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AccommodationGuide 2012

BathStudent

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AccommodationGuide 2012

Bath Student

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welcomeHello and welcome to your 2012 studentaccommodation guide. This year we’ve teamed upwith the Student Community Partnership to ensurethat we are providing you with the very best and up-to-date advice on renting private accommodation.

The Student Community Partnership (SCP) is madeup of Bath & North East Somerset Council andStudent and Staff representatives from the Universityof Bath and Bath Spa University.

The SCP provides a forum for liaison between theUniversities, their Students' Unions and the Councilon matters relating to students and the localcommunity. This includes accommodation,transport, welfare, community relations, communitysafety and environmental issues.

We hope you find this information useful. If youstill have unanswered questions then don’t hesitatein contacting your relevant university contact forfurther help.

Renting your first property 4Points to consider when renting your first property like who to live with and pros and cons of living with a large group. Also, where and when to start your search.

Bus maps & local area information 6Find out which areas of Bath are serviced by University buses and a bitmore about popular suburbs.

Housing checklist 8Points to consider when viewing properties.

Housing Accreditation 10What it is and what it’s for!.

Contracts/deposits/retainers/guarantors 11Does what it says on the tin.

The move 14Packing up, storing and moving your gear.

After the move 16Important things you should do after you have moved in.

Extra Info 18Information on getting extra shared services including cleaners,broadband, or extra furniture for the property.

Money matters 19Tips on managing your finances when you move off campus.

Playing house 20Tips on keeping a happy home.

Safety in the home 21Keeping your valuables to yourself.

Staying safe in the home 22Friendly advice from the Fire Safety Team.

Living in the community 24How you can help the local community by being a good neighbour.

Illegal evictions and harassment 25Know your rights.

Insurance 26Advice and benefits of getting contents insurance.

Energy saving and recycling 28Do your bit for the environment by following these guidelines.

Useful contacts 30Contact details of people that may be able to help you in all stages of the moving process from signing contracts to what you should do if something goes wrong.

Published on behalf of the SCP by Impressions Media Services 07590 389155

studentaccommodationguide@hotmail.com

Contributors Simon Wharf, Hayley Smith, Bath

Student Community Partnership, Avon Fire & Rescue

Service, Avon and Somerset Police

Artwork/design Creative Magpie

creativemagpie@tiscali.co.uk

Tel: 07980 285930

The publishers shall not be held liable for the lossoccassioned by the failure of an advertisement to appear,or any damage or inconvenience caused by errors,omissions or misprints. The SCP does not endorse any ofthe advertisers that appear in this publication.

Impressions Media Services

In association with

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Finding the right place to live canbe tough. Not only do you have towork out where and with whom toshack up, but you're also upagainst thousands of other studentsjust like you, each looking for thatholy grail of a property - a houseopposite a cafe that makes greatcoffee. So where do you start? Hereare your options.

Living on your own:If you like peace and quiet and aren’tthe sort to freak out at the odd creak inthe night, there are real benefits to be

had living on your own. Your own space= your own rules. There's undisturbedessay writing time (for those allimportant 3 days before the deadline),no arguments about housework andfinally and most importantly, solecontrol over the TV remote. Living on

your own is the most expensive optionbut if you do have the money and theinclination it can be the mostproductive and will mean choosing

between a bedsit (everything in oneroom except the bathroom), a studioflat (like a bedsit but usually with aseparate kitchen) or a flat. Thedownsides are it can get lonely ifyou're not used to it and there’s no-onearound to bounce ideas off.

Living with a group:Living with other people is morepopular and generally the most fun. Aswell as real people to talk to, you get

Rentingyour first prop

“Secret crushes, disgusting habits, odd smells - they all come out”

POINTSTO CONSIDER

cheaper bills and rent, bettercompetition at Mario Kart, and accessto one hell of a DVD collection. If youhave time to study in amongst all thatyou also have an on-tap collection ofbrains to rack. There are downsides ofcourse. The more of you there are,the more potential there is for friction.Simple things like keeping suppliesstocked up and keeping the placeclean can become major domesticincidents. If you’ve lived in Hallsbefore you’ll know how quickly thingscan get out of hand. One mug frommorning tea turns into ten. If

everyone brings the stockpile ofglasses out of their bedrooms at thesame time (prompted by the mouldgrowing inside) then you’ve got a bowlof washing up before anyone’s eatenbreakfast. So it’s vital you give carefulconsideration to who you want to livewith. Sure you think you know thepeople in your halls now, but living ina house when it’s just the four or so ofyou changes things. Secret crushes,disgusting habits, odd smells - they allcome out. And that fun dude who wasa real party animal in halls, turns outhe wasn’t such a good person toshare a house with.

Once you know who you’re going tolive with you can start looking forproperties with the number ofbedrooms you need. Student housesgenerally range from 3 to 6 bedroomsof varying size - one property cancontain rooms ranging from palatialpenthouse to a small box room - andso most people agree to alter therents to fit, e.g. the big room goes up£15 per month and the small roomgoes down £15 - meaning adifference of £30 between them.These agreements are between you asa group and do not alter yourresponsibility for the entire rent (groupcontracts mean everyone isresponsible for the whole rent - moreon this later). When you're choosing aproperty bear in mind that whilethere’s no Council Tax to pay, otherbills come thick and fast so make sureyou'll have some cash left over afteryour rent.

Sharing with people you don't know:Many landlords rent out rooms inlarge properties on an individual basis,meaning you can often move into ahouse with the other rooms alreadyoccupied. This way you're onlyresponsible for your rent and the billsare sometimes included in the price.But of course it’s pot luck who you’llend up with. Other than the brief timeyou spend viewing the property,there's no real way of telling if you’llget on with them, how clean they’ll beor whether they'll intercept yourletters. But then they may end upbeing your best man/bridesmaid in 10

years time too. If you want to findpeople to share with then visit yourAccommodation Office and ask at yourStudents' Union for a list of otherpeople looking for housemates.No matter how you go about it, if yourhouse is 3 or more floors andaccommodates 5 or more unrelatedpeople then your landlord should havea House In Multiple Occupancy (HMO)Licence. You can contact the councilto check the details: HMO LicensingOfficer on 01225 396269.

