YOUR GUIDE TO UNIVERSITY ACCOMMODATION We’re so excited to welcome you into the Staffordshire University neighbourhood for this academic year. We pride ourselves on providing a safe and comfortable space for you to study and relax. Our accommodation HELLO! community is incredibly diverse and unique, and you have a great opportunity to meet and get to know lots of incredible people, some of which will go on to be lifelong friends.

We’ve put together this handbook to be your go-to guide on all things relating to accommodation and living away from home. We recommend that you have a good read through to help you understand how Staffordshire University accommodation works.

Moving away from home for the first time can be scary for most students but it’s important to remember that you have a whole team and community of people around you for support and help when you need it.

FROM ALL OF THE ACCOMMODATION TEAM, WELCOME TO YOUR NEW HOME!

2 KEY INFORMATION

Where you live is a big part of being at university, which is why Staffordshire is one of several universities that has signed-up to The Student Accommodation Code. The Code underpins our ongoing dedication to students to make sure you get the best out of your time living in our residences. The Code protects our students’ rights to safe, good quality accommodation. It outlines everything students can expect from our accommodation as well as their responsibilities. Full details of The Code are available on https://www.thesac.org.uk

3 LET’S GET YOU STARTED ON YOUR ACCOMMODATION JOURNEY

4 Inventory Wi-Fi For residents living on-campus, once you’ve settled in, head Being the Connected University, we know to the ResLife Portal and complete your room inventory. You’ll how important access to a reliable and have 7 days to complete it but the sooner the better. Once fast internet service is. Our University- you’ve submitted your inventory, we’ll follow up any actions owned student accommodation internet accordingly. If you notice anything seriously wrong with your service provider is Glide* room, let a member of staff know as soon as possible. All you need to do is navigate to Wi-Fi settings on your device, If you’re living off-campus, you may be asked by the find and connect to the Glide network and, when you first accommodation provider to complete an inventory when you connect, register and create a Glide account. move in. Make sure to complete and return this as request. If you experience any issues at all, contact Glide directly – they ResLife Team: 01782 294221 have 24/7 dedicated support to help you out when you need it.

[email protected] *this could be a different supplier if you are staying in university- managed accommodation off campus.

5 FIRE SAFETY

One of the first things you should do once you’re all moved in is • don’t overload any electrical outlets – the most common to familiarise yourself with the locations of the fire exits, the fire mistake is “daisy-chaining” extension leads. alarm call points (also known as break glass points) and the fire • don’t use any equipment that produces a flame, steam, smoke extinguishers and fire blankets. You should also take time to read or aerosol within your room/corridor, the smoke detectors are the Fire Action Notice on the back of your bedroom door. very sensitive. If you hear the fire alarm you should immediately make your • don’t store anything in the stairwells or corridors and make way to the nearest fire exit and leave the building. Following sure they are kept clear and tidy – anything left lying around the green fire exit signs and fire notices posted around your could block emergency exit routes and could act as fuel for residence will lead you to the nearest exit. the fire. Even if you think it’s a false alarm, you must leave the building • make sure doors are kept shut, especially in the kitchen. immediately. Failure to observe the fire regulations can also Keeping the door shut will stop any smoke produced from result in disciplinary action being taken against you in line with cooking from escaping into the corridor. All fire doors also act the Accommodation Licence Agreement. as a barrier and will protect the rest of the accommodation We perform weekly checks on the fire alarm system and should there be a fire. semesterly fire evacuation drills. Your smoke detectors will be • make sure cooking equipment is kept clean and is safe to use. tested regularly as per government regulations. • don’t cover or tamper with any fire safety/fire alarm There’s a number of simple ways you can help reduce the risk of equipment – the fire panel knows instantly if detectors have fire and fire alarm activations: been tampered with. • if you spot anything you think is wrong with any fire safety The greatest danger from a fire is not the fire itself, but the equipment, report it to the ResLife Team as soon as possible. smoke, which spreads with great speed. To prevent the spread • make sure any personal electrical equipment is safe to use. of smoke, fire doors are installed. Please do not wedge these If you’re unsure, ask a member of the ResLife Team to take a doors open and make sure that you keep all the corridors clear look at it. of obstructions.

6 RESLIFE

Residence Life, or ‘ResLife’ for short, strives to make your time ResLife Mentors (RLMs) at Staffordshire University the best it can be. We promise to You’ll be well looked after by our ResLife Mentors who are provide a safe, affordable and comfortable place to live - but close at hand if you need them. They stay in our student why stop there? accommodation and make sure everyone is happy and settled. You’ll be living with friendly, smart, funny, caring people from As students who have been at the University for at least a year, all over the world and we aim to build on this to create a they know exactly what it’s like to start a new adventure! community you’ll be part of. When are we open? What we do The ResLife reception is open from; 9am to 7pm Monday to ResLife is more than a place to stay, it’s about giving you Friday and 10am to 1pm Saturday. new opportunities and life skills. We organise lots of exciting activities where you’ll meet people and learn something new.

