guide to accommodation

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Accommodation Guide

www.ucreative.ac.uk


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Canterbury, Maidstone and RochesterAccommodation OfficeUniversity College for the Creative Artsat MaidstoneOakwood Park, MaidstoneKent ME16 8AGT +44 (0)1622 620000F +44 (0)1622 621100

EpsomAccommodation OfficeUniversity College for the Creative Artsat EpsomAshley Road, EpsomSurrey KT18 5BET +44 (0)1372 202448F +44 (0)1372 202455

FarnhamAccommodation OfficeUniversity College for the Creative Artsat FarnhamFalkner Road, FarnhamSurrey GU9 7DS

T +44 (0)1252 892621F +44 (0)1252 892983

Or contact us using the followingemail address:[email protected].

Our opening hours are 10am 4pm,Monday to Friday, for personal callersand 9am 5pm, Monday to Friday, fortelephone enquiries. The offices areclosed on weekends and public holidays.

This accommodation brochure is to beused as a guide only. Information iscorrect at time of going to press.

See our website at www.ucreative.ac.ukfor up-to-date information.

University College Owned/ManagedAccommodation

All University College owned/managed accommodation is administered by therelevant Accommodation Office staff who can assist with matters relating toyour accommodation.

Please contact us at the appropriate campus as follows:

IntroductionThis guide to accommodation at theUniversity College for the Creative Arts atCanterbury, Epsom, Farnham, Maidstone

and Rochester will help you makeinformed decisions about where to livewhen studying with us, particularly if thisis your first time away from home.

Along with rooms on campus in ourStudent Village and Halls of Residence,we own and manage a number of housesand flats in p urpose-built or convertedproperties. Most of the accommodationwe offer is in single study bedrooms andis self-catering. Our full range ofaccommodation is detailed in this guide.

We encourage you to think carefully aboutthe type of accommodation that is rightfor you, and to consider what best suitsyour lifestyle and personality. To help youchoose, this guide provides a generalintroduction to all the types of accommo-dation we offer and gives you moredetailed information relating to each ofour campuses at Canterbury, Epsom,Farnham, Maidstone and Rochester.

Introduction to University CollegeOwned/Managed Accommodation 1

General Informationon University College Accommodation 3

Canterbury 7

Epsom 9

Farnham 11

Maidstone 13

Rochester 15

Private Sector Accommodation 17

Further Information 21


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All University College accommodationis self-catering. In the majority ofcases, you will have your own studybedroom consisting of a bed, desk,chair, blinds or curtains and awardrobe. Each flat/house has akitchen/dining area which is sharedby all residents. The kitchen/dining

area has a cooker, fridge/freezer,kettle, microwave and dining furniture.Basic cleaning equipment (vacuumcleaner, etc) is provided. You willneed to bring your own bedding(duvet and cover, pillows and pillowcases, sheets), towels, cutlery,crockery and cooking utensils (potsand pans).

The University College operates ano smoking policy.

Although properties cannot be viewedwhilst students are in residenceduring the academic year, it may bepossible to arrange for you to viewthe accommodation in July/August.

Allocation processThe demand for University Collegeaccommodation is high and we areunable to offer accommodation to allstudents who apply for it. Priority isgiven to new students pursuing a full-time course at the University Collegewho live the furthest distance from therespective University College campus.

General Informationon University College Accommodation

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The University College does notprovide accommodation for families.If you are intending to bring yourfamily, please make sure that firmarrangements have been made forsuitable accommodation before yourfamily arrives.

If you require something other thanstandard student accommodation, itmay be easier to accept lodgings orbed and breakfast accommodationfirst before seeking a suitable houseor flat once you have arrived.

Application processOnce you have formally accepted anoffer of a place on a full-time courseat the University College you will besent a letter, an application form and

rent details. Please read the informa-tion carefully before completing theapplication form and returning it tothe appropriate AccommodationOffice.

Next stepsThe first allocation of accommodationis carried out in June and details willbe sent to all students as soon aspossible after this. If we are unable

to offer University Collegeaccommodation to you, or if youhave requested information aboutprivate sector accommodation,details will be sent as soon aspossible after the first allocation hasbeen completed.

ContractIf you are offered a place in UniversityCollege accommodation, you will beasked to sign a legally bindingContract for the period of occupancy.In addition you will be asked to readand agree to the Terms & Conditionsof Residence governing youroccupancy. These will be sent to youwith the offer of a room. CurrentTerms & Conditions of Residencecan be viewed on our website atwww.ucreative.ac.uk.

Booking fee You will be asked to pay a bookingfee if you are offered a place inUniversity College accommodation.If you move into University Collegeaccommodation, the booking fee

will be used towards your initial rentpayment.

