Student Accommodation Handbook

Transcript

2017 – 2018 STUDENT ACCOMMODATION HANDBOOK WHAT’S IN THIS GUIDE? 1. WELCOME TO RESIDENCES....................................................... 4 A short profile of some of the university departments that will support you during your stay in residences, including useful information about who to contact for help and advice. 2. BEFORE YOU ARRIVE.....................................................................14 Some of the many things you will need to think about before you get here, including your arrival day, what your contract means, what to bring with you and much more. 3. FACILITIES AND SERVICES.......................................................38 All you need to know about the practicalities of living in residences, including connecting to the internet, collecting your post and what to do if you lose your key. 4. LIVING IN RESIDENCES..............................................................60 Information about the rules designed to protect your rights and the rights of others within the student residential community. Don’t miss our top tips on how to get on with your new housemates! 5. STAYING SAFE IN RESIDENCES............................................70 Information and advice to help you stay safe, secure and well in residences. 6. ESSENTIAL INFORMATION..................................................... 84 We strongly advise you to read the Terms and Conditions of the Licence Agreement. We know it might seem boring, but you should always read a contract before you sign on the dotted line. All information in this guide was correct at the time of going to press (May 2017). Chapter 1 WELCOME TO RESIDENCES WELCOME The purpose of this guide is to help answer any questions you might have about living in university residences. Please take time to read the guide thoroughly, and keep it for your reference. If you need to know anything about our accommodation, staff in the Accommodation Office are here to help. The team includes Coordinators who each have responsibility for particular residences. CLEANING IN RESIDENCES UEA Cleaning staff work closely with the Accommodation Office to help provide a safe and pleasant living environment for our residents. For more details about cleaning in residences please see p.41. Bedrooms are visited every weekday by Cleaning staff, who play an important role in the care of student residences. Cleaning staff have the best working knowledge of their flats and are happy to help with any queries or concerns. Each residence has a Cleaning Coordinator, who carries out inspections and oversees the work of the Cleaning staff. For more information visit: www.portal.uea.ac.uk/estates/living-on-campus/cleaning Residence Cleaning Coordinator Contact details University Village Village Close Sandra Turner Location: Above the launderette in University Village Telephone: 01603 593979 UEA ACCOMMODATION OFFICE Email: [email protected] Britten House Location: Victory House opposite Flat 1 Telephone: 01603 592140 OFFICE LOCATION Crome Court Email: [email protected] Nelson Court, next to Flat 34, opposite Broadview Lodge Orwell Close R17 ON THE CAMPUS MAP UEA ACCOMMODATION OFFICE OPENING HOURS 9am – 5pm, Monday to Friday. On Thursdays the office is closed from 10.30am – 12pm for our weekly team meeting CONTACT UEA ACCOMMODATION OFFICE Email: [email protected] Tel: 01603 592092 Facebook: www.facebook.com/ UEAAccommodation Skype: uea_accom Twitter: @UEA_Accom Kett House Wolfson Close Victory House Paston House Tom Bohan Location: Barton & Hickling Central Office Hickling House Telephone: 01603 597660 Barton House Email: [email protected] Colman House Allan Moore Nelson Court Location: Back room Broadview Lodge Reception Telephone: 01603 593071 Email: [email protected] Mary Chapman Court Sue Kent Location: Flat 10 Mary Chapman Court Telephone: 01603 597546 Email: [email protected] Constable Terrace Norfolk Terrace Suffolk Walk Suffolk Terrace 6 Donna Reynolds Browne House Sharon Rudd Location: Opposite spiral staircase/ lift in Constable Terrace Telephone: 01603 593072 Email: [email protected] 7 STUDENT SUPPORT SERVICE The Maintenance team within the Estates, Property and Facilities Division is responsible for repairs and routine maintenance in the residences. If there is a defect in your room or flat, you should report it promptly to the Estates Helpdesk and the necessary repair will be carried out in accordance with an agreed schedule of priorities. Email: [email protected] (to report a defect) The Student Support Service is a network of services that provides a wide range of resources, facilities and opportunities for students to help them achieve their academic and personal goals, prepare for their future and resolve any difficulties that they may encounter. Information about construction and refurbishment projects on campus which may affect students in residences will be passed on either by the Estates Department or by the Accommodation Office. GENERAL ENQUIRIES AND FEEDBACK SECURITY SERVICES Security Services are based in the Lodge, which is staffed 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. All members of the 30-strong Security team are trained in First Aid, fire procedures and Health and Safety. They can be seen patrolling the campus on foot, on bikes and in easily identifiable vehicles. Security staff are here for your safety and security, as well as providing a service for the prevention and detection of crime. If you have an urgent enquiry or concern out of office hours, you should not hesitate to contact Security. Tel: 01603 592121 (calls after 4pm are diverted to the Lodge) Email: estates.listening2u @uea.ac.uk Web: www.uea.ac.uk/estates Twitter: www.twitter.com/ UEA_Estates TRANSPORT Email: [email protected] Tel: 01603 592353 POST Security can also provide a secure and efficient method of registering your property in the event of loss or theft, using the Immobilise website. This links to a national property database which enables items to be reunited with the owner if found. This service is free of charge. Post Room, under Arts II To find out more about the scheme, contact any Security Officers in the Lodge. The Lodge 5 ON THE CAMPUS MAP The Student Support Service offers a wide range of general and targeted services to students. In particular, there are specialists dealing with student finances, living in university accommodation, disability and well-being, international students and developing enhanced learning skills. Student Support staff can provide information, advice and guidance to help you settle smoothly into university life and later to get the most out of the many opportunities offered by UEA. Matters of a confidential nature can be discussed in private with either a male or female member of staff. 13 ON THE CAMPUS MAP Email: [email protected] Tel: 01603 592080 LOST PROPERTY 5 ON THE CAMPUS MAP Email: [email protected] Tel: 01603 592352 (Also check with the Student Union and Police for lost property) Student Support Centre WELCOME MAINTENANCE SERVICES 9 Location: On the Upper Street opposite Waterstones Bookshop 9 ON THE CAMPUS MAP Opening hours: 9am – 5pm, Monday to Friday Email: [email protected] Tel: 01603 592761 Web: www.uea.ac.uk/dos A team of Senior Residents will be on hand to help you settle in – providing information, advice and peer support. A team of Senior Residents will be on hand to help you settle in and will be available throughout the year to provide information, advice and peer support. Senior Residents play an important role in helping to maintain a balance between the rights and interests of individuals and of the residential community as a whole. This includes helping resolve conflicts between residents and dealing with complaints of anti-social behaviour. They are trained and managed by the Student Support Service and are knowledgeable about the wide range of services available to help you get the most out of your time at UEA. You will be able to meet your Senior Resident soon after you arrive and find out more about their role. Contact details will be posted on the kitchen noticeboards and on the web. For more information about Senior Residents, go to p.57. WELCOME WISE WORDS SENIOR RESIDENTS 11 The Union Advice Centre provides an independent, free and confidential service open to all UEA students. You can pick up leaflets and information about a range of subjects and the friendly staff can offer face-to-face advice on just about anything – advice which you can also access by email or phone. If they can’t help you, they’ll refer you to someone who can. WELCOME UNION OF UEA STUDENTS ADVICE CENTRE 13 Location: Union House 3 ON THE CAMPUS MAP Opening Hours: 10am – 4pm Monday to Friday Email: [email protected] Tel: 01603 593463 Web: www.ueastudent.com/advice Home Run and Home Let The Union operates a private sector housing service called Home Run to help students find housing and housemates in private rented accommodation. Home Run landlords comply with agreed Minimum Standards and charge no fees to UEA students. The free housing list is released online around January every year and is updated throughout the year. The Union also operates a lettings service called Home Let, which is recommended by UEA and considered the best and safest way to find your home. Opening hours: 10am – 4pm Monday to Friday Email: [email protected] Tel: 01603 592505 Web: www.ueastudent.com/homerun Nightline Nightline is a listening and information service offered by students for students. If you are lonely, stressed, bored or just want to chat, you can drop in, phone or email. Nightline provides free contraception as well as a private place to sit for any reason. Opening hours: 8pm – 8am every night during term time Email: [email protected] Tel: 01603 503504 If you would like an appointment for any housing-related problem or to have your tenancy agreement explained, email [email protected] Chapter 2 BEFORE YOU ARRIVE Packing to leave home is exciting. We’ve put together these tips on what to bring and what to leave behind. Room Equipment and Sizes Every study bedroom is equipped with a bed and mattress (with mattress protector), a