7 COVID-19

Here at Staffordshire University, we are doing everything we can to The most important symptoms of coronavirus (COVID-19) are support our students through the COVID-19 pandemic – both now recent onset of any of the following: and into the future. • a new continuous cough • a high temperature When you move into your new home for the academic year, you • a loss of, or change in, your normal sense of taste or smell are effectively entering into a “household”. This means that you (anosmia) can follow the government guidance on sharing and living in your flat or house as a household. For most people, COVID-19 will be a mild illness. However, if you have any of the symptoms above you must stay at home and We all approach situations differently and so please be respectful arrange to have a test to see if you have COVID-19. of anyone who may want to follow stricter precautions whilst living in our accommodation. If you or a member of your household is experiencing symptoms of COVID-19 or has a confirmed case you MUST self-isolate and There are a few important points to remember at all times that will follow all government guidance on what you should do next and dramatically reduce any risks associated with COVID-19 how long you should isolate. You should also let the ResLife team • Social distancing – Follow all government guidance on social know as soon as you can if you are experiencing any symptoms so distancing around anyone from outside of your household that we can provide the best advice and support. The quicker you (anyone you don’t live with). get tested, the quicker you know if you and your flatmates need to • Face coverings – Wear a face covering whenever possible carry on self-isolating as per the government guidance. You should outside of your household, even if it’s not explicitly required. also follow any instructions given to you by the government Track Follow any posters or guidance in specific spaces about wearing & Trace service. When you receive your testing results, please make face coverings. sure to provide a copy or proof of the results to ResLife, via email, • Keep your hands clean – Wash your hands regularly for at least text or teams message,whether positive or negative. 20 seconds with soap and warm water. When you move in, you may find that you are sharing your flat with • Don’t touch your face – try to avoid touching your face when someone from a country that is required to quarantine for 14 days you’re out and about. when they arrive into the UK. Please be respectful of their situation

8 and help them out however you can. Quarantine can be lonely and stressful at times but remember that any students that are in a period of quarantine are doing so to keep their flat safe. Having a clean living environment is very important to reduce the risk associated with COVID-19. We would encourage everyone to clean as you go and use any cleaning materials that are provided to you regularly. You’ll notice a number of posters up around your accommodation. These are here to remind you of your responsibilities and the advice for living in our accommodation safely. Make sure to remind yourself on these messages regularly. Whist it’s not possible for you to have guests or visitors in your accommodation we want to make sure you have the opportunity to socialise with others outside of your household. There will be plenty of events, both face-to-face and virtual that will give you opportunities to have a safe and fun experience whist you’re living in our accommodation. You can also safely socialise with others from outside your household in any of the outdoor spaces or facilities that are open to students around campus. Please follow all government advice on meeting up with people from outside of your household. The advice and guidance on dealing with COVID-19 is changing regularly. We will always review the most up to date guidance and adapt our approach and policies accordingly. We’ll make sure to let everyone know if our polices change. The University want to make sure you’re supported and looked after whilst you’re living with us. It’s important to remember that all of the support services the University offer are available to you. The best way to deal with any issues that you’re having is to speak up or tell someone. This way, you can get the best support appropriate to you.

9

A-Z

A Accidents Anti-social behaviour If you’re unfortunate enough to have an accident in our We’ve all had nuisance neighbours and we know how accommodation, when it’s safe to do so, let the ResLife much trouble they can cause. Don’t let that be you: Team or Security Team know. If, for whatever reason, you be respectful of your neighbours and accommodation need to call an ambulance onto campus, make sure you community. If you’re having some friction with a flatmate, let the Control Room know on their emergency line. They let the ResLife Team know so they can provide support can provide assistance and will guide the emergency in resolving your issues. services on-campus. ResLife Team: 01782 294221 Control Room: 01782 294444 (emergency line) [email protected] ResLife Team: 01782 294221 Access to student’s rooms Alcohol While we have the right to access your room, out of We want to make sure you’re safe when you’re having fun. consideration to you, we will endeavour to let you know It’s important to know your limits and keep your drinks at least 24 hours before we plan to visit your room. If close to you at all times. No-one should ever feel pressured however, we believe there is an urgent need to access to drink more than they can handle. It’s perfectly fine to call your room e.g. emergency maintenance or a wellbeing it a night or move onto water when you’ve had enough. issue, we will enter your room to make sure that you and If you require any support relating to your drinking habits your belongings are safe. head to drinkaware.co.uk or contact the Student Hub to see what support the University can offer. Student Hub: 01782 294751 *this information is correct for on-campus accommodation. [email protected] Check with the team at our off-campus accommodation for the most up to date and correct information.

