Living Locally: Community Guide

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2014-15

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Hi Brunel Students! As your Students’ Union we are here to support you, on and off campus, through our Advice and Representation Centre (ARC) and many other services we provide, offering you an experience to add to your university life. The Union is here to give you advice, but also to provide a wide range of activities and opportunities.

We have over 100 societies and more than 50 sport clubs for you to get involved in, and the ability to create your own if you wish. You can also get involved in the Union through our growing student media which includes our newspaper, radio, and online video channel.

We work with the university to bring you the best possible services on campus. Last year we worked with the library to extend their opening hours to 24/7.

Your Union is here to represent you, and provide support throughout your studies. Feel free to come and meet your officers, we’re always here to help!

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Hello and Welcome...

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- Your Officers -

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As your Students’ Union, the Union of Brunel Students is

Brunel. One part of this is making sure that you’re safe both on

Uxbridge resident. If you have any quesons or feedback about the Union in the local community, check out www.brunelstudents.com/livinglocally

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Moving in

Check the inventory... your landlord should provide you with one. If not, make your own and send it to your landlord. Make sure you take photos of any existing damage.

Take the meter readings (see the opposite page)

Meet your neighbours.

Arrange contents insurance. Endsleigh Insurance have specific student policies (www.endsleigh.co.uk) or you may already be covered on your parent’s insurance policy. Check any insurance policies you currently have.

Call the Gas, Electricity and Water suppliers to set up a new account.

If you are bringing a car make sure you get a parking permit.www.hillingdon.gov.uk

Shop around for internet providers if it isn't included in your contract.

Ask for a copy of the Landlord’s current gas safety cerficate before you move in.

Get together with your housemates and agree a housework rota and some rules about how you all want to live together.

Request your council tax exemption letter from the Student Centre via eVision.Enjoy your new pad and remember to contact the ARC for advice if you need it.e: [email protected]: 01895 269169

Here is a good checklist you should follow when moving into a new student residence...

In the first week...

Before you move in...

On the day...

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Gas

Electricity

Water

Met

er R

ead

ing

s

Provider

Move In

Move Out

Account Number

Contact Number

Provider

Move In

Move Out

Account Number

Contact Number

Provider

Move In

Move Out

Account Number

Contact Number

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Keep

me s

afe!

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Moving outHere is another checklist you should follow when moving out of a residence to make sure you get your deposit back...

Leave enough time for a deep clean – just wiping kitchen/bathroom surfaces with a tissue a couple of days before movingout is not a deep clean!

Contact your energy suppliers with your final meter readings and inform them that you are moving out. Take copies of the final bills and send to your landlord as they will require proof that all bills have been paid. The same applies for your phone/broadband provider too.

Local authority refuse collectors will not remove large items or excessive amounts of rubbish bags. Your landlord will chargefor refuse removal if you don’t sort it out.

In general you should expect to receive your money withinone calendar month of moving out.

All housemates must return keys on or before the last day of the tenancy.

Inform the University, your bank and credit card companies of your forwarding address. It is not the responsibility of your landlord or new tenants to forward on mail.

If you think your landlord has made unreasonable deductions orrefuses to return your deposit then contact the ARC for advice:e: [email protected]: 01895 269169

Cleaning...

Utilities...

Rubbish...

Return all keys...

New address...

Deposit...

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HousingContract Checks

Non-Returned depositsDisrepairs

Rent Arrears

AcademicAcademic Appeals

University Disciplinary CasesMitigating Circumstances

Fitness to Study

MoneyDebt and BudgetingHardship Funding

Student Funding QueriesWelfare Benefits

www.brunelstudents.com/[email protected] 269169

What is the arc?The ARC (Advice and Representation Centre) is run by the Union of Brunel

Students. We are a team of experienced advisers providing

confidential, independent, and most importantly free advice

relating to all aspects of student life from your academic experience to

independent living.

We are here to help you!

Visit our we�ite for more information

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House Safety10

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FORSALESOLD

Lock It Up... Make sure you lock all windows and doors when leaving home.

Out Of Sight... Leaving a room? Make sure your valuables aren’t left in sight.

Keys... Never leave a spare key outside the house ‘for emergencies’. If leaving the house as a group, check you’ve all got a key on you, in case one gets lost. Make sure if one does go missing, you report this to your landlord as soon as possible!

Insurance... The average cost of a student burglary is £900 per person. Make sure your belongings are insured, so that you have peace of mind when leaving the house.

Lying Around... Don’t leave your bike or any other outdoor equipment lying around outside the house. Make sure they’re locked away, along with any tools that could be used to break in (that includes excess bricks and barbeque equipment!).

Estate Agent Signs... Once you have moved in try to get the estate agent sign taken down as soon as possible as it highlights your house to burglars.

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Community Safety

It’s a known fact that areas with Neighbourhood Watch initiatives in place deter thieves from the area. Hillingdon Neighbourhood Watch operates in areas throughout Uxbridge, and these are often visible due to signage in both windows and lampposts. More information can be found here: www.hillingdonnhw.co.uk

Neighbourhood Watch

Introducing yourself to your neighbours is essential. There will probably be times during the year that your house is left vacant, and maintaining good relationships with your neighbours will ensure that there is someone around to keep an eye on your property.