desk, a chair and a limited amount of storage, including a wardrobe, drawers and shelves. Unless you have a room designed for allergy sufferers, you will also have a carpet. Rooms designed for allergy sufferers have vinyl flooring and blinds or curtains. Each kitchen has a dining table and chairs (except in the two bedroom units) and one or two of each of the following: convection/microwave combination oven, fridge-freezer, grill and/or toaster and four hobs. All of this equipment is considered part of the fixtures and fittings of the residential premises and you cannot replace, remove or duplicate any of these. Bedrooms have an average floor area of nine square metres. En suite rooms have a shower pod with shower, toilet and washbasin. Standard rooms in Norfolk and Suffolk Terraces have a washbasin in each individual room, as well as the use of the communal showers, toilets and washbasins provided in each standard flat. Kitchen sizes are roughly proportional to the number of residents in the flat. Each kitchen has a limited amount of storage (two bedroom unit kitchens do not have lockers). Internet As well as Wi-Fi access, each study bedroom has a double socket with two connections, ‘Data’ and ‘Voice’ (Twin rooms have two double sockets). The ‘Data’ socket is for connecting a computer to the UEA network and internet. Quick Packing List Bedding Personal computer or laptop Hairdryer, shaver Kitchen utensils, pots and pans Towels and toiletries. Prohibited Items X  Fridge (including mini fridges and coolers) X Microwave or mini oven/grill X Heater X Curtains, net curtains X Rugs, beanbags, floor cushions X Candles, oil burners. BEFORE YOU ARRIVE IT’S IN THE BAG WHAT TO PACK 17 TV LICENCES AND RECEPTION Electricity Supply The electricity supply in the UK is 240 volts with a frequency of 50 Hertz. Make sure your electrical appliances are connected to a British 3-pin plug fitted with an appropriate fuse. You should also ensure that all your appliances meet British safety standards. You may wish to wait until you arrive before deciding to buy some equipment. You may be able to share with your flatmates. Bikes We encourage students to bring their bikes and secure them with a D-lock. Under no circumstances should bikes be brought inside residences. We offer secure storage for bikes on campus. Prohibited Items The items listed on the right are strictly prohibited in UEA residences, so please do not bring any of these with you. If you do bring these items, and do not remove them immediately when asked, you may be asked to leave our residences. Decorating Your Room We are happy for you to personalise your room with your own posters and photos. You should be careful, however, not to damage the walls when affixing/ detaching posters and so on, as you will be charged for repair – in particular, please don’t use sticky tape, as this is most likely to cause damage. In addition, you should make sure that you comply with the Terms and Conditions regarding posters and any other materials which may pose a fire risk. PROHIBITED ITEMS If you want to watch live television on any device you must buy a TV licence. You can find more information about this at www.tvlicensing.co.uk/students - Fridge (unless you have gained prior permission on medical grounds) INSURANCE - Microwave (except in two bedroom units and Mary Chapman Court – one microwave per kitchen) - Mini oven/grill, heater - Washing machine (except in Mary Chapman Court) - Candles (or any other apparatus for combustion, such as an oil burner) - Pets (including insects, reptiles and fish) - Soft furnishings (including bean bags, mattresses, floor cushions, rugs) - Curtains or fabric hangings (including net curtains) - Obstructive furniture (any additional furniture which in any way obstructs access to or from your room or bathroom entrance) - Any class of weapon or firearm (including fireworks, air pistols, paint ball guns, ammunition and replica guns). All students who occupy an individual study bedroom will benefit from UEA block insurance administered by Endsleigh Insurance. The cost is included in your rent. For full cover details visit www.endsleigh.co.uk/reviewcover BEFORE YOU ARRIVE WHAT TO PACK (CONTINUED) 19 The rooms in the architecturally unique, Grade II* listed Ziggurats of Norfolk and Suffolk Terraces are arranged in flats of up to 12 rooms, each with their own washbasin. Flats have a large kitchen/ diner overlooking the Broad. BEFORE YOU ARRIVE ZIGGURATS 21 Take care to let your family and friends know the correct address when sending any letters or parcels to your area of residence. Post sent to your residential address on campus or the University Village is delivered to the central Post Room and can be collected between 10am and 4pm, Monday to Friday, throughout the year (except when the university is closed). Please see below for how to address your mail. Uncollected mail will be transferred to your School of Study after 14 days, but only if the address contains the school abbreviation (otherwise it will be returned to sender). Mail redirected to your School of Study can be collected from the school pigeon holes. At the end of the academic period, remember to change your postal address or arrange to have your post redirected by Royal Mail. Special note about University Village postcode: Please note that while NR4 7TJ is the correct postcode for addressing mail so that it will reach the Post Room, if you live in the University Village and need to use the postcode to identify your address for official purposes (for example, to deal with TV Licencing), you should quote the postcode NR4 7TL. Address for students living on campus: [Full Name] [School abbreviation – e.g. HSC, AMS, BIO] [Residence – e.g. Nelson Court, Norfolk Terrace, Colman House] [Block number (if Norfolk or Suffolk Terrace), Flat number and room number/letter – e.g. Suffolk Terrace Block B 0409, Nelson Court Flat 02A] University of East Anglia, Norwich NR4 7TJ Address for students living at University Village: [Full Name] [School abbreviation – e.g. HSC, AMS, BIO] [Residence block – e.g. Courtyard A, Yew House] [Flat number and room letter – e.g. Flat 01 C] University Village University of East Anglia, Norwich NR4 7TJ Address for students living at Mary Chapman Court: [Full Name] [School abbreviation – e.g. HSC, AMS, BIO] [Flat number and room letter – e.g. Flat 01 C] Mary Chapman Court Duke Street, Norwich NR3 3DX BEFORE YOU ARRIVE TO THE LETTER POSTAL ADDRESSES 23 TRAVEL AND TRANSPORT For detailed information about parking, walking and cycling on campus, go to www.est.uea.ac.uk/transport The Travel and Transport team provide information and guidance on the best ways to travel to and from UEA including allocating cycle compounds and managing the car club. They can be contacted on 01603 592353 or email [email protected] Car Parking Car parking spaces on campus are extremely limited and the university has to be strict about who can and cannot park on campus. Residents are not allowed to park on campus, although permits may be granted to students with exceptional circumstances, e.g. wheelchair users. Please note that the residential areas around the university are also permit parking only. 25 Bus Travel Our key bus service provider is First Bus and during term time there is on average a bus every six minutes making travel between campus and Norwich very convenient. The University, in partnership with First Bus, offer heavily discounted annual bus passes including the innovative “M-Ticket”. Zone 1 – 5 tickets provide unlimited travel throughout Norwich and beyond. Information in respect of all things travel- and transport-related can be found at www.uea.ac.uk/transport Exemption will only be granted to students with disabilities affecting their mobility or who have provided satisfactory evidence of exceptional need to the Independent Student Parking Appeals Panel (see below ‘How to apply for a permit’). Non-permit-holder vehicles breaching the UEA Vehicle Regulations are likely to be issued with a Civil Parking Notice charge. How to Apply For a Permit If you do not meet the Parking Permit Scheme criteria but can demonstrate you have exceptional and extenuating personal circumstances which may entitle you to a car parking permit, you should make an appeal to the Independent Student Parking Appeals Panel. Forms are available online at: www.uea.ac.uk/transport Please read the guidelines (provided with the form) before making your application. Answer all the questions relevant to your application and include any supporting information required (the form reminds you as to what information is required). If the form is not completed correctly and/or supporting evidence is missing, the Panel cannot consider your submission. Please return your form to the Sustainable Travel Team, Estates and Buildings Division. Please clearly mark the envelope for the attention of the Appeals Panel. BEFORE YOU ARRIVE PARKING Bike Parking Free secure bike compounds are available on campus and in the University Village. Please apply online through the Security web pages. Free secure summer bike storage is also available. Security also recommend registering your bike on the Immobilise website and recommend the use of D Locks – these can be purchased from the Lodge. For more information, please contact Security at the Lodge or email [email protected] Please note that bikes are not allowed inside residences – this includes hallways, kitchens and corridors. HOW TO PAY Shortly after you arrive, you will receive an invoice for the total rent for the year. You have 28 days to pay the invoice in full or make alternative payment arrangements. The normal alternatives are to pay in three instalments or to set up a Direct Debit to pay in monthly instalments. Check Your Account or Pay Online Paying your accommodation fees Whichever way you choose to pay, the amount you pay is the same (i.e. there is no penalty for paying in instalments). You must pay the full licence fee, even if you move out early. You will receive a refund only if you are withdrawing from university or intercalating from your studies. In either case, you must fill out a Termination of