Arrival procedures You will be notified of the arrival andkey collection procedures after wehave received your booking fee.


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InsuranceIt is important that you insure yourpossessions. Your parents homeinsurance policy may cover youwhilst you are away from home, soit is worth investigating this further.A selection of insurance leaflets isavailable, and help and advice can begiven to you after you arrive at youraccommodation.

Television licenceThe law requires that you must havea licence for each television set inyour accommodation. The onlyexception is if you have a black andwhite television solely operated bybattery.

Noise

It is important that you read andunderstand the conditions of yourContract, which include a clauseregarding noise. Most studentaccommodation is located inresidential areas.

VisitorsIt is also important to make sure thatany visitors to the property behavein an acceptable way.

Exchange study visits/workplacementsIt is important that, if you intend toundertake an exchange study visit orwork placement in the forthcomingyear, you think about where you live.If you sign a Contract for youraccommodation, you will becomeresponsible for rent in the propertyin the UK and also for that in yourexchange country. Make sure youhave the funds to cover this.

Moving outIf you live in University Collegeaccommodation you will be informedof the procedures for moving out andhanding your keys in before the endof your Contract period.

Please ensure that theaccommodation is left in a clean andtidy condition. If it is not, a chargemay be levied against the person(s)responsible. Rubbish and any un-wanted property should be removed.

Contact the local Royal Mail office toarrange to have your mail re-directedas this is not the responsibility of theAccommodation Office staff.

RefectoriesThe Refectories at each campus areopen Monday to Friday during termtime and serve hot meals and coldsnacks. There is also a bar at eachcampus where snacks can bepurchased, as well as hot and colddrinks.

RentRent can be paid annually or intermly instalments. It is not possibleto pay rent monthly or weekly. Pleasemake sure that you can afford to payyour rent before accepting the offerof a room. For information aboutcurrent rents please visit our websiteat www.ucreative.ac.uk.

Once you have accepted the offerof a room and moved into theaccommodation, you will be subjectto Contract. The Contract is for aspecified number of weeks and youwill be responsible for paying rent forthe whole of this period. If you moveout before the end of the Contractperiod, you will remain liable for therent until you find a suitable replace-ment or to the end of your Contract.

It is important that rent is paidon time.

Eviction may result fromnon-payment of rent. If you havefinancial difficulties, you shouldseek advice and assistance fromthe Accommodation Office/AdviceCentre Manager at your campus.

InventoryAn inventory is a list of what is in theproperty, and its condition, beforeyou move in. You will be providedwith an inventory for youraccommodation. You should checkthat this is correct and make a noteof the general state of the furnitureand the property when you move in.

Make sure you take a copy of theinventory before returning it to theappropriate Accommodation Office.

Electrical appliance testingIt is a health and safety requirementthat all electrical equipment musthave a current portable appliancetest certificate. Electrical appliancesprovided by the University College

are correctly certified.

You must have a current portableappliance test certificate for yourpersonal electrical equipment, if it isover one year old, prior to using it inUniversity College accommodation.Please make sure you have it testedbefore you bring it with you.

Furniture fire safety regulations

All furniture in rented accommodationmust meet with the Furniture (FireSafety) Regulations 1988 (asamended). You are not permitted tobring furniture or soft furnishings intoUniversity College accommodation.

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In addition to the standard fixturesand fittings outlined in the GeneralInformation section, each flat in ourCanterbury accommodation has atelephone that accepts incomingcalls and allows emergency 999calls to be made. Currently internetaccess is only available for studentswho have a supported disabilitywhich requires this facility. All utility

bills (heating, lighting and water) areincluded in the rent. A washingmachine is available in each kitchen.

There are four types of UniversityCollege owned/managedaccommodation at Canterbury:

Ian Dury HouseThis purpose-built development wascompleted in September 2001.

Situated on campus, the developmentcomprises nine flats, each housing sixstudents in single study bedrooms.All study bedrooms are en-suite (owntoilet and shower) and one flat isspecifically designed for disableduse. Student Wardens live on siteand provide support and assistanceto residents. There are no televisionaerial sockets and no parking facilities.

Riverdale HouseThere are four flats, each for sixstudents, situated on the Sturry Roadin Canterbury, which is approximately30 minutes walk from campus, 20minutes walk from the city centreand five minutes walk from a largesupermarket. All study bedrooms areen-suite (own toilet and shower).There are no television aerial socketsand parking facilities are limited.

