Living Off-Campus

Dear Student,
So, the time has come, and youre all ready to move into your new off-campus
accommodation. Whilst this is certainly an exciting time of your life, you may also
have some worries or concerns about living away from the University campus,
potentially for the first time.

This Guide aims to offer advice and support for aspects of living off-campus,
from ensuring you get your deposit back from your landlord, to getting to grips
with Guildford Borough Councils recycling scheme. We hope this guide will give
you the confidence you need to get the absolute most out of your time living
off-campus.

Of course, this guide isnt the be-all-and-end-all; the University Accommodation

team, and your Students Union are here year-round to assist you at every step
of the way. If you have any query, you can always feel free to get in touch and
well do to point you in the right direction. There is a list of useful contact details
on the reverse of this guide.

Have a great year living off-campus!

Dave Halls Jade Foley

fficer
VP Welfare Community O
Moving In
Now youve moved in, there are a few things you may want to do to help speed up the
settling-in process, and making your new house feel like home.

Get the keys for all areas of the property you have contractual access to.
Complete and sign an inventory that all tenants, and the landlord agree to, such as
the inventory found in the middle of this Guide.
Take photos of the condition of the house as soon as you can, after moving in.
Contact your landlord, in writing, about any repairs that are required. Keep copies.
Take readings of electricity, gas and water meters. Contact the supplier (your
landlord will know who they are), to transfer the bills into your name, and to
ensure you are paying based on actual amounts, not estimated usage.
Check your landlord has issued you with a Gas Safe safety certificate.
Ensure there is a working carbon monoxide detector fitted in the house.
Buy a TV license.
Check who your broadband provider is, and arrange a contract for the year ahead.
Have a house meeting before moving in to discuss what you all want to do
regarding internet, TV etc.

Getting Your Deposit Back

Return of deposits when you come to move out can sometimes be an area of dispute
between tenants and landlords; sometimes a withheld deposit is justified, other times
it is through an over-zealous landlord. Below are a few tips for ensuring you get as
much of your deposit back as possible.

Ensure you leave the house as you found it. This is where taking photos of the
houses condition when you moved in really helps. By keeping records of how the
house was initially, you have proof that you have cared for the landlords property.
Inform the landlord of any breakages/required repairs as they happen. Sometimes,
repairs are needed, and as long as reasonable wear and tear is the reason behind
this, then your landlord will generally be contractually obligated to fix the problem.
You should only be charged where repairs are needed as a result of your actions.
If you wait until the week youre due to move out to report a fault thats been in
place for several months, chances are your landlord wont look too kindly on it.
Ensure all rent and bills are paid off. If there are still debts attributed to your
tenancy, your landlord has the right to withhold your deposit to pay those debts
off.
Give the house a thorough clean and tidy before you move out.
Security
Unfortunately, student houses are prime targets for thieves, with the prospect
of several laptops very tempting for any opportunist. Do not give them that
opportunity.

Whilst Guildford is indeed one of the safest places in the country, this doesnt
mean crime doesnt happen. Try not to advertise anything valuable you may have
in the house, such as by not leaving boxes for new electronics in recycling boxes.
Also, ensure all external doors and windows are locked when you are out of the
room, even if youre just going downstairs.

You can find more information, and details of your new neighbourhoods dedicated
Police Officers, by going to www.surrey.police.uk and entering your postcode.

Bills
Once you move in, you will need to contact the utility companies to transfer bill
accounts into your name. In the interests of fairness, it may be worth putting
all housemates names on these bills, or splitting them up fairly so everyone is
responsible for an equal amount. Some groups set up joint bank accounts to
pay a monthly amount into, which bills can be taken as direct debit by the utility
companies.

By calling these companies on the day you move in, you ensure they have accurate
meter readings for your gas, electricity and water. This is far more beneficial than
estimated readings, as it ensures you pay for what you actually use, rather than
being charged at the same rate as the previous tenants used. This also avoids
any nasty surprises at the end of year, if your estimated reading had been
undercharging you, leaving a hefty bill to pay before you move out.

It is also worth planning your broadband connection ahead of moving in, as there
is often a delay between calling the houses provider, and receiving a router to
use.

For information regarding Council Tax, please see the Finding Somewhere to
Live Guide on the flipside of this Guide.
Money Saving Tips
Bills can be expensive if allowed to get out of control. The list below details just a
few examples of small steps you could take that, over the course of a year, could
save an average four person house hundreds of pounds a year!