Licence form, vacate your room and return your key before we can calculate the total amount payable. Once you have registered, you will be able to log on to the e-Vision portal, select the finance page and then view your university account, which includes details of amounts outstanding. Through the portal, you can make a payment online or set up a Direct Debit arrangement at www.evision.uea.ac.uk For further information about paying your residence fees, email [email protected] What to Do if You Can’t Pay on Time You have 28 days to pay your invoice. For reasons beyond your control, such as the late arrival of your student loan, you may be unable to pay the invoice or keep up with your instalment plan. You should go to the Finance Office in The Registry to explain your difficulties and ask for an extension of the time to pay. There will be an administration fee of £10 per invoice, but if you don’t pay within 28 days or arrange an extension or instalment plan you will be charged a late payment fee of up to £50 per invoice. If you have more general concerns about managing your finances, Student Support staff will be happy to advise you. HOW TO PAY - Make a payment online or set up a Direct Debit arrangement at www.evision.uea.ac.uk - Debit card from a UK bank account or any major credit card: If paying over the telephone, call Cashiers’ Office on 01603 592687 - Cheque in pounds sterling: Cheques should be made payable to University of East Anglia. If sending a cheque in the post, write your student ID number and name on the back and send to The Cashiers’ Office, University of East Anglia, Norwich NR4 7TJ - Bank Transfer to UEA: Please include your student ID number for reference. UEA bank details are as follows: Address: Barclays Bank, 5–7 Red Lion Street, St. Stephens, Norwich NR1 3QH Sort Code: 20 62 53 Account number: 30918202 Swift Code: BARCGB22 IBAN number: GB53BARC20625330918202 CASHIERS’ OFFICE Location: Registry Building 7 ON THE CAMPUS MAP Telephone: 01603 592687 (enquiries and payments 9am – 5pm weekdays). BEFORE YOU ARRIVE ACCOMMODATION FEES 27 Arrivals week is a time to discover what UEA has to offer, sign up to the Sportspark and enjoy an evening at the Nick Rayns LCR. Arrivals Week is an exciting time of the academic year. Arrival days are organised jointly by the Student Support Service, the Student Union, the Accommodation Office and Security to make sure you get the best possible welcome to UEA. Although the University does not hold an official freshers’ week, you will find that there are still a lot of activities going on around campus. The Student Union organises events such as poster sales and plant sales in the first week or two. These allow you to buy items to individualise your room and make it a home away from home. The Union often also organises a pots and pans sale. This gives you the opportunity to purchase pre-used kitchen essentials at a very modest price. To find out more about these and also to find out what gigs are on, go to the UEA Student Union website www.ueastudent.com It may seem a bit strange for many students who are away from home for the first time, particularly those who have come from overseas and who find the culture very different. The kitchens in residences are a great place to socialise and meet flatmates. Spending time there and making food for one another can be a great way to break the ice and make friends. This year we have provided a cookbook in each kitchen. The recipes in these are written by students for students and can all be made with the facilities in your kitchen. If you have international students in your flat, why not introduce them to British food? Perhaps they will reciprocate with some of their national dishes. BEFORE YOU ARRIVE FINDING YOUR FEET ARRIVALS WEEK 29 BEFORE YOU ARRIVE 31 Although the University does not hold an official freshers' week, you will find that there are still a lot of activities going on around campus during arrivals week. DEPARTURES AND VACATION ACCOMMODATION In order to check in to your accommodation, you must sign a contract. The type of contract we use is a Licence to Occupy and we ask you to sign the licence on your arrival at UEA when you collect your key. We strongly recommend that you read the Terms and Conditions of the Licence in full before you arrive. You are required to vacate your room by 10am on the day your licence expires. Unfortunately we are unable to offer extensions of one or two nights. It may be possible for us to provide you with some accommodation over the vacation period if you apply in advance (see Vacation Accommodation) – this will often mean moving to another area. Licence to Occupy: What you need to know - The Licence shows your room number, the exact dates of the licence period and the complete licence fee - When you sign your licence, you are committing yourself to paying the whole of the licence fee, even if you vacate your room before the end of the licence period, except under certain circumstances. These are: - If you withdraw from the university or intercalate from your studies, in which case you must complete a Termination of Licence form and return your key - You will be charged for any damages in your room which are not due to fair wear and tear. In communal areas, if we cannot attribute the damage to an individual, we will split the cost between each resident of your flat - Only you, the licensee, can live in your room. You may not give the key to your room to any other person, or make copies of your key. You may have an overnight guest occasionally, with the prior permission of your Senior Resident or the Accommodation Office and for no longer than a period of three nights - If you complete a Termination of Licence - If you tamper with any fire equipment, or commit any other serious breach of Fire Safety regulations, the Accommodation Manager may terminate your licence (i.e. evict you from residences) - If you have been given a Notice to Quit - Eviction is one of the sanctions we will use, if necessary, to enforce any of the Terms and Conditions of the licence. form and return your key within seven days of the start of Week One of the academic year. See your Terms and Conditions for exceptions to this clause by the Accommodation Manager and you return your key. - You are required to vacate your room by 10am on the day your licence expires. You must return your key to us on or before the day your licence expires – if you do not you will be liable for administration charges, lock change charges and/or additional rent 33 Departure Procedure Vacation Accommodation To check out of your room, you should first contact your Cleaning Coordinator to go through the Inventory and Schedule of Condition (see p.65). Once you have vacated your room, you must return your key. Your key is your responsibility and you should hand this to us in person to make sure that we get it. If the office is closed at the time of your departure, you can deposit it in the safe in the foyer outside the Accommodation Office (please enclose in an envelope with your name and student ID number). Please note that if we do not receive the key on the day your licence expires, you will be liable for additional rent until the key is returned. We usually have a small number of rooms available to use over the summer vacation period and we prioritise applications from students who have academic, medical, or pressing welfare needs to remain in residences. You should make sure that you leave your room locked, completely empty and reasonably clean. Any damages which are not due to fair wear and tear are your responsibility and we will invoice you for the cost of repair or any extra cleaning. We will dispose of any items left in your room after your key has been handed in. If Cleaning Services have to spend extra time clearing your room, you will be liable for the cost of extra cleaning, which includes an administration fee. BEFORE YOU ARRIVE THE ACCOMMODATION CONTRACT If you require Vacation Accommodation, you will be able to apply at the beginning of the summer term, after the Easter break. For more details and for information about how to apply please visit: www.portal.uea.ac.uk/accommodation/summer The Vacation Accommodation period ends in early September and we will be unable to offer any further accommodation after this date, unless you have secured accommodation in residences for the following academic year. Packing up and finding a new home can be an exciting new chapter. An ideal place to start looking for accommodation for your second year is the Union pop-up stalls held in November in Union House and the Library. These provide tips on house hunting, what to look for and where to live, so you are prepared when the housing list is released in January. You really don’t need to start your search actively till after the Christmas holidays. The Union also hosts a series of housing socials for students to help meet other sharers or offer spare rooms. Most students will have to find private accommodation for themselves but there is lots of help on offer. For further housing advice, please visit www.uea.su/advice-housing Private Housing in Norwich The most popular area for students is known as the Golden Triangle, which encompasses the area between Earlham Road, Unthank Road and Colman Road (and unofficially Dereham Road). Properties in this area benefit from great bus links and residents can enjoy local pubs, shops and takeaways, whilst also being within walking distance of the University and the city, but there are other popular areas too. Look at these short videos on where to live: www.ueastudent.com/main-menu/housing/ house-hunting-help/house-hunting 34 There are several important differences between accommodation in the private sector and living in student residences: - Most rooms are in houses which share bathroom facilities, although you will find some en suite options. Rents vary, but the average is around £75 per person, per week exclusive of bills, depending on the size and condition of the rooms and the house. Be prepared to pay more for en suite accommodation - Utilities are not usually included in the rent and tenants are responsible