So where are you going to live?Bath is made up of a number of areasand the more you know before youbegin your search, the easier it will beto narrow down your scope and makeeach viewing more worthwhile. Thingsto consider when choosing an areainclude, accessibility by publictransport, affordability of rent (thecentre of town will cost considerablymore than the outskirts) and localservices and shops. See pg 7 for aguide to the various areas of Bath.

When to startThe best time to start looking for ahouse is from February onwards. Youmay be tempted to get in before tobeat the crowd but that would limityour viewing opportunities, leave youopen to expensive contracts andincrease the odds of ending up withhousemates you'll regret. Bothuniversities use a database calledStudentPad to advertise privatelettings - an online service providedin association with your uni whichmakes looking for a property moresimple. You may be able to find aprivate landlord rather than gothrough an agency who will chargefees between £20 and £100 perperson. Buy the weekly local paperand phone them that morning. Butdon’t rush into anything. You're goingto be spending the whole of next yearin the place. The last thing you'll needwhen you've got essays to write is tofind out the house you were in such ahurry to sign for was in factcompletely unsuitable and thehousemates you thought beforeChristmas you'd get on with you nowcan't stand.

perty

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AREAS IN BATHCLAVERTON DOWN/COMBE DOWNBest situated for University of Bathstudents. Both areas are picturesqueand well served by local shops andtakeaways. However it’s a definite busride to the city.

OLDFIELD PARKNormally the most popular area forstudents. It’s well served by buses toboth universities, is a ten minute walk to town, and has its own welldeveloped high street of coffee shops, local supermarkets, pubs and takeaways.

SOUTHDOWNNeighbouring Oldfield Park, theproperties in Southdown are cheaperbut you will have a longer walk to townand the bus stops.

TWERTON/WHITEWAY/ODD DOWNTwerton is on the outskirts of Bath.There are some students in Twerton, but most residents are families. Thelocal shops are clustered together so it's very convenient and will cater formost of your needs.

WESTONYou won’t want to walk home from the

city centre but still a popular haunt forstudents. Surrounded by picturesquehills with the added extra of the RUH onthe doorstep.

NEWBRIDGE/LOWER WESTONBest suited to Bath Spa students, it'swell served by its own high street withtakeaways and coffee shops catering formost needs and the houses seem lesscrammed in than other areas.

For more information about areas inBath, look on the ‘Living in Bath’ pageon the Student Community Partnershipwebsite; www.townandgown.org.uk.

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Housing ChecklistADDRESSProperty 1 Property 2 Property 3

................................................................. ................................................................. ..............................................................

................................................................. ................................................................. ..............................................................

................................................................. ................................................................. ..............................................................

RENTProperty 1 Property 2 Property 3................................................................. ................................................................. ..............................................................

DEPOSITProperty 1 Property 2 Property 3................................................................. ................................................................. ..............................................................

LENGTH OF TENANCYProperty 1 Property 2 Property 3................................................................. ................................................................. ..............................................................

IS THE PROPERTY ACCREDITED?Property 1 Property 2 Property 3................................................................. ................................................................. ..............................................................

OUTSIDE PROPERTYIs there a front and/or back garden?Property 1 Property 2 Property 3................................................................. ................................................................. ..............................................................Who is responsible for maintenance?

................................................................. ................................................................. ..............................................................

INSIDE PROPERTYAre there any signs of damp? (ie. Dark patches, peeling wallpaper, flaking paint etc)Property 1 Property 2 Property 3................................................................. ................................................................. ..............................................................Is there enough furniture for all occupants?

................................................................. ................................................................. ..............................................................Is the furniture fire safe / in good condition?

................................................................. ................................................................. ..............................................................Is there adequate space in the kitchen for all tenants to store and prepare food? (check cupboards, fridge and freezer space)

................................................................. ................................................................. ..............................................................

PLUMBINGIs there hot and cold running water?Property 1 Property 2 Property 3................................................................. ................................................................. ..............................................................

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Are there adequate bathroom facilities for the number of people in the house?Property 1 Property 2 Property 3................................................................. ................................................................. ..............................................................

GAS & ELECTRICITYAre there enough electrical sockets for all appliances you’ll need in your room?Property 1 Property 2 Property 3................................................................. ................................................................. ..............................................................Is there a current gas certificate?

................................................................. ................................................................. ..............................................................

SECURITYIs the front door solid?Property 1 Property 2 Property 3................................................................. ................................................................. ..............................................................Does it have adequate locks?

................................................................. ................................................................. ..............................................................Are there bolts on the top and bottom of doors?

................................................................. ................................................................. ..............................................................Do the windows have locks and keys?

................................................................. ................................................................. ..............................................................Can all the locks be fastened securely?

................................................................. ................................................................. ..............................................................

FIRE SAFETYAre there smoke detectors?Property 1 Property 2 Property 3................................................................. ................................................................. ..............................................................Are there fire extinguishers and/or fire blankets?

................................................................. ................................................................. ..............................................................Are there adequate means of escape?

................................................................. ................................................................. ..............................................................Can the front and back doors be opened from inside without a key?

................................................................. ................................................................. ..............................................................

ENERGY EFFICIENCYIs there cavity wall insulation?Property 1 Property 2 Property 3................................................................. ................................................................. ..............................................................Is there loft insulation?

................................................................. ................................................................. ..............................................................Are there radiators in all rooms?

................................................................. ................................................................. ..............................................................Is there double glazing or draught proofing?

................................................................. ................................................................. ..............................................................Is there a timer on your gas boiler?

................................................................. ................................................................. ..............................................................

AMENITIESWhat amenities are close by? (supermarket, chemist, doctors etc)Property 1 Property 2 Property 3................................................................. ................................................................. ..............................................................

Unless you’ve spent your last fiveholidays sightseeing in the same postoffice, the Housing AccreditationScheme may not be the most excitingtitle you've ever come across. But itis actually a pretty spanking goodidea from those lovely folk at B&NESCouncil and could save you a lot ofpain in the future.