Parham CloseThese three houses are situated nextdoor to Riverdale House. Each houseaccommodates up to seven studentsin single study bedrooms, who sharetwo bathrooms between them. Eachbedroom has a wash basin. Thereare no television aerial sockets and

parking facilities are limited.

Hotham CourtThis new, purpose-built Hall ofResidence offers a mix of en-suiteand shared facilities in flats of two,four, five and six single studybedrooms. Hotham Court is situatednext to Parham Close and RiverdaleHouse. Twenty-four hour security andcaretaker cover is provided. There is

a television aerial socket in each flat,but there are no parking facilities.

Canterbury is an historic city set on the river Stour andsurrounded by coastal towns and beautiful countryside.There are old buildings on nearly every corner and theancient city walls embrace a lively social scene. It is a smallcity with a warm and friendly atmosphere. The streets are

packed with independent shops, bookshops, larger chainstores and over 80 restaurants and pubs. There are alsomuseums, a national theatre, art galleries, cinemas andlate-night bars. Our campus is approximately 15 minuteswalk from the town centre.

Canterbury

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Worple RoadThe Worple Road flats are locatedon campus and were completed inJanuary 2003. There are three blocksaccommodating up to 54 students inen-suite (own toilet and shower) singlestudy bedrooms. Some study bed-rooms are adapted for disabled use.

A separate house accommodatesup to five students in en-suite (owntoilet and shower), single studybedrooms. This house is normallyused to accommodate our StudentWardens who provide support andassistance to residents.

There are television aerial sockets inthe study bedrooms and in the com-munal areas. There is also a telephone

in each flat which accepts incomingcalls only and allows emergency999 calls to be made. Currentlyinternet access is only available forstudents who have a supporteddisability which requires this facility.

All utility bills (heating, lighting andwater) are included in the rent. Thereare two laundries located on campus.

Parking is only available for residentswho demonstrate a specialrequirement.

Woodcote SideThis block of flats was leased by theUniversity College upon its completionin September 2003 and is situatedapproximately one mile from campus(about a 20 minute walk). There are

eight flats accommodating up to 34students in single study bedrooms.The nearest supermarket is approxi-mately a mile away, and the towncentre is about 20 minutes walk away,although there is a direct bus route.

There are television aerial sockets inthe study bedrooms and in the com-munal areas. There is also a telephonein each flat which accepts incomingcalls only and allows emergency 999calls to be made. Currently internetaccess is not provided, but studentsmay arrange this if they wish to do so.

All utility bills (heating, lighting andwater) are included in the rent. Thereare no laundry facilities on this site,but students may use the facilities

on campus or may buy or hire theirown washing machine which can beplumbed into the kitchen.

There is a large unrestricted carpark and also bicycle parkingfacilities. However, students who areresident at Woodcote Side are noteligible to receive a permit for themain University College car parkon campus unless they candemonstrate a special requirement.

Epsom

Epsom, home of the Derby, is a lively north Surrey townsituated approximately 20 miles south west of London.Epsom has a multiplex cinema and swimming and leisurecentre, as well as a large and varied number of restaurants,clubs, bars and pubs. Excellent transport links mean that

London and the larger nearby towns of Kingston andSutton are easily accessible. A large supermarket and thetown centre amenities are approximately ten minutes walkfrom campus.

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Farnham

Situated about 40 miles outside of London, Farnham is athriving town on the Surrey/Hampshire border. The nightlifeconsists of various pubs and restaurants, and excellenttransport links mean that Guildford, Woking and Londonare all easily accessible. Our campus is only a few minutes

walk from the town centre amenities.

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Student Wardens live on campusand provide support and assistanceto residents.

There is a telephone in each f latwhich accepts incoming calls onlyand allows emergency 999 calls tobe made. Currently internet access isonly available for students who havea supported disability which requiresthis facility.

All utility bills (heating, lighting andwater) are included in the rent.Laundry facilities are availableon campus.

Parking is only available for residentswho demonstrate a specialrequirement.

Main HallThe Main Hall was built in 1976 andis situated on campus. There areeight flats with four or five studentsin each flat. There are three differenttypes of accommodation:

Large single study bedrooms Small single study bedrooms Shared study bedrooms for two

people (same gender only)

There are no television aerial socketsin the flats.

Student VillageThe Student Village was completed in1996 and is located on the UniversityColleges campus. It comprises housesand flats of up to eight students,each in a single study bedroom, andhouses up to 345 students in total.

The majority of students share toiletand shower facilities, but there are13 en-suite (own toilet and showers)study bedrooms available and theseare usually allocated to students whohave a supported special need. Somerooms are adapted for disabled use.

There is a television aerial socket ineach flat.