for dealing with utility providers. You should budget at least £10 a week for basic utilities. Some bed-sits and rooms with resident landlords come inclusive of utilities - You will have a different type of contract, a tenancy agreement; the minimum length of the tenancy agreement may be six months, but 11 or 12-month fixed-term agreements are most common for student accommodation. When you sign a contract you may have to pay a deposit, rent in advance or a holding fee. Unless you use Home Run there will probably be some initial costs such as agency fees. BEFORE YOU ARRIVE BACK TO SQUARE ONE ACCOMMODATION IN THE SECOND YEAR 35 Home Run Lettings is a private sector accreditation scheme and letting agency managed by the Union of UEA Students. Home Let and Home Run are both recommended by UEA. Home Run exists to make house hunting easier and safer for you. Home Run provides the largest single list of housing for UEA students and the list is provided free of charge to all. The housing list can be viewed at www.ueastudent.com/homerun and is available throughout the year. Home Let, the Union’s letting agency offers properties which have been inspected by Union staff and have documented fire risk assessments and valid gas and electrical reports. All paperwork for Home Let properties is completed on campus and most properties are managed by Union staff throughout the tenancy. All maintenance issues can be reported on campus and contact numbers are available 24/7. The Home Run Lettings office is located within Union House. Home Let properties are advertised within the housing list and can be identified by the blue ‘h’ logo. Make Home Let your agency of choice and drop into the office to discuss your requirements. Whoever you rent from, the Union Advice Centre offers contract advice and responds to more specific housing queries too. Top 10 househunting tips 1. Come to the Union’s house hunting events 2. Choose your housemates carefully 3. Think about what you need or want in a house 4. Understand 'Joint and Several Liability' and 'Fixed Term' 5. Talk to existing tenants about the house 6. Ask which Deposit Protection Scheme your landlord is using 7. Have your agreement looked at by a Union Advice Worker 8. Don't rush your decision 9. Read the Union's Househunting Guide 10. Talk with your landlord, neighbours and co-tenants. BEFORE YOU ARRIVE HELP WITH PRIVATE HOUSING – HOME RUN LETTINGS 37 Chapter 3 FACILITIES AND SERVICES Ensure all washing up is done before your Cleaner cleans the kitchen. UEA Cleaning offers a service to help you keep your flat and room in good order. Cleaning in Your Bedroom Your cleaner will come into your room every weekday after 9am to empty your waste bin, which is for recyclable material only, and once per week will clean your shower pod or wash basin (where applicable). Note: for security reasons your cleaner will lock your room after they have finished cleaning. Please keep your key with you when you leave your room. It is your responsibility to maintain an acceptable level of cleanliness in your room. You can request the use of a vacuum cleaner from your cleaner. Cleaning in Communal Areas Your kitchen and other communal areas will be cleaned twice weekly by UEA cleaning staff. This does not include your washing-up. - You must ensure that your cleaner can easily access your room and shower/wash basin surfaces (where applicable) - You must not leave your waste bin outside your room as this causes an obstruction in the corridor - If your room falls below an acceptable standard of cleanliness, the Cleaning Coordinator will issue a notice asking you to take action by a certain date - If your room has to be cleaned for you, you will incur charges - Your cleaner needs access to all of the surfaces in your kitchen to be able to clean them - On kitchen cleaning days, you must ensure that all surfaces (including the floor, hob, sink, drainer, work surfaces and kitchen table) are completely clear of all items (including washing up, debris, personal items and so on) - If your cleaner cannot access the surfaces, cleaning will not be done and a notice will be issued asking you to take action by your next kitchen cleaning day - If your kitchen or any other communal area requires any extra cleaning, each member of the flat will incur charges. FACILITIES AND SERVICES PIECE OF CAKE CLEANING 41 MAINTENANCE EMERGENCY MAINTENANCE (including out-of-hours) Highly qualified and experienced Maintenance staff are available to deal with emergency maintenance issues on a 24/7 basis. If you have an emergency maintenance issue, such as a burst pipe or a broken window, please report this to the Estates, Property and Facilities Division Helpdesk. Calls made outside working hours are diverted to the Lodge, where Security staff will arrange for on-call Maintenance staff to attend. Maintenance staff working hours: Monday to Friday, 8am – 4pm Estates Helpdesk telephone: 01603 592121 Email for reporting defects: [email protected] Email for queries / feedback: [email protected] FACILITIES AND SERVICES If there is a defect in any of the equipment, fixtures or fittings in your room or flat, you should report this to the Estates, Property and Facilities Division Helpdesk. The necessary repair will be carried out in accordance with an agreed schedule of priorities. Maintenance staff can enter your flat or room with their own keys, but they will knock before entering bedrooms. If Maintenance staff have entered your room while you are out, they will leave a card to let you know. Sometimes UEA maintenance will use contractors. They will follow the same access protocols. 43 Your cleaner will only remove your waste and recycling if it is properly sorted. The recycling waste bin in your room will be emptied each weekday and the bins in your kitchen will be emptied twice weekly when the communal areas are cleaned. Recycling UEA is committed to proper waste management and provides various bins around campus for a variety of products you may need to recycle or dispose of. In addition to recycling bins for metal, glass and paper, UEA also provides special bins for food waste, confidential documents, broken light bulbs, batteries, furniture, old computer or television parts, refrigerators, metals, wood, old clothing, motor oil, etc. The waste food bin in the kitchen has been provided for you to dispose of any unwanted food items. This includes tea bags and coffee granules as well as 100% compostable packaging. It is your responsibility to put the full bag into the external brown bin outside your residence. Only use the provided green biobags for this waste. Some of the residences have three types of bins: landfill, recycling and composting. A full list of recyclable items can be found next to the bins. Provided that recycling is sorted appropriately, Cleaning Services will remove this from your kitchen. If waste is not sorted, it will be the responsibility of the flat to remove it. For more information please visit www.uea.ac.uk/ estates/environmentalpolicy/waste-reduction CAMPUS SUSTAINABILITY UEA is committed to reducing its environmental impact and promoting sustainable practices. For more information on the initiatives that are already taking place or to get involved in promoting better environmental practices for our university, please visit www.uea.ac.uk/about/sustainability - If the kitchen bin becomes full before it is due to be emptied, you should tie up the bin liner and place it next to the bin. Replacement bin liners will be provided - Please do not leave anything in the bin or in a bin liner/plastic bag close to the bin which you do not want to have thrown away - Please place used batteries on the kitchen table or give them to the Cleaning Coordinator. These will be collected and recycled - You must not leave glass bottles on floors or other surfaces where they could be knocked over and smashed. There is a glass recycling bin outside each residence for glass bottles and jars. It is your responsibility to take all your empty, clean bottles and jars and place them into the black wheelie bins. FACILITIES AND SERVICES HASTE MAKES WASTE WASTE AND RECYCLING 45 CONSTABLE TERRACE FACILITIES AND SERVICES Constable Terrace is a residential building located on the UEA campus. The building was completed in September 1993, and provides accommodation for 393 students. 47 If you moved into residences after 15th October you will need to register to vote with Norwich City Council. Voting On 15th October each year, the Planning Office in the Registry compiles a list of those students living in UEA residences who are eligible to vote in UK and EU elections. The list is then used by Norwich City Council to send forms to eligible students, enabling them to register to vote in elections. If you wish to vote in any future election and have moved into UEA residences after 15th October, or changed rooms after that date, you should contact the Elections Office at Norwich City Council to update their records. Residents who move out of UEA residences into private accommodation after 15th October will also need to register their new addresses with the Elections Office of the local authority into which they have moved. Council Tax UEA Residences are exempt from Council Tax, so you do not need to do anything about Council Tax whilst you are living in residences. When you move into private accommodation, you may need your Council Tax exemption form, which you can download from your e:Vision account. FACILITIES AND SERVICES SHOW OF HANDS VOTING AND COUNCIL TAX 49 Please make sure that your room is secured at all times, even if you are just leaving your room to go to the kitchen. All UEA staff are instructed to lock your door when they leave your room. We advise that all residents keep their key on them at all times. If you lose your key, a replacement charge will be made – replacements can be requested from the Accommodation Office from 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday. Lost campus cards can be replaced at the Library from 9.30am to 5pm, Monday to Friday and access will be automatically transferred to the new card. If you are locked out of your room, you can borrow a temporary key from the UEA Accommodation Office during normal opening hours. You must return this by the next working day. If you lose your key or campus card or are locked out outside office hours, you can ask Security to let you in to your room. Security staff will make a charge of £35 on the second call out. INTERNET Free Wi-Fi access is available in all study bedrooms. You will also find a double socket in your room. One socket is labelled ‘Voice’, the other ‘Data’. You can connect your computer to the ‘Data’ socket via a network cable, in order to gain access to the university network and internet. A network cable can be collected from the Accommodation Office. When you first connect, you will be directed to a registration page. You will need your UEA user name and password to be able to register your PC or laptop to the network. If you are having any problems connecting to the newtork, the IT Helpdesk is located in the Library. 