ELECTRICITY
GAS
RUBBISH AND RECYCLING
Every one of our buildings has a rubbish disposal and recycling area. Please dispose of your rubbish thoughtfully. Wrap all perishable items. Recycle where you can. There are local guidelines on when rubbish is collected, how to dispose of it and what you can recycle at your scheme. If you find that the refuse and recycling area is full or unkempt please let your scheme warden know.
DISPOSAL OF LARGER ITEMS
Larger items (computers, TVs, furniture etc) are not collected as part of the refuse service, so you should not leave them in the recycling area. Please refer to local guidelines for more information. You are responsible for disposing of these items at your local municipal refuse depot.
BICYCLES
Where we provide bicycle areas, and you can use these free of charge. However please don’t bring your bicycle into the building (except for bike store access) – it is a fire hazard, and can damage decorations and floor coverings. Please don’t chain it to any railings or fences where again it can be an obstruction or can cause damage. We will remove offending bicycles and dispose of them.
THE LAUNDRY
Every scheme has a laundry, and we would encourage you to use it. We do not allow individual washing machines to be installed in our flats. The laundry charges are cheaper than those at external commercial laundries.Consideration should be given to other residents and try not to use the laundry between 10.30pm and 7.30am.
IRONING AND VACUMNING
You need to provide your own iron and ironing board. Communal vacuum cleaners are available, and are for the use of residents. Please return them to the designated storage areas as soon as you are finished.
DISCOURAGING VERMIN
Mice, rats and other vermin are an inevitable part of living in buildings that are more than 100 years old in a large city. We employ contractors to deal with them but you can do a lot to help. Please put food away in the fridge or cupboard and clear up after you have eaten. Dispose of all perishable items carefully by bagging them securely.
PETS
We are sorry but there is just no place for any pet in our buildings.
SMOKING
Please do not smoke in your flat or in any of the communal areas.
SATELLITE DISHES AND TV ARIELS
Local laws do not allow the installation of satellite dishes on our buildings. We provide a communal TV aerial which will give you access to digital TV and you can also arrange cable TV. The installation of individual satellite dishes is not therefore permitted.
TV LICENSE
If you have a television, you will be required to buy a TV licence. You can purchase this on line http://www.tvlicensing.co.uk/Failure to buy a licence will make you liable for a fine.
PHONE AND INTERNET CONNECTION
Every resident has access to WiFi. The service is included in the rent for all new tenants.
INSURANCE
You should get insurance for your possessions. Good cheap contents insurance is available through your student body at your university, so you should contact them.
BEING A GOOD NEIGHBOUR
You are living in old buildings with wooden floors and walls that have no insulation. Please try to keep noise to a reasonable level. Please don’t obstruct the communal halls and stairways. Please don’t put rubbish outside your door – only put it in the recycling and refuse areas.Please be careful when you cook. Burnt food will be detected by smoke detectors and cause the fire alarms to ring.
COUNCIL TAX
As a full time student, you should not have to pay the local tax – council tax. However, if you are living with a spouse or partner who is not a full time student, they may well have to pay an element of this tax. We will try to advise you about this. If you get a bill you should contact us.
COMMON ROOM AND GARDENS
The common room at Jerome House is currently closed. Some of our schemes have shared gardens. If you use the garden please respect the privacy of others and all restrictions that apply during the Coronavirus pandemic.
CLEANING AND GARDENING
We clean all communal areas, hallways, laundries, common rooms, and shared bathrooms at least twice a week. Please let us know if ever there are any problems with the cleaning.Where there are gardens, we carry out light maintenance work throughout the year, but particularly during the growing season.Moving on
WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOUR TENANCY EXPIRES
We issue student tenancies which last a year. On expiry of the tenancy (after a year), providing you are still a full time student, we usually offer you a new tenancy, but it is conditional on you having honoured the terms and conditions of your previous tenancy, including being up to date on your rent account. You will need to provide a letter from your university attesting to the fact that you are still a full-time student. When you stop being a full time student we will require you to leave the accommodation.
GIVING NOTICE
You are required to give us at least four week’s written notice when you are leaving. Even if you are unable to give a full four week’s notice you will still be charged rent for the notice period.
MOVING OUT
Subject to any rental or maintenance issues, your rent in advance will be returned to you when we have received your keys and inspected your vacant flat to ensure that it is clean and tidy and has been cleared of all items other than our fixtures and fittings.A pre-inspection visit will be made of your flat, prior to your departure, to ascertain the condition of the flat and furniture.Please note that we expect tenants to carry out the following prior to their departure:1. All personal items should be removed from the flat, including any domestic rubbish.2. Any posters or decorations, to be removed from the walls.3. Furniture belonging to SFPG should remain.4. Any personal items of furniture should be removed.5. All food should be removed from the fridge and cupboards.6. The kitchen including the fridge, cupboards, the cooker and work surfaces should all be cleaned.7. The flat should be thoroughly cleaned. If you require a professional clean we can organise it although you will have to pay for it.8. Please return your keys to the office during office hours on your last day.