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Maidstone Westree CourtThe student flats at Westree Courtwere completed in September 1997and are situated within 10 minuteswalk of both Maidstone town centreand the campus. There are a total of134 single study bedrooms arrangedin flats of four, six and seven persons.All study bedrooms are en-suite (owntoilet and shower).

There are four study bedrooms whichhave been adapted for disabled use.Fire alarm/doorbell alert equipmentis available to adapt any room forhearing impaired students. AScheme Officer lives on site and isavailable to provide support andassistance to residents.

There are no television aerial socketsin the flats. There is a telephone inthe entrance hall of each block whichaccepts incoming calls only andallows emergency 999 calls to bemade. Currently internet access isonly available for students who havea supported disability which requiresthis facility.

All utility bills (heating, lighting andwater) are included in the rent.Laundry facilities are available on site.

Limited parking is available.

Maidstone is rich in history and heritage and is surroundedby countryside. As well as shopping centres and retail outlets,the town offers a wide choice of cafs, pubs, clubs andrestaurants. Live music and dance are available. The townis a growing hub for art and culture and is home to a variety

of art venues, from galleries and museums to theatres andcinemas. There are many gardens and parks surroundingthe town. Our campus is approximately 20 minutes walkfrom the town centre.

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Doust WayThese flats are located by the river,about five minutes walk fromRochester station and the campus.They were completed in September1997 and accommodate up to 214students in en-suite (own toilet andshower) single study bedrooms.

There are two adapted studybedrooms available for disabledstudents. Fire alarm/doorbell alertequipment is available to adapt anyroom for hearing impaired students.In addition, there is one flat availablefor a student wishing to beaccommodated with a partner.

A Scheme Officer lives on site andis available to provide support and

assistance to residents.

There are no television aerial socketsin the flats. There is a telephone inthe entrance hall of each block whichaccepts incoming calls only andallows emergency 999 calls to bemade. Currently internet access isonly available for students who havea supported disability which requiresthis facility.

All utility bills (heating, lighting andwater) are included in the rent.Laundry facilities are available on site.

Limited parking is available.

Rochester

Rochester is an historic city, known for its connections withCharles Dickens, and is home to the second oldest cathedralin England. It is a small city with many pubs and a local livemusic scene. There are a number of restaurants andindependent shops along a quaint narrow high street. For

larger retail chain stores and the Dockside Outlet ShoppingCentre, the town of Chatham is just 10 minutes walk fromthe Rochester campus. The Medway area around Rochesterhas many sporting facilities, such as a dry-ski slope, an icerink, sports centres and a host of water sports on the river.Our campus is approximately 10 minutes walk from the towncentre. There are no parking facilities on-campus.

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Private Sector Accommodation

If you are moving to study at theUniversity College and are looking foraccommodation in the private sectoryou can get help from the AdviceCentre Managers at Canterbury,Maidstone and Rochester or theAccommodation Officers at Epsomand Farnham. Alternatively, localweekly newspapers containingcomprehensive property sections arealso available to view in the UniversityColleges libraries or via the internet.

Accommodation listA useful way of finding a property isto access the accommodation listheld at the Advice Centres atCanterbury, Maidstone and Rochesterand at the Accommodation Offices atEpsom and Farnham.

Remember that the properties maynot have been visited and thereforetheir condition and suitability will notbe guaranteed.

Please note that the UniversityColleges role is simply that of areferral agency: the properties onthe accommodation lists have notbeen inspected and their inclusiondoes not imply suitability. TheUniversity College accepts noliability for the accuracy of thedetails of the accommodation orfor any agreement reached, whichmust between you and theproperty provider.

Letting agentsIf you choose to rent through aLetting Agent, make sure that theyare a member of a reputable tradeassociation as this may provide youwith assistance if things go wrong.Also make sure you ask aboutadministrative fees you should notneed to pay a fee for registering yourname or for being given a list ofproperties.

LodgingsThis is where you live in a familyhouse. Most rooms are offered on aself-catering basis, where you willshare the family kitchen to cook yourown meals. There are a few landlordswho offer meals.

Rents vary and normally includeheating and lighting, but you mustbe sure of the rent you are paying.

You should find out whether the rentincludes gas, electricity, etc, andwhat parts of the house you have theright to use.

A contract is not normally issued forlodgings, but many landlords willhave certain house rules and alsostipulate a notice period. If they donot state a notice period, it is normallystandard practice that if rent is paidweekly then notice will be one week,and that if rent is paid four weeklythen the notice period will be fourweeks, and so on. All notice must bein writing.

If at all possible, it is important tovisit the accommodation and meetthe landlord before accepting theaccommodation. Most landlordsrequire a deposit see page 19 formore information.