11 ON THE CAMPUS MAP IT SERVICE DESK Opening hours Monday to Friday: 9am – 7pm Saturday & Sunday: 12noon – 7pm Email: [email protected] Telephone: 01603 592345 www.uea.ac.uk/is/it FACILITIES AND SERVICES LOST KEYS AND LOCK-OUTS 51 KITCHEN EQUIPMENT Food Storage Each kitchen is equipped with at least one fridge and one freezer. Storage is limited and you are advised not to over fill fridges and freezers as this may cause a malfunction. FACILITIES AND SERVICES - Please do not tamper with the temperature settings in the fridge freezers - It is the residents’ responsibility to defrost the freezers when necessary - Personal fridges and freezers are strictly prohibited except with prior permission from the Accommodation Office on medical grounds. Any food which does not need to be kept in the fridge or freezer should be kept in your food cupboard. 53 Cooking Equipment Each kitchen has at least one combination convection/microwave oven or convection oven and separate microwave plus electric hob and a toaster and/or grill. These facilities vary across accommodation types and differing flat sizes. Please refer to www.portal.uea.ac.uk/ accommodation/options for more details. Washing Machines Washing machines are not provided in residences and you are not allowed to install a personal washing machine except in Mary Chapman Court. There are four launderettes which have both washing machines and dryers, located at University Village, the Medical Centre, on The Street and between Barton and Hickling House. Drinking Water All tap water in residences is safe to drink unless otherwise specified. - If you need advice on how to use any of the cooking equipment, please refer to the Cooking in Residences part of our Living in Residences page or you may wish to ask your Senior Resident - Personal microwaves and mini oven/grill appliances are not allowed in residences (one personal microwave is allowed in the kitchens at Mary Chapman Court and in two bedroom units) - Defects to washing machines/ dryers in the launderette should be reported directly to the supplier using the number provided in the launderette - If you install a washing machine at Mary Chapman Court, you must ensure that it is removed at the end of your licence period. CORRESPONDENCE LIVING IN RESIDENCES A ‘combined heat and power’ plant (CHP) produces around 60% of UEA’s heating, saving money and reducing our carbon footprint. Emails Residences are not just a collection of buildings and facilities – they are home to over 4,300 UEA students, the majority of whom are firstyear undergraduates. Heating systems vary across campus but are designed to maintain a temperature between 19 and 21 degrees centigrade for a sustained period during any 24 hours. All en suite room residences on campus have a heat recovery ventilation system. This means that a controlled level of fresh, warmed air is supplied to each room through the grille near floor level and stale air is extracted at ceiling level. Please make sure that you do not obstruct the low level inlet grilles. Some rooms have a heating panel fitted to provide additional heating if needed. Windows can be opened to ventilate rooms and kitchens, but most will be fitted with restrictors to limit how far the window can be opened. You must not remove these. You are expected to ventilate your room, particularly after showering in the en suite rooms. Your UEA email address will be our main method of communication with you. As a UEA student, you are expected to check your UEA email account at least every 48 hours during teaching periods (every day if possible). We will write to you via email if, for example, there are any problems with your room or flat, or if we have any news about building or maintenance work in your area. Newsletters/Notices The Accommodation Office, Cleaning Services and Security will sometimes put notices or updates in your room or kitchen. Please always read these, as they will contain essential information upon which you may have to act. When you are living in residences, you will be part of a community of individuals with a variety of interests, from a range of backgrounds and cultures. Part of the challenge of living in residences is learning to live with others outside a family structure. The majority of the rules and regulations in residences are designed to protect the rights, safety and wellbeing of each individual resident. We expect certain standards of behaviour from all residents and these are underpinned by the Terms & Conditions of the Licence Agreement. https://portal.uea.ac.uk/accommodation/livingin-residences/terms-and-conditions FACILITIES AND SERVICES HEATING AND VENTILATION 55 Senior Residents (SRs) are experienced students who are recruited, trained and managed by the Student Support Service and are an important part of the extensive range of services provided by the university for students. Your Senior Resident can provide valuable information and advice to help you settle in and will be available throughout the year to help resolve any problems which develop between residents. Out of office hours, there is a duty system in operation to deal with emergencies, including complaints of anti-social behaviour. Sometimes the most important thing an SR can do is to listen; for example, if you are lonely, homesick or worried. You may be concerned about one of your flatmates and not know how to help. Your SR may be able to advise you or can refer you on to someone with the relevant expertise. Senior Residents also deal with such matters as late-night noise, disputes over shared facilities and other anti-social behaviour. They can often deal with the problem themselves, but part of their job is to report such matters to the Senior Resident Tutor in the Student Support Service, who can involve the university’s Disciplinary Officer as necessary. The university takes complaints about anti-social behaviour very seriously and in extreme cases can evict students from residences, although this is rare. If you experience problems with flatmates which you are unable to resolve, please report them to your SR so that they can be dealt with long before such serious action becomes necessary. The names and contact details of Senior Residents will be available on kitchen noticeboards and on the Student Support Service website. Meeting Your Senior Resident University life is a big step from living at home, but spending your first year in residences helps to ease the transition, as there will always be someone around to help you out. Your SR will invite groups of students to get together shortly after arrival and it’s worth making the effort to be there. You’ll meet other residents, get a lot of tips to help you settle in and hints on what to avoid if you want to make the most of living in residences. Your SR will also meet with you individually within the first few weeks when you can raise in private any particular questions or concerns you may have. SR contact details can be found on the noticeboard of your kitchen and on the web. If you have a difficulty which needs immediate attention, a Duty Senior Resident is available every evening and at weekends. Different arrangements apply at Mary Chapman Court. The Duty SR can be contacted on the relevant telephone number advertised in kitchens and on the web. It is a good idea to save the Duty SR number on your mobile phone. FACILITIES AND SERVICES THE SENIOR RESIDENT SYSTEM 57 What Makes UEA a Centre For Sustainability? UEA has been an international leader in environmental sciences and other sustainability disciplines for many years. With world-class researchers, UEA is leading the way in fields from local biodiversity research to global environmental and social implications of climate change. Accommodation UEA students can apply to live in a Green Flat! If you’re interested in the environment or in social equity, when you apply for accommodation you can opt to live with other people who share your interests. There are Green Flats in every type of accommodation, so you get all the benefits of UEA’s great range of living options while also joining a network of inspired students as soon as you arrive. Anyone can apply, from any course. Our Campus Student Project Opportunities Join Us! UEA has an award-winning campus environment. Our latest accommodation buildings, Crome Court, Hickling House and Barton House, have won a range of international awards. For example, Crome Court won the RIBA (Royal Institute of British Architects) Grand Final ‘Design through Innovation’ award 2015. The Enterprise Centre, UEA’s low carbon showcase building, has so far won the international BREEAM Awards 2016, the world’s leading building rating scheme, as well as 20 other local, national and international awards. UEA students can run projects across campus with the CarbonCrew Students Society. As well as gaining brilliant skills and experience for your CV, these projects (from auditing to raising awareness) help boost UEA’s sustainability. Find CarbonCrew at the Welcome Fair and other events, as well as on Facebook: www.facebook.com/UEACarbonCrewStudents UEA’s Sustainability Team keeps people updated online – check out @SustainableUEA on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and