Picture the scene - it’s the first coldsnap of winter and your pipes haveburst. Water is cascading down thestairs and you’re up to your waist in it.But that's only the half of it – theceiling’s about to come crashing down,the electrics cupboard is fizzing wildly

and your front garden is on fire. Ifonly you’d known the place wasn’twell kept before you moved in!

Well that’s where the HousingAccreditation Scheme comes in. It’sbasically a voluntary scheme forlandlords to sign up to whichguarantees their property is up to acertain standard. The scheme issupported by your university'saccommodation office (propertiesbelonging to the scheme areprioritised in your accommodationlists) as well as the LandlordAssociation. So make sure youlook out for them.

Housing Accreditation

SchemeA summary of the QualityMarks an Accredited Propertywill have:

• The property is structurally stable.• The property is free from damp.• Adequate kitchen and bathroom facilitiesare provided.• The maximum number of people beingaccommodated is feasible for the size ofproperty and amenities provided.• Satisfactory internal layouts (e.g. nointernal habitable room without a window).• Rooms are big enough for their proposed use.• Adequate natural lighting and ventilation.• Hot and cold water services work.• The property is in general good repair.• Fire precautions; means of escape, safeGas, Electrics and Furniture.

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Take the worry out of renting

Property Accreditation Scheme

Ask your landlord if your property is Accredited! Accreditation is Bath & North East Somerset Council’s seal ofapproval for properties that have been inspected, meet current standards and are safe for people to live in. There is nocharge for Accreditation; it is a voluntary scheme aimed at raising the standard of rented accommodation and it issupported by the two local universities, the Police and Fire Service.

If you would like to learn more about the scheme then please contact the Accreditation Team

Housing Standards

The Housing Standards Team are responsible for ensuring rented properties in B&NES meet minimum standards sothey are safe and healthy to live in. If you are concerned about the condition of your rented property and need someadvice then please contact the Housing Standards Team.

Working together for health & wellbeing

Bath and North East Somerset

Who to contactHousing ServicesBath & North East Somerset CouncilPO Box 3343, Bath BA1 2ZHTel: 01225 396444housing@bathnes.gov.ukwww.bathnes.gov.uk/housing/privatehousing

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We’ve all been there. No sooner hasthe ink dried on your glossy newcontract when you read the smallprint and find out what you’ve reallyjust agreed to. So if you want toavoid unexpected pitfalls whenrenting a property it pays to knowexactly what kinds of contracts youcan expect to encounter and whatthe various terms really mean.

Assured Shorthold Tenancy vsLicence AgreementThere are generally two types of contract,an Assured Shorthold Tenancy and aLicence Agreement, and the type whichapplies to you will depend on your livingarrangements. A Licence Agreement isnormally required if you have a residentlandlord. An Assured Shorthold Tenancy isused if you and any other tenants havesole occupancy of the property.

Fixed TermWhen you receive a contract it will mostlikely be Fixed Term. This means you areguaranteed occupancy of the property forthe duration stated in the contract, whichis normally for a minimum of six monthsif it's an Assured Shorthold Tenancy. Butit also means you are committed topaying the rent for this entire period. So if

you decide to move out of a property aweek after moving in you will still beliable to pay the full term of the contract.

The fixed term is valid as long as you andyour landlord keep to the terms andconditions of the contract. So if yourlandlord leaves you without hot water orheating for an extended period of time itis likely they would be breaking theconditions of the contract and you wouldpossibly no longer be liable for the fullperiod of rent. Likewise, if you deliberatelydamage the property you wouldpotentially no longer be guaranteedoccupancy. It is best if you seek furtheradvice if you do become concerned witha breach of contract situation.

Joint and SeveralIf you and your friends all sign thesame contract it becomes joint andseveral. This means all tenants areequally liable for the full rent of theproperty. So if one of your friendsdrops out of University and leavesBath, the rest of you are liable for thefull rent of the property until areplacement tenant is found.Remember, take time to read yourcontract through because once yousign it you are committed to its terms.

If there's something you're not sureabout then don't sign until you've hadit explained. Your university offersservices to help explain contracts andpoint out possible trouble.

University of Bath students:Advice and Representation Centre,Students' Union, University of Bath,Claverton Down, Bath, BA2 7AY

Bath Spa University students:Student Housing Services, StewardsLodge, Newton Park, Newton St Loe,Bath, BA2 9BN

PayingYour contract should state how muchyour rent is, the frequency of paymentand how you must pay. This could beby direct debit, standing order, chequeor post dated cheques (try to steerclear of this last option as post datedcheques can be cashed before thedate you write on them). If you'repaying by cheque allow at least 1week for the cheque to clear - that'sthree working days before your rent isdue - and make sure you get a receiptfrom your landlord so there's nodisagreement at a later date aboutwhether you paid or not.

Signing aContract

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DepositsIt’s almost certain you'll have to pay adeposit before you move into a property.This is basically a payment yourlandlord takes to cover any losses ordamage you may cause during yourtenancy or for any unpaid rent and willusually be the equivalent of one to twomonths’ rent. If at the end of yourtenancy there has been no suchdamage, the rent is up to date and billsare paid, the deposit should be returnedto you in full so make sure you get areceipt for the full deposit when you payit. Everyday wear and tear is consideredunavoidable and should not affect yourdeposit. Here are a few things yourlandlord may keep part or all of yourdeposit for:

• Replace or repair damaged articles• Clean the premises in order to restoreit to a lettable condition

• Replace keys or locks if they are notreturned on time

• Remove rubbish left in and outside theproperty

• Cover non-payment of bills or rent

If you are signing an Assured TenancyAgreement your deposit must by law be

protected by one of the three tenancydeposit schemes and you should be toldwhich scheme your deposit is protectedunder within 14 days of paying it. At theend of the tenancy your landlord willinform you if they wish to deduct moneyfrom your deposit. If you disagree withthis you can use the tenancy depositscheme’s free dispute service. This iswhy those inventories and photographswhen you move in are so important asthey will provide you with proof of thecondition of the property at the start ofyour tenancy. For more information visitwww.direct.gov.uk/en/tenancydeposit.