Renting rooms or propertiesIf you rent a room or property in theprivate sector and the landlord doesnot live in the property you mustmake sure you are aware of thefollowing:

Tenancy agreementsMost landlords use the same contractperiod for their Tenancy Agreementsas the University College, althoughsome will require students to sign a12-month Tenancy Agreement.

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You will be required to sign a legallybinding Agreement for a fixed term(usually an Assured ShortholdTenancy) and you will be asked fora deposit. Make sure that you areprepared to stay at the accommoda-tion for the period covered in theAgreement. The landlord is notrequired by law to provide a writtenTenancy Agreement, but you shouldask for one.

It is important that you understandthe Tenancy Agreement you aresigning. Make sure you know whatthe rent includes before you signand, if in doubt, seek advice. Thelocal Citizens Advice Bureau mayoffer this advice free of charge.

If at all possible, you should try tovisit the property before acceptingthe accommodation. This gives youthe opportunity to meet the landlordand to discuss rent, deposit, termsand conditions, etc. Some landlordswill not let a property without firstmeeting with potential tenants.

Make sure that you have got acopy of the Tenancy Agreement.

DepositsMost non-resident andresident landlords take a deposit,which is a returnable sum payableto the owner and usually covers:

damage to the property or its fittingsin excess of fair wear and tear

the cost of cleaning necessary toreturn the property to its originalcondition

damage to dcor the cost of removing rubbish, etc.

from the property the cost of replacing locks or keys,

if keys are lost or not promptlyreturned

any unpaid bills outstanding onthe property

Please note that it is illegal to with-hold the last months rent paymentas security against your deposit notbeing returned. Make sure that youhave got a receipt for the money youhave paid.

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InventoryAn inventory is a list of what is in theproperty, and its condition, beforeyou move in. Make sure that there isan inventory and that you check theitems before you sign it. You maylose some or all of your deposit ifitems are damaged or missing at theend of your tenancy. Make sure youhave got a copy of the inventory.

Gas safety You should be provided with acurrent Landlords Gas SafetyCertificate and should make surethat its valid. All gas appliances inthe property should be included.

Fire safetyAll furniture in rented accommoda-

tion must meet with the Furniture(Fire Safety) Regulations 1988 (asamended). In general, any item offurniture in the property before youmove in should have a label on itsaying that it meets the 1988regulations. The property may berequired to have smoke detectors.If it does have smoke detectors,make sure that they work and notifyyour landlord if there is a problemwith them.

Houses in Multiple Occupation(HMO)An HMO is a property that is sharedby at least three unrelated people. Ifthe property that you are renting is anHMO, the landlord may have to get itlicensed with the local Council and itwill have to meet certain standards.

Council taxCouncil tax is not payable on a houseor self-contained unit where the soleoccupants are students. However,you will have to obtain an exemptioncertificate from the AdmissionsOffice/Registry.

If you need to leave before thetenancy period finishesIf a situation arises and you wish toleave a property, it is important thatthe landlord is informed immediatelyand that you take advice from theappropriate Advice CentreManager/Accommodation Officer.If you have signed a fixed contractyou are liable to pay the rent for thefull period unless:

there is a clause which allows youto give notice (this is rare)

the landlord voluntarily releasesyou from the contract (this isalso rare)

you find a replacement tenant, whois acceptable to both the landlordand other tenants, for the room


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CanterburyT +44 (0)1227 817307E [email protected]

MaidstoneT +44 (0)1622 620157E [email protected]

RochesterT +44 (0)1634 888644E [email protected]

Further InformationIf you need any further information on private sector accommodation, pleasecontact the appropriate Accommodation Office staff (contact details at thefront of this guide) or the Advice Centre Managers as follows:

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Other contacts you may find useful include:

CanterburyCity CouncilT +44 (0)1227 862104E [email protected]

Citizens Advice BureauT +44 (0)1227 452762E [email protected]

EpsomEpsom & Ewell Borough CouncilT +44 (0)1372 732428E [email protected]

Citizens Advice BureauT +44 (0)1372 720205F +44 (0)1372 732622

FarnhamWaverley Borough CouncilT +44 (0)1483 523426E [email protected]

Citizens Advice BureauT +44 (0)1252 716319F +44 (0)1252 726218

MaidstoneBorough CouncilT +44 (0)1622 602470E [email protected]


RochesterMedway CouncilT +44 (0)1634 306000E [email protected]


The Citizens Advice Bureau can also becontacted at www.citizensadvice.org.uk.

CanterburyCampus Locations

FarnhamEpsom

RochesterMaidstone

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