even Pinterest! Their blog also gives students and staff the chance to publish stories they are interested in. Find out more: – Crome Court – www.uea.ac.uk/ aboutsustainability/case-studies/crome-court – Our sustainable campus – www.uea.ac.uk/ about/sustainability/campus Every summer, cows and sheep graze certain areas of campus to help control overgrowth through grazing. They also increase biodiversity – the number of plant and animal species! Find out more: www.uea.ac.uk/about/sustainability/ case-studies/campus-cows UEA has the largest natural campus of any UK university. Students can volunteer with the Conservation and Wildlife Society, or with sessions run by the Sustainability and Grounds Teams throughout the year, to help manage habitats and develop campus biodiversity. Check out the UEA Wildlife Trail for details of habitats – and even for where you might see otters! www.uea.ac.uk/about/sustainability/ campus/biodiversity/uea-wildlife-trail UEA’s Living Laboratory for Sustainability treats the campus as a real-life research opportunity. Students can run projects either as part of their coursework or out of interest for bonus credit. Projects underway so far include looking at water efficiency, opinions of fellow students about sustainability, and assessing the UEA buildings for sustainability opportunities in the future. How could you get involved? Find out more: www.uea.ac.uk/about/sustainability/ get-involved/student-projects Contact UEA’s Environmental Officer with any questions about sustainability at UEA: email Catrin Darsley on [email protected] FACILITIES AND SERVICES UEA’S SUSTAINABLE WAYS 59 Chapter 4 LIVING IN RESIDENCES KEEP THE PEACE TOP TIPS FOR GETTING ON WITH YOUR FLATMATES Respect Communal Space The kitchen is your most important communal area and everyone in your flat should feel comfortable using it. Wash up and clear up after yourself to keep the cooking area, sink and dining area clear for your flatmates to use after you. Remember that the kitchen is intended for the use of you and your flatmates only, so guests should be occasional. Smoking is strictly not allowed anywhere in residences. Try to keep the noise to a minimum. Doing so will help to keep the harmony between you and your flatmates. Close your windows and lock your doors when you go out. Make sure that the door to the building and the doors to your flat and study bedroom are kept locked at all times – even when you’re in. Don’t, whatever you do, tamper with, cover or move any fire safety equipment; you will put yourself and others at risk and if caught may face eviction. Don’t stand by and let others do things that put you at risk. Make sure you know what to do in case of fire and that you comply with any other Health and Safety regulations. LIVING IN RESIDENCES Keep Yourself and Your Flatmates Safe 63 Be Considerate About Noise Not everyone shares your taste in music, and even if your whole flat loves your latest download, the person in the flat downstairs trying to study will not appreciate a thumping ceiling. Try to keep noise to a minimum – if you can hear your music outside of your room, then chances are everyone else can too. Try to be quiet coming in and out of your flat, especially at night. All doors in residences are fire doors – if you don’t make an effort to close them quietly, they will close themselves with a loud thud! 63 If other residents are behaving in ways which cause you concern, then in most cases the most effective way of dealing with the problems is to speak to them yourself, perhaps in conjunction with others who are affected. If your own efforts or those of your flatmates do not help, you should speak to your Senior Resident or with your Accommodation Coordinator or any member of Accommodation Office staff to take the matter further. The most effective way of dealing with anti-social behaviour, particularly noise and other disturbances at night time, is to call the Duty Senior Resident at the time when the anti-social behaviour is occurring. If the behaviour is of a more serious nature, involves damage to property, or raises security and safety concerns, then a call to Security might also be necessary. The SR will attend to the incident as soon as possible and will deal with whatever is happening. A report will be made and sent to the Senior Resident Tutor, detailing what was witnessed and what action was taken. If the incident was particularly serious, or if the student is a persistent offender, the student is likely to be referred to the University Disciplinary Officer. As the SR will have witnessed and dealt with the anti-social behaviour first-hand, the caller will not ordinarily be implicated in any possible disciplinary action. You should call the SR each and every time anti-social behaviour happens, even if this means making another call in the same night – the more evidence the university has, the more quickly we can take action to tackle anti-social behaviour. SMOKING Smoking is not permitted in any part of the residences and smoking out of residence windows is not acceptable. Please see the ‘Terms and Conditions’ for further information. INVENTORIES AND DAMAGES Talk to the Accommodation Office The Accommodation Office is your landlord and we are also part of the student support network. If you have any ongoing problems related to your accommodation, we are here to help. If you have a problem of a confidential or upsetting nature, you can request a private meeting with a member of Accommodation staff. Bedrooms Communal Areas When you move into your room you will find an Inventory & Schedule of Condition, which lists all of the fixtures and fittings of the room. You must fill out the Start of Licence Inventory & Schedule of Condition by ticking a box next to each item: tick box G for ‘Good’; F for ‘Fair’; and P for ‘Poor’. There is also space for comments by each item, where you should report any defects. So, for example, if there is a burn mark in the carpet, you should note this on the form. The Terms and Conditions of the Licence to Occupy require you to ensure that you complete, sign and return your room Inventory to your Cleaning Coordinator within ten days of the beginning of the licence period. The Inventory and Schedule of Condition for communal areas will be completed by the Cleaning Coordinator and pinned to the notice board. If you disagree with anything on this Schedule, you should contact the Cleaning Coordinator within ten days of your arrival. Throughout your stay, the Cleaning Coordinator will make periodic inspections of all rooms in residences and any defects or damages will be noted on your Schedule of Condition. If these are not due to fair wear and tear, you will be liable for the cost of replacement or repair, plus administration charges. Any defects or damages found in the communal areas which are not due to fair wear and tear are the collective responsibility of all residents in the flat. In this case, your Student Accommodation Coordinator will contact all residents, and give the person(s) responsible for the damage an opportunity to come forward. If the damage is not claimed by an individual or individuals, the cost of repair or replacement, including an administration fee, will be split equally amongst all residents. LIVING IN RESIDENCES DEALING WITH ANTI-SOCIAL BEHAVIOUR 65 ROOM CHANGES If you are unhappy with your room, you can apply for a room change at the Accommodation Office. However, you should be aware that, in the first few weeks of term, almost all of our rooms are occupied or allocated to students. Any vacancies which may arise will be offered to new applicants who still need to be housed. It is therefore very unlikely that we will be able to arrange a room change within the first two weeks of your arrival. If you feel you really need to move, you can fill out the application form and we will try to find a suitable room for you to move to as soon as we possibly can. If we can find a room for you to move to, there will be an administration fee. GUESTS IN RESIDENCES Overnight guests are allowed in your room, for a maximum of three nights per term, but you must get prior permission from your SR or Accommodation staff; it’s polite to ask your flatmates too. Your room is designed for one occupant only, so having an overnight guest should be an occasional occurrence. Similarly, your kitchen is designed for the number of people living in your flat, so although it’s OK to invite friends over to share meals with you now and again, you should be careful not to inconvenience your flatmates. You should be aware that the behaviour of any person you invite into your residence building, flat or room is ultimately your responsibility. You will be held accountable if there are any complaints from your flatmates, or any damage caused by your guest(s). LIVING IN RESIDENCES We would recommend that you try to settle in, get to know your flatmates and get used to your new environment. Experience has shown us that most students settle and make friends in the first few weeks and then don’t want to move. 67 Cleaning Services Visit Days Your cleaner is the member of staff you will see the most. We get excellent feedback about the Cleaning Services staff and find that most residents develop a really good relationship with their cleaner. If you have an empty room in your flat, we may allow members of Admissions staff to show this room and the communal areas of your flat to prospective students and their parents. Where possible, we will notify you in advance if there are going to be any visitors to your flat. Staff showing accommodation to visitors will try to cause the least disruption possible to residents. Cleaning staff must enter every bedroom each weekday, so please do not be obstructive or unfriendly about this. Your cleaner should feel welcome in your flat and able to do their job. If your cleaner is sick or on holiday, another member of staff will cover their work. In addition, the Cleaning Coordinator will make regular visits to kitchens and rooms. Accommodation Each residence has a named Student Accommodation Coordinator in the Accommodation Office who will contact