details of the problem.

If accommodation or a specific area are found to be unacceptable a SECOND time:

1. a Cleaning Advisory Notice will be completed by the Cleaning Supervisor and attached to the notice boardin the house with 2nd Warning Letter

2. Photos taken by Cleaning Supervisor will be sent to the Accommodation Office

3. A member of Accommodation Office staff will send a second Warning Letter to the Household by email,copying in the House Tutor.

4. House Tutor will arrange an informal visit

If accommodation or a specific area are found to be unacceptable a THIRD and subsequent times:

1. a Cleaning Advisory Notice will be completed by the Cleaning Supervisor and attached to the notice boardin the house. Accommodation Office staff will send a third Warning Letter to the Household by email.

2. House Tutor to arrange formal meeting with students, explain charges and make sure aware ofseriousness.

3. A contract cleaner will be arranged and the household will be charged

The Accommodation OfficeUniversity of HullHull, HU6 7RXUnited Kingdom

For accommodation enquiriesT +44 (0)1482 466042 or 466026E [email protected] E [email protected] (for Postgraduate enquiries)

Connect with us

www.hull.ac.uk/student/accommodation-new.aspx

Follow us onwww.facebook.com/hulluniaccomm

Join us on@hulluniaccomm

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Sh and tc handbook 2014

Documents

Transcript of Sh and tc handbook 2014