RetainersSo if signing a contract and paying adeposit wasn’t enough yourlandlord/agent may also request youpay a retainer over the summer periodbefore you move into a property. Thisusually equates to half rent for everymonth between the previous tenantsmoving out and you moving in. Youcan't move in during this time but youmay be able to store some belongingsthere if you ask (this will be at yourown risk so make sure you haveinsurance). Your landlord is free to rentthe property out to other tenants during

this time or carry out refurbishments aslong as the property is ready for you tomove in on the date stated in yourcontract (If they are carrying outrefurbishments make sure you getconfirmation in writing including acompletion date). Remember, yourlandlord cannot ask you to pay full rentas a retainer. If you pay full rent thenyou're entitled to move in.

GuarantorsFor many of you this will be your firstexperience of renting a property and assuch it is one of the key stages inbecoming an independent adult. Butstill there's nothing like having goodold Mum and Dad to fall back on incase you've spent all your rent moneyon penny sweets and yoyos. And that'swhere a guarantor comes in. They’rebasically someone who agrees to payyour rent if you can’t. If you have ajoint and several agreement yourguarantor will be jointly liable for theentire rent of the property. You canrequest that they only be liable for yourportion of the rent but you must ensureeveryone on the contract has provideda guarantor and completed thenecessary forms to do so.

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� Look after your property and mark it withyour university initials and your studentID number

� Register all items onwww.immobilise.com. It’s free and canhelp to re-unite you with your property ifanything is stolen

� Lock up whenever you go out

� Stay safe, alert and in control when out at night. Remember, there’s safety in numbers

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So the first thing you'll need to sort outis what to do with all your stuff whenyou move out of your present digs.

If you're lucky you'll have parents with abig lovely car, willing to pick you andeverything up, whisk you back to thebosom of the family abode, wash, clotheand feed you during the summer months,and then bring you and all of it back againin time for your move in date. If thatdoesn't sound like the family you knowthen you may need the services of astorage company. These guys rent outrooms in vast tiered warehouses,resembling a cross-between somethingout of a James Bond film and the Shining,and charge you a weekly rate for the timeyour gear's there based upon the size ofthe container you need. The benefits ofusing a storage company are they'resecure (you use your own padlock for theroom so buy one from a hardware storerather than the storage people as theycharge more), you don’t have to haul yourbelongings halfway across the countryand back, and your gear is all boxed upand ready for the big day, making the

moving in process that much easier.Storage companies often offer reducedrates on removal services too so if you arethinking of using a removal firm, makesure you ask about these costs whenbooking your storage.

Storage companies also sell packingboxes, bubble wrap etc but to save yousome cash head down to your localshops and ask there first. Supermarkets,shops and pubs get deliveries in boxesdaily and are usually more than happy togive them to you for free. Black bags aregreat for packing your bedding andclothes. You don’t even have to take outthe hangers. Just roll the clothes roundthe hanger and in they go - saves time atthe other end as you just have to unrollthem and hang them back up again. Whosays students are cheap? Boxes aregood for books, cd’s and all your otherjunk but refrain from filling up too big abox as you may find you can't lift it or thebottom falls out because you’vecrammed in too much heavy stuff. Andmake sure you label the boxes as you go.If they all end up saying 'stuff' you wont

know where to look if you need to dig outsomething important (like your passport,cheque book or vital daily medicine).

If you're using a removal firm make sureyou ring round a few companies forquotes (you'll need to have an idea ofhow many boxes etc you're likely tohave). Once you have a price you'rehappy with, book them in for a specificdate and time. Make sure you get inearly as removal companies get bookedup fast - remember, a big portion of thestudents in Bath will be moving at thesame time as you. The other option isyou can rent a van yourself. Just takenote with this last option that many hirecompanies only rent to drivers over 25so you'll have to refer to their terms andconditions first. If you can’t rent a vanyourself you could enlist the services ofa 'man with a van'. You'll see theseadvertised in the classified ads of localnewspapers or on your universitymessage boards. Beware though, theseare unregulated services. Never go onyour own and make sure you agree theprice in advance.

yeah!

Timeto move

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PHOTOSTake photos of your new

property so you have a

record of the condition of

the property and thecontents when you move in.

Get these photos signed and dated

by your landlord or agent.

INVENTORYGo through the inventory carefu

lly. Tick off

items as you find them and check the

condition. Note down any marks on the

carpets, walls, furniture and bring them to

the attention of your landlord/agent. The

last thing you want when you're moving out

is to get a bill for damage which was there

when you moved in. Some contracts

stipulate you must have the place

professionally cleaned when you leave. If

that's the case check it’s clean when you

arrive. Also, make a note of any extra items

and ask your landlord about them.

METER READINGSTake a reading of the electric,

gas and

water meters the day you move in. You

shouldn’t pay for anything before these

readings. Ask your landlord/agent if you

don’t know where to find the meters. If

you're unsure which numbers you need,

write them all down. When you contact

the utility companies they’ll tell you what

they need.

REGISTER FOR BILLSYou need to check your contra

ct to see

whether it’s your responsibility to contact

the various utility companies to register

yourselves as the new tenants. Your

landlord/agency will be able to tell you

who currently provides the gas and

electric to the property. Make sure all your

names go on all of the bills as only those

named will be held responsible for paying.

If you’ve rented through an agency it’s

worth asking them if they have already

done this for you. If you wish to switch

energy provider, get permission from your

landlord/agent.

COUNCIL TAX As a full-time student, you are not liable to

pay Council Tax. However, you must be able

to prove this. Please see the below

information relevant for your University.

If you are a full-time student occupying a

property with non-students, please contact

the Council. You must inform the Council if

you leave the property or if you or any of your

student house mates cease to be a student.

Please contact the Council with any queries

on (01225) 477777 and select option 1 or

e-mail counciltax@bathnes.gov.uk.