you via email about any issues arising in your area. They may also make a visit to your room or kitchen if a particular problem has been reported. Accommodation staff will always wear a name badge when they visit residences. Maintenance If there is a defect in your room or flat which you have reported, Maintenance staff will let themselves in to your flat to assess the job and make any repairs/replacements. They can also let themselves into your room if you are not at home – if this happens they will leave a card in your room to let you know. Security Security officers will access your flat to attend to fire alarms and welfare issues, to advise you of security issues (such as leaving windows and doors insecure) and for other purposes in line with their duties. Security officers will always be in uniform and are available 24/7 for assistance. BUILDING PROJECTS ON CAMPUS The university is continually seeking to enhance the student experience through additional investment in the estate. Work to improve and maintain the facilities and services in and around residences may occasionally result in some noise and disturbance, but as a general rule this will be restricted to normal working hours. Project Details Details about other refurbishment and construction projects being undertaken by UEA can be found on the Estates, Property and Facilities Division website www.uea.ac.uk/estates/construction The Accommodation Office will pass on information supplied by our colleagues in Estates about projects and work that will affect student residences. LIVING IN RESIDENCES UEA STAFF IN RESIDENCES 69 Chapter 5 STAYING SAFE IN RESIDENCES FIRE SAFETY What are the Causes of Fire? A common feature of most of the serious fires is that the person responsible had more often than not left the room before the fire started. This is invariably the case with potentially dangerous fires in chip pans – the time at which they start to overheat is easy to detect by anyone present in the kitchen. Our records show a pattern that is very similar to the national one – fires are typically caused by: - Candle flames - Overheated cooking oil - Carelessly discarded cigarettes Candles are a serious fire hazard and are not permitted in UEA accommodation. How Fires Spread All fires start as small ones, but just how dangerous they are depends largely on how rapidly they can grow before being detected. Some fires can spread very quickly indeed and in some cases can overtake people trying to escape to safety along a corridor. Remember, it is not the flame of the fire that usually kills – it is the highly toxic smoke that is produced. FALSE ALARM Fires cannot spread unless they have a good supply of combustible material. These are just the sorts of materials that you will undoubtedly have all around you in your study bedroom. It is for this reason that you must not cover too much wall area with loosely attached posters. Not only can they catch fire readily, if the area is large the flame will spread very quickly. Also, it is dangerous to cover a light fitting with paper or cloth – if the natural ventilation is impaired parts of light fittings can get hot enough to set fire to the material. Fire Detection The most common false fire alarms are due to cooking fumes. Keeping fire doors closed and watching food being toasted, grilled or fried can keep false alarms to a minimum. Our residences use both smoke and heat detectors. The smoke detectors are used in corridors and heat detectors are used in kitchens. To avoid false alarms, please ensure that the fire doors between the kitchen and corridor are closed. - Faulty electrical equipment - Flammable items (i.e. tea towels) being left on hot hobs. Help yourself and the people who live near you by following these basic rules: - Make sure you know what to do in the event of fire, and the location of fire alarm points and fire extinguishers - Do not use water on electrical and oil fires - Do not leave pans of oil unattended while they heat up - Please read the instructions displayed in the kitchen before using the microwave - Keep fire doors closed - Have any suspect personal electrical equipment checked by an expert - Do not use lifts in the event of fires or in fire drills - Barbecues are only permitted with the prior permission of Security and only in approved locations - A fire engine doesn’t attend site until they are called. Security attends an alarm activation and if there is a real fire, Security makes the 999 call. STAYING SAFE IN RESIDENCES Candles 73 WINDOWS AND ROOFS ELECTRICITY Fire Alarms Windows When fire alarms sound continuously it must be assumed that there is a fire or other emergency which necessitates urgent evacuation of the building. Windows in UEA residences are fitted with restrictors to regulate the extent to which the windows can be opened. For safety reasons, residents should not interfere with, override or circumvent any equipment that restricts how far a window opens. You must not interfere with electrical equipment provided by the university. If something goes wrong during normal working hours report it to the Estates, Property and Facilities Division Helpdesk; if outside normal working hours, contact the Lodge. So Am I Not at Risk From a Fire in Someone Else’s Room? The bedroom doors and kitchen doors have automatic closers and are designed to ensure that they can contain fire for at least 30 minutes – time enough for the Fire and Rescue Service to get here. Then at least the major damage should be confined to one room and not spread into the corridor where it could imperil the means of escape of other residents – but ONLY if the fire doors are closed. What Can Be Done About False Alarms? False alarms are more than a nuisance to us at the university, especially when they happen at exam times when a disturbed night can have a critical effect on performance. They cost the Fire and Rescue Service a great deal in time and resources. Every fire engine on its way to a false alarm cannot attend a genuine emergency elsewhere. Whilst we know that some false alarms are unavoidable, we also know that most of them need not have occurred. More often than not, the cause is cooking fumes (typically from burnt toast) which have invaded the corridor through an open kitchen door. The university and the Fire and Rescue Service are confident that false alarms can be kept under control if YOU cooperate by keeping fire doors closed and by constantly watching food being toasted, grilled or fried. WHEN THE FIRE ALARM SOUNDS CONTINUOUSLY, ALL RESIDENTS MUST LEAVE THE BUILDING. Fire drills are conducted in all residences during the Autumn Semester when advice and assistance will be available from the fire wardens deployed throughout the building to assist in the evacuation. Make sure you read the fire notice posted on the inside of your study bedroom door and familiarise yourself with the evacuation procedure. Fire Alarm Testing Fire alarm testing is carried out regularly to make sure they are working properly. This is not the same as a fire drill and you are not required to evacuate the building. You will be able to tell the difference between a fire drill and fire alarm testing because, during testing, the alarm will sound in short bursts rather than continuously. Every three months the fire alarms are tested over a longer period of time. A schedule of when the short and extended fire alarm tests will take place can be found on your kitchen noticeboard. Fire alarm tests and drills will only take place during office hours. Note: Steam from showers can also trigger alarms. Keep en suite shower doors closed when showering. Roofs For safety reasons, all access to the roofs or raised external areas of Norfolk and Suffolk Terraces, or any other building, is strictly prohibited. Residents must also refrain from allowing others access. You may use your own electrical equipment as indicated in the Terms and Conditions of the Licence, but the appliance must be correctly connected to the plug and fitted with the appropriate fuse. International students should be aware that equipment brought into this country may not be safe for immediate connection. All equipment should comply with British or European safety standards. If you have any doubts about the safety of your own equipment, University Safety Services will advise you (extension 2763). Take great care to ensure that flexible leads from lamps and other electrical appliances do not become trapped under any furniture. In the event of an electrical emergency at Mary Chapman Court, you should cut off the electricity supply completely at the switch marked ‘Floor Main Switch’ in the cupboard outside the flat front door. Please note: we strongly recommend that you do not store any electrical items underneath your wash basin. You should not keep any electrical items in your bathroom. Again, University Safety Services will be able to advise on electrical equipment safety, though they will not be able to PAT test residents’ items. All residents are responsible for the safety of their personal electrical equipment. STAYING SAFE IN RESIDENCES FIRE SAFETY (CONTINUED) 75 CROME COURT STAYING SAFE IN RESIDENCES Crome Court has won several awards for its innovation in new construction software and won the award for Built Environment in the 2015 Green Gown Awards. 