Know Your Neighbours

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Being a good neighbour

Be considerate of your neighbours’ lifestyle patterns they may be working full-time and need their sleep!

Noise travels... walls between properties can often be very thin. Try not to slam doors.

If you’ve been out for the evening, please return to your house quietly. Don’t forget that noise travels long distances, particularly

late at night.

Be particularly sensive when you live next door to young children who will need to go to sleep early in the evening.

Try to park considerately.

Make sure that your rubbish is put into proper bags.

If you do have complaints from a neighbour try to respond in a courteous way and take responsibility for your actions.

We are all members of the communities in which we live.

Take pride in your neighbourhood... it’s your home while you are here.

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Parties

Parties may be a big part of student life, but when living out in the residential community, they can lead to disagreements with neighbours. When organising a party, make sure you follow these points to have as minimal an impact on those living nearby:

Tell your neigbours... Make sure your neighbours know you’re having a party, and the time it is estimated to go on to.

Don’t advertise publicly on social media... We’ve all seen the horror stories of parties that get out of hand and houses that get trashed.

Valuables... Lock them away somewhere that will be out of bounds on the night. This will not just stop any risk of damage, but also any risk of theft.

Plan the big clean-up... Someone is going to have to clear up the mess afterwards. Make sure that you and your housemates have a plan to get this done – and that it’s not just left to one of you the morning after.

Remember that you are responsible... When you’re off campus, you’re still representing Brunel. If your party gets too out of hand, you could be held responsible and subject to University disciplinary procedures as well as Police involvement.

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The SSHH Bus (Silent Students, Happy Homes) is a community service provided by the Union for Brunel Students free of

charge. It’s there for your safety.

It operates twice a week, on a Wednesday from the Town Centre, and Friday from the Brunel campus, starting at 10pm.

All you need is your student card to get on.

Pick up points:Wednesday - Outside the Civic Centre

Friday - By the Pond

Waste & Recycling

You may have noticed that Uxbridge is a little bit different to most places in the UK and doesn’t have wheelie bins. Instead, all your rubbish should be placed at collection points on your road.

www.hillingdon.gov.uk/collectionday

Clear Bags

Recyling

Purple Bags

Textiles. (clothes, sheets, shoes)

Heavy Duty Canvas Bags

Garden Waste

Black Bags

General Waste

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Your rubbish is collected weekly

Bag it up!

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Elections

As a resident in the London Borough of Hillingdon and a member of the Union of Brunel Students you are entitled to vote in the General Elections as well as the Union Elections.

You can register to vote in the General Elections online at: www.gov.uk/register-to-vote

Volunteering

Volunteering is a great way to meet new people in your community as well as improving your neighbourhood.

As a Brunel student there are loads of volunteering opportunities available for you.

Check out: www.brunelstudents.com/volunteering

and

www.brunelvolunteers.com

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Safety Tips

Around 1 in 5 students become a victim of crime each year

£5000 fine for late night noise

Every year nearly 5,000 young people in England areadmitted to hospital because of alcohol

According to the National Mobile Phone Crime Unit, mobile phones are stolen in around half of all street crime.

They also say that in approximately a third of all cases it is the only item of property stolen.

All of London's 8,500 buses, London Underground and London Overground stations are fitted with extensive CCTV.

Alcohol is banned on the tube and buses to make travelling in the capital a far more pleasant experience for the millions of

Londoners who use it each day

Don’t be an easy target

Met police offices safety tips

Home hygiene self assessment

safe.met.police.uk

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[email protected]

www.brunelstudents.com/Advice/

Brunel Yellow Pages

Endsleigh Insurance

www.brunelstudents.com

[email protected] 01895 269269

[email protected] 01895 269169

www.brunel.ac.uk/services/accommodation/living-off-campus

[email protected]

01895 266187

www.brunelvolunteers.com 01895 265924

www.endsleigh.co.uk

@brunelstudents

Kerri Prince, Community Development Coordinator [email protected]

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Antisocial behaviour investigations team 01895 556000 / 0800 6940240

SecurityCampus Security – 01895 266943 Switchboard— 01895 274000

Health

www.content.met.police.uk/Home

101 999 @metpoliceuknon emergency emergency

Hillingdon Neighbourhood Watch: www.hillingdonhw.co.uk

Local Crime Prevenon Officer: 020 8246 1778

Hillingdon Council. Community Safety

London Borough of Hillingdon: @hillingdon

Switchboard: 01895 250111

Safer Neighbourhood Team: www.hillingdon.gov.uk/arcle/17422/ Safer-Hillingdon-Partnership

Neighbourhood Watch. Community Safety

The Tudor Centre (Sexual Health): 01895 279537

Brunel Medical Centre: 01895 234426

NHS Direct: 111

Hillingdon Hospital: 01895 238282

Documents

Living Locally: Community Guide