University of Bath students:

When you register your details online at

www.bath.ac.uk/registrationon- online

(ensuring you use your Bath address) there

is an option where the University can help

you prove you are a full-time student. If you

agree for your details to be passed to the

Council, please ensure you leave the tick in

the box on the bottom of the registration

form. This is beneficial as it saves you

having to provide a certificate.

Bath Spa University students:

Use the Student Portal to register your

details online, (ensuring you use your

Bath address). If you agree for your

details to be passed to the Council,

please ensure you leave the tick in the

box. This is beneficial to you as it saves

you having to provide a certificate.

After themovechecklist

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If there are 3+ of you then you couldshare the cost of a cleaner. A couple ofhours every week or two will costaround £20-25 between you all and inthat time the cleaner will handle mostof the bigger jobs around the house -the vacuuming, floor washing, dustingthe tapestries - leaving you just theeveryday stuff like washing up andwashing your clothes. Sure it mayseem a little extravagant (which it is)and sure some people will say if youmade the mess you should clean it up(which you should) but if you've got thecash and you're lazy then why not?

To hook upto theinternetyou'regoing toneed alandlineor awireless

mobile broadbandprovider. Whenlooking at youroptions, you mightwant to check out apackage that includes TV aswell as it usually gets thrown in for free(or at least for a very reduced rate) -especially useful if you like Top Gear orCome Dine With Me. Landlines usuallywork out a lot cheaper than mobilephones as most companies offer freeevening and weekend calls (to otherlandlines) so you could save some cashby downgrading your mobile packagetoo. As always before signing up to anyagreement, shop around for the bestpackage – student discounts andpackages are being offered on anincreasingly wide variety of products.Ideally if you go for a package dealyou’ll want a free wifi router andyou shouldn’t be paying any

more than £25-£30for the whole

package.

Rememberto check with yourlandlord before you sign up to anagreement and install a landline,internet connection or digital dish/box.

If you need more furnishings check outyour local furniture projects (details inthe back of this magazine). They takein good quality second hand furnitureand sell it on in the name of charity.You should also check notices in

local shops, local papers,Trade It and charity shops.There is also a great onlinecommunity calledFreecycle where people

give stuff away for free.Sofas, beds, tables. All you

have to do is apply tobecome part of thecommunity and respondto posts fast. Make sureyou check your contractor with your landlord firstas some contracts stateyou're not allowed to bringin extra furniture.

Don’t forget to let yourlandlord know if the propertyis going to be empty for aperiod of time (if you are

going away for Christmas etc).

Last butnot least

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If you have concerns or find yourselfin difficulties, ask for help soonerrather than later.

FOODShop together as a household, eitherweekly or fortnightly. Do your groceryshopping online if it helps. Plan your menu’s for the week. You’ll besurprised at how much money you cansave if you do this. Ever thought about investing in a slowcooker? They come in different sizes andcan save you both time and money,especially if you want to share cookingresponsibilities. In addition, they don’tuse a lot of energy. www.amazon.co.ukRecommended Book: Hamlyn All Colour200 Slow Cooker Recipes by Sara Lewis.

SOCIAL LIFE AND ACTIVITIESA good social life doesn't have to beexpensive - and remember that yourstudent friends will be just as keen asyou to find social activities that don'tcost too much.You’ll find that the Students' Unionfeatures in your social life - the SUorganises many events during the

year and there are lots of clubs andsocieties you can get involved in.

TRAVELWessex Connect and First Buses travelto Bath Spa University and theUniversity of Bath sites. www.uni-connect.co.uk orwww.firstgroup.com/ukbus/southwest/bristol/students_bathConsider buying a 16-25 railcard. Somemature students are also eligible. It’s avery good proposition if you intendmaking longer journeys during the year.www.16-25railcard.co.uk

BILLSDon’t pay off bills based on‘estimated’ readings. Agree with your housemates howbills are to be paid. How aboutsetting up a joint household accountwith a bank or building society?Alternatively, you could have a ‘pot’that you all can contribute a weeklyor monthly amount into. Don’t place sole responsibility onone person to collect in the moneyand pay all the utility bills.

Try to get as many of yourhousemates names on the utilitybills, and any other items for whichyou are jointly responsible. If your landlord will allow it, shoparound for cheaper utility providers.www.uswitch.com

CONTACT DETAILSBath Spa StudentsStudent Support Service: Our MainOffice is in Doynton Building. Welfare and Student Money AdviceEmail: studentsupport@bath.ac.uk Telephone: 01225 876163Website: www.bathspa.ac.uk/services/student-services/current-students/your-money/

University of Bath StudentsStudent Services Centre4WestAccess online help via SAMIS – just login and look for the Student ServicesHelpdesk tab. Telephone: 01225 385538Website: www.bath.ac.uk/studentservices/money-service/

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MoneyMatters

Ok so you've moved your gear in,hooked up your stereo and built alittle fort in your cupboard no-oneelse knows about, job done right?Well sort of, but if you want to keepon good terms with your housemates,it’s worth spending a little time as agroup deciding how you will runthings first.

The KittyTo save space and wastage there arecertain essentials it makes sense foryou to buy as a group - milk, teabags,washing up liquid, black bags etc. Buthow you agree who buys what andwhen can be trickier than you think.People generally start off with the sameidea – we’ll put ‘X’ amount into a kittyeach week to buy all the shared things.But it’s not always that easy. It can behard knowing who has paid and whohasn't and even if you keep up to date,who’s actually going to the shops? Sureyou can agree to take turns, but it won’talways be the case that whoever's turn

it is to go will be around when you needthem to (which is generally the momentyou find out there's no toilet roll). Soyou may find it better to have a set dayeach week when you all go shoppingtogether. This won’t eliminate the needto head to the local shops for a pint ofmilk now and then, but it should helpkeep general stocks up and make sureeveryone is contributing the sameamount. It also means you can plangroup meals together which savesmoney and limits the washing up.