77 PERSONAL SAFETY AND SECURITY Do not allow anybody, including those claiming to be delivering to a room in the block, through the front door. Do not allow strangers to enter your room on any pretext without first checking their identification. Always be on the alert for intruders and if you are suspicious of anyone or anything, report it without delay to the Lodge or to a Senior Resident. We would advise you not to walk alone at night if possible. All personal property, including bikes, should be marked with a code (normally a home postcode or room number) and registered on the Immobilise website. UV marker pens can be obtained from the Lodge or the Student Advice Centre in Union House. Mark your USB/Memory sticks with your registration number using a UV pen, so that they can be easily returned if lost. Do not leave cash or valuable items on display and you are strongly advised not to keep large sums of money in your room. If any of your personal possessions are stolen, you should report details to the Lodge at once. You may wish to report the matter to the police, but it will help subsequent investigations if the Lodge is informed as soon as the police are told. Police can be informed from the Lodge, or by calling the nonemergency number 101. It is a requirement of insurance companies that the police are informed before claims can be processed. All UEA residences are covered by free block insurance provided by Endsleigh. Details of this would have been given to you on arrival and is also available on our website: portal.uea.ac.uk/accommodation/ living-in-residences/contents-insurance Please remember to lock your room at all times. If possessions are stolen from an unsecured room, it is unlikely that you will be able to claim on your insurance. Suspicious Package or Behaviour If you notice a suspicious package or suspicious behaviour, please notify UEA Security. They can be contacted on 01603 592352 or 01603 592222 in an emergency. Disposal of Sharp Items Please take special care when disposing of glass and other sharp items. Broken glass should be wrapped in newspaper. You should alert your cleaner to the fact that you have placed broken glass in the bin. Leaflets in Residences Leafleting and flyposting are not permitted within the residences and anybody seen doing this should be reported to Security immediately. Do not permit access to anybody who may be distributing leaflets in the residences and do not leave leaflets in the residences yourself on behalf of anybody. STAYING SAFE IN RESIDENCES Always lock the door and windows whenever you leave your study bedroom, even for just a short while. If your room is found unlocked at any time by a member of UEA staff, it will be locked. If you live on the ground floor, draw the curtains whenever you are away from the room for any length of time. Do not wedge open any doors, especially those with automatic closers. Always ensure that external flat doors are properly closed after you enter or exit the building. 79 The Student Union has an arrangement with ABC taxis for a concessionary fare from UEA into the city and vice versa. The Student Union has an arrangement with ABC Taxis (Telephone: 01603 666333) for a concessionary fare from UEA into the city and vice versa. As part of the UEA Student Union Safer Taxi Scheme, students may provide their name and ID number in place of the fare. ABC or one of the other taxi firms listed will invoice the Student Union, who will contact you later for payment. Other taxi firms in Norwich include: Loyal Taxis: 01603 444555 Best Way Taxis: 01603 666666 5 Star Taxis: 01603 555555 Canary Taxis: 01603 414243 Courtesy Taxis: 01603 446644 Cathedral Cabs: 01603 472863 Green Frog Taxis: 01603 744747 Beeline Taxis: 01603 767676 STAYING SAFE IN RESIDENCES EASY AS ABC TAXIS 81 Telephone: 01603 251600 Every full-time student who is here for six months or more (and any student living in university accommodation for at least that period) is required to register with one of the doctors in the University Medical Service (UMS) or with a local General Practitioner (GP). Online Appointment Booking, Information and General Medical Advice: www.umsuea.co.uk A pack giving further information about the University Medical Service, and how and when to register, will be available at University Registration. Opening Hours: There is a pharmacy in the Medical Centre building. Location: 4 ON THE CAMPUS MAP Monday to Friday: 8.30am – 6.30pm (8pm on Tuesdays) Saturday: 9am – 12pm (appointment only) Sunday: CLOSED When closed, call 01603 251600 and you will be transferred automatically to the NHS out of hours emergency service. UNIVERSITY DENTAL PRACTICE The university’s dental practice provides NHS treatment to UEA students and staff and is located in the same building as the Medical Centre. Telephone: 01603 592173 Location: 4 ON THE CAMPUS MAP Opening Hours: Monday to Friday: 9am – 5pm (last appointment 4.40pm) FIRST AID First Aid boxes are kept by the Duty Senior Resident, in the office of each Cleaning Coordinator and in the Lodge. STAYING SAFE IN RESIDENCES Every full-time student who is here for six months or more is required to register with one of the doctors in the University Medical Service (UMS) or with a local General Practitioner (GP). UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CENTRE 83 Chapter 6 ESSENTIAL INFORMATION Immediate need for Police, Fire and Rescue Service or Ambulance Telephone: 999 and then inform the Lodge 01603 592222 Medical Assistance – other than ambulance Telephone: Medical Centre on 01603 592172 FIRE Sound the Fire Alarm - Break glass in nearest Fire Alarm Call Point - Use appropriate fire appliance if safe to do so - You must leave the building whenever the fire alarm sounds continuously, even if you believe it to be a false alarm. The Fire and Rescue Service will expect everybody to have left the building by the time they arrive and will check that this has been done. WHAT WE EXPECT FROM OUR RESIDENTS -  Visit the Accommodation website, www.uea.ac.uk/accom, which will provide the answers to many questions you may have - Contact the Accommodation Office if you are concerned about any matter regarding your accommodation - Give your allocated room a chance if it was not your first choice – after a couple of weeks, many students enjoy their new surroundings - Read and understand your responsibilities under the terms of the ‘Licence to Occupy’ (this is a legal document) On Hearing the Fire Alarm - Do not put yourself at risk - Close all doors - Switch off all electrical appliances - Close windows, if time allows - Alert your neighbours, who may not have heard the alarm. - Behave at all times in a way that respects those living around you, the needs of other residents and their property - Comply with any reasonable requests made by UEA staff - On contacting the UEA, and at all times, be polite and courteous to staff helping you with your enquiry. Evacuate the Building - Leave the building quietly and calmly via the nearest exit - Do not stop for personal belongings - Assemble well away from the building. ESSENTIAL INFORMATION WHAT TO DO IN AN EMERGENCY 87 89 89 ESSENTIAL INFORMATION Call 01603 591918 www.broadviewlodge.co.uk GUEST ACCOMMODATION ON CAMPUS CATERING ON CAMPUS Our aim is to provide fresh, vibrant food made from local, sustainable, quality ingredients. Find our outlets across campus and pop in to sample our barista coffee, fresh patisserie and a great blend of local and international cuisine. - Hotel standard single, double and twin bedrooms - Free car parking - Online booking facility - Reduced rates available for UEA students and alumni on request. TERM TIME OPENING HOURS: Monday to Friday 7.30am – late Saturday to Sunday 9.30am – 4.30pm. BROADVIEW LODGE GUEST ACCOMMODATION Follow us on Facebook and Twitter to receive regular updates, news of our fantastic competitions and offers. 19 Congregation Hall 20 INTO at UEA 21 Enterprise Centre (Mustard Coffee Bar) 22 IT and Computing Service (ITCS) 23 Edith Cavell Building 24 Bob Champion Research and Education Building 25 Julian Study Centre (Café 57) UEA CAMPUS MAP KEY Faculty of Arts and Humanities (HUM) Faculty of Medicine and Health Services (FMH) Faculty of Science (SCI) Faculty of Social Sciences (SSF) 5 The Lodge (Security) 6 The Square 7 Multifaith Centre 8 Restaurants: Zest, Blend and Vista 9 Student Support Centre 10 CareerCentral Plus 11 Library 12 Lecture Theatres 13 Teaching Wall/Hub 14 Sainsbury Centre for Visual Arts (Modern Life and East End Café) 15 Thomas Paine Study Centre 16 Elizabeth Fry Building/Hub 16 Postgraduate Research Office 17 Zicer Building/Hub 18 Drama Studio R2 R1 Elm RFORC Courtyard A D R18 HOSPITAL 21 R19 1 20 ry rse off Nu rop d 4 COLNEY LANE P Main Car Park 5 EARLHAM HALL UNIVERSITY DRIVE OR’S CELL E 6 Hub 1 DRIV N CHA RF OL MAP NOT TO SCALE 13 6 R4 LK 14 SAINSBURY CENTRE FOR VISUAL ARTS O FF R5 SU R12 R7 R8 9 11 OA D 19 3 2 12 KR Food outlets Recycling centre Bus stop 18 8 22 R3 R13 7 NO MAP KEY Footpath/walkway Disabled access Steps Stairway 13 26 AD RO R6 Broadview Lodge Telephone: +44 (0) 1603 591918 Email: [email protected] www.broadviewlodge.co.uk The Broad R16 R20 R11 R9 R17 10 R15 4 R1 R10 R9 TO A11 AND LONDON COLNEY LANE PAVILLION Hu17 b b Hu TS R A ESSENTIAL INFORMATION 25 NORFOLK AND NORWICH UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL BLUEBELL ROAD UNIVERSITY 15 23 CITY CENTRE MAIN ENTRANCE TO UEA ENTERPRISE CENTRE 24 TO NORWICH AM ROAD B1108 EARLH E ROA Larch Oak B Courtyard Beech Ash WILBE Hawthorn Yew D NORWICH NORFOLK AN Willow TO H PARK AND RESEARC A47, NORWICH  earning and Teaching Hubs L 13 ARTS 16 Elizabeth Fry 17 Zicer Pine 1 Sportspark (Sportspark Café) 2 The Street: Waterstones Bookshop, Barclays Bank, The Shop (inc. the Post Office and Bakery), Launderette, Ziggy’s Espresso and Sandwich Bar, CareerCentral 3 Union House: Union Coffee Shop, Nick Rayns LCR, Student Union Advice Centre, Bar SU, Scholars Bar 4 University Medical Centre: UEA Dentist, UEA Nursery, Pharmacy, Launderette Residences R1 University Village R2 Village Close R3 Constable Terrace R4 Norfolk Terrace R5 Suffolk Terrace R6 Suffolk Walk R7 Nelson Court R8 Broadview Lodge (Guest Accommodation) R9 Colman House R10 Wolfson Close R11 Orwell Close R12 Britten House R13 Paston House R14 Victory House R15 Kett House R16 Browne House R17 Accommodation Office R18 Hickling House R19 Barton House R20 Crome Court 93 FURTHER INFORMATION Accommodation Office Nelson Court University of East Anglia Norwich Research Park Norwich NR4 7TJ Telephone: +44 (0)1603 592092 Email: [email protected] www.uea.ac.uk/accom Facebook: facebook.com/UEAAccommodation Twitter: www.twitter.com/UEA_Accom Skype: uea_accom HOME RUN (for help in finding private accommodation) Telephone: +44 (0)1603 592505 Email: [email protected] www.homerunstudentpad.co.uk STUDENT SUPPORT SERVICE (for individual and disability needs) Telephone: +44 (0)1603 592761 Email: [email protected] www.uea.ac.uk/dos UNION OF UEA STUDENTS www.ueastudent.com