Potential Saving How?

3.60 Cover the saucepan with a lid, and use the right size hob

6.00 Turn the oven off 5 minutes early, finishing the cooking on residue heat

6.50 Ditch the hair dryer

Fill a bottle with water and place in the cistern of your toilet, using less water every time
9.00
you flush.

10.00 Turn the washing machine down to 30

15.00 Only boil the exact amount of water you need

20.00 Turn lights off when not in use

20.00 Only do washing when you have a full machine's worth

25.00 Take a shower rather than a bath

28.00 Turn off the tap when brushing your teeth

40.00 Use energy-saving light bulbs

50.00 Turn electronics off at the wall plug rather than letting them standby

55.00 Turn the heating down by just one degree - but keep at 21C minimum

62.00 Dry clothes on racks or outside rather than a tumble dryer

Mould
Mould is a common problem in student houses, the houses need to be well
ventilated; Damp and moisture inside the house if, left untreated, causes mould to
grow.

A typical house of four people produces 10-15 litres of water vapour per day,
through breathing, washing & cooking; and without warmth and ventilation, this
has nowhere to go - causing condensation to form inside the house. Unfortunately,
energy-saving measures such as keeping windows closed, provides an ideal
environment for condensation to be sustained. Warm, moist air from kitchens/
showers migrates to colder rooms such as bedrooms and forms condensation on
cold, unventilated surfaces such as walls, wardrobes, and behind furniture.

Whilst an existing mould problem can be easily solved through anti-mould or

anti-mildew spray, available from most DIY stores in Guildford; and/or with a
dehumidifier; there are other steps that can be taken to prevent its growth in the
first place...

Switch on extractor fans in kitchens & bathrooms when in use.

Open kitchen windows while cooking.
Close the door and open bathroom windows for a few minutes after showering.
Ensure your bedroom is ventilated daily, opening a window for a few minutes
helps.
If possible dry your clothes outside, rather than in a bedroom or on a radiator.
Heating should be kept at a constant 21c.

What If It All Goes Wrong?

We hope you have the best year possible when living off-campus; but just because
youre no longer living in University accommodation, doesnt mean weve forgotten
about you! There are many places you can come for free, confidential advice on any
range of queries, from recycling, to falling out with my housemates.

VP Welfare Accommodation Services

Dave Halls www.surrey.ac.uk/accommodation
Students Union 01483 68 2466
Ussu.welfare@surrey.ac.uk
01483 68 9228
Living In The Community
Why not get involved in your new neighbourhood? There are some great
opportunities to get involved with your local community, from youth work to one-
off gardening projects!

For a list of all volunteering opportunities, contact Clem Mulcahey Banks,

Volunteering and Training Coordinator at c.mulcaheybanks@surrey.ac.uk.

Anyone and everyone can be a volunteer - so make the most of your time at
University and get involved with your community!

Recycling
In Guildford, general rubbish is collected every two weeks, with all recyclable
waste collected weekly. You should leave your bins and boxes of waste close to the
kerb, just inside the border to your property (this in generally just inside a gate),
somewhere where they can be easily seen by the refuse collection teams.

Your neighbours should be able to tell you what day your waste collection takes
place on, however you can also find out this information by entering your postcode
at www.guildford.gov.uk/yourguildford. You can also set up a text message reminder
service from here to let you know the night before your collection is due to put your
bins out.

Other recyclables, such as mobile phones, batteries and printer cartridges shouldnt
go in general waste; but can be recycled for free at the Students Union reception.
Example Inventory

Check for Damage - Walls, List all Items in the Room & Condition - Do Cleanliness - Dust, mould
Floor, Doors & Ceiling they work? Eg. Lights etc.

Kitchen

Bathroom

Toilet

Lounge

Hallway

Stairs

Landing

Bedroom 1
 Landing

Bedroom 1

Bedroom 2

Bedroom 3

Bedroom 4

Bedroom 5

Bedroom 6

Gardens/
Externals

Additional Notes:
Key Contacts

Landlord
Name:
Address:

Telephone No:

Insurance Company
Policy Number:

Utility Companies

Water
Company
Telephone No:
Meter Reading Date

Gas
Company
Telephone No:
Meter Reading Date

Electricity
Company
Telephone No:
Meter Reading Date