CleaningIf you want to stick to the terms of yourcontract and avoid contractingsomething unpleasant, you're going tohave to clean up once in a while. Manypeople start out with a cleaning rotawhere set jobs rotate between thehousemates and everyone has a go atevery job at least once, includingtackling the darkness each and everyone of us all must face one day -cleaning the toilet. This can work as long

as you’re all keen on keeping the houseto the same standard but problems arisewhen one or more housemates are lesscommitted than the others and jobs getleft. So like with the shopping, you mayfind it best to ditch the rota and plangroup clean up days instead. Sure it’s notrip to Alton Towers, but... err... hmm...okay there's no but, you just gotta cleanup sometimes.

Respect your housematesSorry to break the bad news but there'sgoing to be times when you have to getout of bed. It's the only drawback ofbeing a student. So to make the painmore bearable, it helps to respect eachother's early starts. If you do have a problem with someonein the house, then speak up. It will onlyget worse if you don’t.

REMEMBER The number of peopleyou live with directly correlates to theamount of understanding, flexibilityand toilet roll you will need.

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The patterns and habits of students arequite predictable, therefore it makessense to be extra vigilant when itcomes to crime prevention at studentproperties. Neighbourhood Watch isone of the biggest and most successfulcrime prevention initiatives ever. If youwould like to find out if there is aNeighbourhood Watch or would like toset one up please contact Bath PoliceStation on (01225) 842480.

• Check that the property has decentdoors & windows with locks thatwork. If you’re not happy, speak toyour landlord.

• Don’t forget to close your window orassume that your housemate will do it.

• Always remember to check that thefront door is closed/locked etc.

• Look out for anyone you do notrecognise and be prepared to askthem who they are and why theyare visiting.

• If you see something suspicious or,out of the ordinary, report it. For non-

emergencies telephone 101 and foran emergency telephone 999

To find out who your local area PoliceConstable/ Beat Manager is and toreport incidents of crime online visit:www.avonandsomerset.police.uk

Protecting your valuablesUniversity of Bath students - Over thenext 3 years the University of BathSecurity Department will be working inpartnership with SelectaMark, a propertymarking company and the local Police toencourage students to mark theirproperty with ‘SelectaDNA’ and othersimilar products prior to coming to theUniversity; the ‘SelectaDNA’ productregisters the property to the owner andallows the University and Police toreadily identify lost or stolen recoveredproperty and return it to the rightfulowner.For more details go to www.bath.ac.uk/study/applicants/gettingstarted/safety/Bath Spa University students - pleaseregister the details of your property atwww.immobilise.com

All Students can be quite vulnerable,especially in their first year at University.This could be due to not knowing manypeople, or having little knowledge of thearea in which you live. It can also be dueto drinking excess alcohol on a night out,therefore, it is important that you take thissimple advice when going out at night:• Stick together and look out for eachother…don’t walk home alone andcarry a personal alarm.

• Don’t walk along dark roads, by canalsor rivers and use well lit routes.

• If you go to an ATM, check if anyoneis watching and be discreet aboutyour PIN.

• If a friend has had too much to drink,ensure they get home safely andreceive any medical attention asappropriate. Lie them in the recoveryposition to prevent choking.

• If you are going to drink …do itsensibly…drink water betweenalcoholic drinks and have a decentmeal before you go out.

• Plan your route home before you go out.

Don’t make it a Night to Regret

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Safety In the home

Useful tips from the Police to help keep you and your stuff safe

Students keepingStudents Safe

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Let’s be honest, there isn’t anythingparticularly exciting about fire safety isthere? So, as you move into your newhome there’s probably a million andone more interesting things on yourmind – but please just take fiveminutes to read on because fire reallycould affect you.

The fact is that students are one of thegroups most at risk of having a fire.There are many reasons for this, fromlate night cooking after a night out,smoking or leaving the odd candleburning unattended.

You might not realise, but more thanhalf of all house fires in the area start inthe kitchen. And you’d be surprised athow many of these are caused byembarrassed students who have comein from a night out, put something underthe grill and promptly fallen asleep. Thelucky ones have working smoke alarms

or a neighbour to thank for waking themup. But for others, there isn’t such ahappy ending.

You are probably like almost half thepopulation who think they would wake upif they smelt smoke. The truth is if you hada fire in your house just a few breaths ofsmoke will numb your senses, renderingyou unconscious. Unless you are wokenby your smoke alarm or a neighbour, youmay never wake up.

If you’ve had a drink, please don’t cook –why not buy a kebab or some chips? Evenstone cold sober, people who put food onto cook and then leave the kitchen, end upmaking 999 calls to us almost every dayof the week. So remember, never leaveyour cooking unattended and keep yourgrill pans clean from fat build-up.

Despite your best efforts accidents canhappen. So please make sure you have a

smoke alarm and that it’s working. It’svery tempting to take the batteries out tostop it beeping every time you burn thetoast but it’s not worth the risk. Smokealarms can only save your life if they areworking and it’s your responsibility tocheck them regularly.

And remember if you have a fire, getout, stay out and call 999.

If you would like to know more about allaspects of Avon Fire & Rescue Service,from fire safety and community eventsto careers in the service, why not findus Facebook.com/avonfirerescue ,follows at Twitter.com/avonfirerescue orvisit www.avonfire.gov.uk

Don’t make it a Night to Regret

Staying safe

in the home

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Living in town is a differentexperience to living on campus. Aswell as many students, you will bepart of a wider community made up ofa whole host of different people -families, professionals, pensioners toname but a few.

Get to know the people around you.Introduce yourself to your neighbours, abrief chat can go a long way to puttingpeople's minds at rest and can help youlearn about the area. Although you maywish to have the occasional party orgathering. Please be aware that if yours oryour guest’s actions impact negatively onthose around you (for example ifneighbours are disturbed by noise) thismay generate complaints to the Council,your Landlord/Letting Agent and/or yourUniversity. Please also note that youshould check your tenancy agreement ascontracts do differ and some state thatyou are not allowed to have parties or thatyou need to get permission from yourLandlord/Letting Agent.

• Let your neighbours know aboutyour party giving plenty of notice(please remember that making yourneighbours aware before you have aparty, does not mean that it is OK to

make excessive noise until anunreasonable time).

• Let your neighbours know whenyour party will start and expect tofinish and stick to that time.

• Keep the music down and makesure you keep regular checks onnoise levels, especially the bass.

• Ask your guests to leave quietly andclear up any debris.

• Remember you are responsible foryour guests so please make surethey respect your neighbours too.

The Council runs the Student Action Linewhere students or long-term residents canreport any student/community relatedissues (01225 396996). Your University iskeen to maintain healthy relationshipswith the local community and anydisruption you cause will be takenseriously. Environmental Health could alsoget involved; they have powers to seizeequipment and/or issues fines.

PARKINGIf you have a car, please contact theCouncil about whether you are eligible fora parking permit. The allocations forparking permits within Bath’s residentialareas are very limited.You should also contact your Landlord to

find out whether there is an allocatedparking space or permit for the premises.For more information on parking zones inthe city visit: www.bathnes.gov.uk orcontact: 01225 477133/4

University of Bath students:Parking spaces on the University campusare very limited in numbers and studentswishing to park without a permit mustuse the Pay-and-Display facility, the costof which equates to £9 per day. Permitsare only issued in exceptionalcircumstances thus students areencouraged to use public transport to andfrom the campus.

Bath Spa University students:Please note that if you live in Uniteaccommodation you will have beenmade aware that you are not permittedto bring a car, you will have also agreedto the terms and conditions as set out inyour tenancy agreement with Unitewhen you signed your agreement andtook up occupancy. Students who live inUniversity owned and managedaccommodation are not allowed to parkon site or to have a car park permitunless they have a disability. Studentsand staff are encouraged to use publictransport, car sharing and cycling.

Living in theCommunity

25

Illegal EvictionsAs a tenant you have something calledsecurity of tenure. This means you can’tbe evicted without the correct notice andin the case of an Assured ShortholdTenancy, a court order. If your landlordtries to evict you without thisdocumentation they are committing acriminal offence and it’s time to report it.This is the case even if you have rentarrears (which means you're behind withyour rent) or if you've breached yourtenancy agreement in some other way.

HarassmentAs far as renting goes, harassment isbasically anything done by your landlordthat interferes with your occupation.This could include letting themselvesinto the property or showing prospectivetenants round without giving you notice

and attempting to evict you withoutproper procedure. If you are sufferingharassment you can get an injunction tostop it as well as compensation.

Here's a list of possible actions byyour landlord which could beconsidered as harassment:

• Refusing or restricting your access toparts of your accommodation.

• Stopping you from having a guest(unless this was part of your contract).

• Constant visits from your landlord ortheir agents, visits late at night orwithout warning.

• Offering you money or threateningyou.

• Entering your home when you’re notthere and without permission.

• Allowing the property to get into such

a bad state of repair that it isdangerous or uncomfortable for you tostay there, or start building works andleaving them unfinished.

• Sending builders in without any noticeor at unsociable hours.

• Removing or restricting services suchas hot water or heating.

• Changing locks (and not giving youthe new keys).

• Moving in ‘stooge’ tenants who causea nuisance.

• Forcing tenants to sign agreementsthat reduce their rights.

If you feel you're being harassed or yourlandlord is attempting an illegal eviction,get in contact with the advice servicesin your Students' Union or the StudentSupport Services at your university formore advice.

Illegal evictions andHarassment

It pays to know your rights

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A new survey published byEndsleigh, the number one studentinsurance provider, reveals thattoday’s student will take £2,652worth of possessions with them touniversity. In addition, students aregetting more tech savvy, with allstudents owning a computer, andexpensive items carried on theirperson every day.

The survey, compiled by Endsleigh andthe National Union of Students, revealedthat 83% of students will be taking alaptop, a desktop computer (14%)and/or a tablet PC* (4%) to university forthe start of the new term.

Endsleigh found that the averagestudent carries many of their mostexpensive possessions with them everyday, including items such as laptops,iPhones, MP3 players and digitalcameras. As a result, students regularlyhave an average of £1,165 worth ofgadgets on them - even excluding otherpopular items, such as jewellery,makeup, cash and credit cards.

Other popular possessions students taketo university include:• MP3 players/iPods (64%)• Digital cameras (60%)• Hair straighteners (39%)• Games consoles (25%)• Sports equipment (including surfingand ski) (20%)

• Bicycle (17%)

A fifth of students take a musicalinstrument to university, and these arethe most expensive possession, with theaverage valuation worth £684.

Every student takes a mobile phone touniversity, with 59% taking smartphones such as iPhones or Blackberries.Many students take more than onemobile to uni to take advantage ofcheap tariffs and deals.

The average student’s wardrobe isworth £542.

Endsleigh’s top tips to help studentskeep their possessions safe:1. Ensure that you check the security

of your accommodation when youarrive and raise any safetyconcerns with the landlord/halls ofresidence immediately

2. Always make sure the doors andwindows to your room/flat are lockedwhen you leave

3. Make sure valuables are not left infull view if leaving them unattendedany length of time

4. Try not to draw attention to valuablepossessions when walking aroundthe town or campus

5. Ensure you are covered by contentsinsurance that is specially tailored tostudents’ needs

*such as an iPad.

The survey was conducted online duringJune 2011 and surveyed 2608representative university students.

Insurance

STUDENTS TAKE NEARLY £3000 WORTH OFPOSSESSIONS TO UNIVERSITYTech-savvy students regularly carry £1,165 worth of gadgets with them every day

• Students carry over a third oftheir possessions with themworth over £1,300

• BlackBerry winning the mobilebattle over iPhones

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Energy saving & Recycling

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Climate Change and peak oil aresome of the biggest challenges weface, but we can all do our bit!When you are looking at properties,make sure it is on the AccreditationScheme which will mean it reachesbasic levels of energy efficiency,and ask to see the EnergyPerformance Certificate (EPC),which the Landlord is legallyobliged to have. An EPC provides anenergy rating A-G for the property;the better the energy rating thelower your bills will be.

You can save around £300 a year bybeing more careful with electricity andheating in the home. You can borrow anelectricity monitor for free from theCouncil's Library Serviceto find out how much you are using, andhow to reduce it.

You may be paying more than you needto on your bills; Use an impartialwebsite comparison service such asUSwitch or GoCompare to check yourelectricity/gas prices.

You can help persuade your Landlordby using the Energy Savings Trust’sstandard Landlord letter. Privatelyrented properties are eligible forcertain energy saving grants whichyour landlord may be able takeadvantage of, download the letter fromwww.energysavingstrust.org.uk

Make your landlord aware of ‘solar forfree’ schemes, where companies willinstall solar panels on the roof at no /low cost to the landlord, and thetenant will benefit from the freeelectricity produced, lowering yourbills. After tackling your own home,you might want to consider helpingyour neighbours become more energyefficient; why not join the B&NESEnvironmental Sustainability Networkto find out what’s going on in yourarea: www.sustainabilitynetwork. co.uk

RECYCLING AND WASTEBath and North East Somerset(B&NES) produces about 77,000tonnes of waste each year - one hugeheap of rubbish. Not only does thiscost us all money and put a lot of

pressure on our environment but it’salso producing a race of renegadeseagulls who once stole a Cornishpasty out of my hand in broaddaylight. But not all the waste weproduce has to end up in landfill sites.In B&NES around 46% of householdwaste collected is recycled. Yourrecycling and waste is collectedweekly from your home. Make sureyou have the correct containers - agreen box for recycling, a blue bag forcardboard and two black containersfor food waste. These containers areall available free from CouncilConnect: emailcouncilconnect@bathnes.gov.uk or tel 01225 39 40 41.

Garden waste can be collected fromyour home but there is a charge – seethe website for details. Non-recyclablerubbish is collected on the same dayas your recycling and needs to be putout in black bin bags or aconventional dustbin. You areresponsible for keeping your homeand garden free from waste so ifrubbish is spilled then it’s yourresponsibility to clean it up. Spilledrubbish is a health risk and an eyesore, not to mention a possible sourceof identity theft. Put your recycling andrubbish out by 7am on your collectionday at the front edge of your propertyso it can be easily seen by the crewsand make sure you bring in yourcontainers as soon as possible afteremptying. If you continue to put your

rubbish out at the wrong time andplace the Council has the power tofine you £75.

To find out your collection day go toyour information’ box on the Councilwebsite homepagewww.bathnes.gov.uk and enter your postcode.

Here's a few guidelines for recyclingand rubbish collection:• Bag up rubbish carefully andremember to put it out every weekrather than let it build up.

• Recycle everything you can using yourgreen box (including glass bottles andjars, paper, cans, batteries, foil,plastic bottles, and other householdplastic packaging, clothes and shoes).Make sure it is clean and sorted intomaterial types.

• If you have extra recycling you canput it out in carrier bags but leavethem open so they can be identifiedas recycling rather than rubbish.

• Please cut and flatten your cardboardand brown paper so it fits into yourblue bag and remove anyplastic/sticky tape.

There are also three Recycling Centresin B&NES where you can take extrarecycling, rubbish or larger items suchas unwanted furniture and electricalgoods. Visit the Council websitewww.bathnes.gov.uk/wasteservices tofind the centre near you.

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AVON AND SOMERSET POLICE ...........................................................................................................101www.avonandsomerset.police.uk

AVON FIRE & RESCUE .......................................................................................................0117 926 2061www.avonfire.gov.uk

SHELTER ............................................................................................................................0808 800 4444http://england.shelter.org.uk/

BATH AND DISTRICT CITIZENS ADVICE..............................................................................0844 111 444www.adviceguide.org.uk

TV LICENSING ............................................................................................................................................www.tvlicensing.co.uk

GENESIS FURNITURE PROJECT (good quality secondhand furniture and white goods) .....................01225 463 549www.genesistrust.org.uk

BATH FREECYCLE ......................................................................................................................................http://groups.freecycle.org/bathfreecycle

WESSEX WATER ...............................................................................................................0845 600 3 600www.wessexwater.co.uk

DIRECTGOV - DEPOSIT ADVICE.................................................................................................................www.direct.gov.uk./en/tenancydeposit

ENERGY SAVING TRUST ......................................................................................................0800 512 012http://www.energysavingtrust.org.uk

B&NES - (Council Connect) ................................................................................................01225 394 041www.bathnes.gov.uk/contactus

STUDENT COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIP (Bath) ...................................................................01225 385 113www.townandgown.org.uk

Useful Contacts

Getting aroundWESSEX CONNECT ............................................................................................................0117 321 3190http://wessexconnect.com/

FIRST BUS .........................................................................................................................0871 200 2233www.firstgroup.com

UNIVERSITY OF BATHPrivate Sector database www.bathstudentpad.co.uk

Accommodation Office .....................................................................................................01225 383 111www.bath.ac.uk/accommodation6 West Level 1, Claverton Down Campus

Advice and Representation Centre (SU)...........................................................................01225 386 906http://www.bathstudent.com/welfare/ SU Student Centre, 1 East Level 3, Claverton Down Campus

BATH SPA UNIVERSITYPrivate Sector database www.bathspastudentpad.co.uk

Student Housing Services.................................................................................................01225 875 843http://housing.bathspa.ac.ukStewards Lodge, Newton Park, Newton St Loe

���������Moving Out

Please leave your property in good condition inside and out

and as you found it. Not doing so could lead to a deduction

from your deposit

Sort and pack to take as much home as possible with you

Get organised a few weeks before your move out date and

use your weekly rubbish collections for anything that you

will not be taking with you

Check your contract to see if there are any additional

requirements that your Landlord/Letting Agent requires you

to action prior to vacating the property

Donate or recycle any items that you are not taking to local

charities or the Recycling Centre

Call Council Connect for bulky waste pick up and please be

aware that there is a small cost involved

Make sure you let the Council and your other utility providers

know that you are moving out

Notify others of your change of address

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