10 B-C

In the kitchen Bicycle storage* B • Clean up after yourself We have a number of bike stores around campus; some • Wash any cooking equipment/utensils after use open racks, some closed sheds. Contact the ResLife Team • Give the floor a good hoover and mop regularly to register your bike and get the code to the closed shed. • Empty the bins and recycling at least twice a week Barbecues • Wipe down surfaces as you go There’s a designated barbecue space in the Coalport • Don’t let food go off in the fridge, and if it does, garden if you want to get your flatmates together for an dispose of it as soon as possible alfresco meal. • Don’t let things pile up! The quicker you deal with things, the less you have to worry about!

C Cleaning In the bathroom A clean flat is a happy flat! While you’re staying with us, you • Clean the toilets regularly and the rest of your flatmates have a responsibility to make • Open windows to let the moisture out sure your living environment is clean, tidy and safe to live in. • Keep plugholes free of hair • Mop the floor regularly In your bedroom • Make sure your bin is emptied regularly If you need any tips or advice, speak to a member of the ResLife Team – they will be able to help you set out • Don’t leave dirty plates and cups lying around a cleaning schedule for the flat. • Give your room a good clean (hoover, wipe down surfaces) frequently ResLife Team: 01782 29 4221 [email protected] • Make sure there is nothing blocking the door or radiator in your room

11 C

Complaints Communal areas Hopefully, you’ll never need to raise an issue concerning Every flat has a communal space for all the occupants to where you’re living. However, if you do, there are steps enjoy. These spaces are the perfect place to relax and to take that will help you get a satisfactory resolution. unwind with your flatmates. Make sure the space is clean We’ll settle most issues informally and fairly but, on a and accessible for anyone who wants to use it. very small number of occasions, there may be a need to take complaints further. There’s more information in your Staffordshire University Accommodation Code of Conduct, Council tax but here are the key steps: All full-time students living in University-managed student 1. Contact the ResLife Team, depending on what your accommodation are exempt from council tax. complaint is about they will either begin to help you or pass your query onto the correct people. Code of conduct 2. If you are not satisfied with the resolution, you can request that your complaint is escalated internally. If you haven’t seen it already, make sure you’re familiar with the Student Accommodation Code of Conduct which 3. If your issue is still not resolved, you can then begin the outlines all the important guidelines on how to behave in process of submitting a formal complaint. student accommodation. ResLife Team: 01782 294221 [email protected]

Confidentiality We want to make sure you feel confident sharing information with our teams about your accommodation and any matters arising around where you’re living. We will treat most conversations as confidential unless we feel like you would benefit from further support from the University, or it alerts us to alleged criminal activity.

12 D

D Damages* Dentist If you damage anything within any University-managed Oral health is also a very important part of your complete accommodation, or notice anything that has been wellbeing. Make sure to register with the local dentist and damaged, please let the ResLife Team know immediately look after your gnashers. and report the issue via the online maintenance report form on the ResLife portal so that we can action any repairs as Drugs soon as possible. Don’t put off reporting damage to us as there could be a possibility of more damage being caused Staffordshire University has a zero-tolerance stance on drug as a result. use within University-managed accommodation. We will always investigate any reports of drug use with the help of In circumstances where a repair is required due to student the University Police Officer. For more detailed information damage (whether accidental or malicious) residents may be about the use of drugs within accommodation, check the asked to pay for any charges that result from the damage. Code of Conduct. ResLife Team: 01782 294221 [email protected] Disciplinary Depending on the outcome of any of our investigations, Doctors residents may be subject to disciplinary procedures. More It’s really important for your health and wellbeing that information about disciplinaries can be found in the Code you register with a local GP while you’re staying in of Conduct. accommodation. There is a doctor’s surgery, run by a local NHS surgery, located in the Trent Building that Decorating is exclusively for students’ use. We would encourage everyone to register with them. Make yourself at home! Your bedroom is your own personal space and we encourage all the unique ways our residents If you’re living in you will need to register with decorate their rooms. Posters, battery operated fairy lights a local GP there. More info can be found on the NHS and photos are a great way to make the space your own. website. Just make sure not to damage anything in your room or

13 E-F

put any permanent fixings in place. You’ll need to return Energy the room back to how you found it for the next resident. Your licence fee includes the cost of electricity and gas services. Make sure to turn appliances off when not in E Emergencies use to help reduce our carbon footprint.

In an emergency, call 999 and request the appropriate Events emergency service. If it is then safe to do so, contact the Control Room on 01782 294444 and let them know what’s The ResLife Team run loads of interesting and exciting happened. events throughout your stay. Make sure to get involved with as many as you can. You can see all the events we Electoral register have planned on the events section of the ResLife Portal. If you have an idea for an event we can put on, let the Even if you’re not interested in politics, it’s a really good ResLife Team know via the help desk on the ResLife portal. idea to register to vote. This would mean you could have your say about issues that affect you or that you feel strongly about. You can register to vote at gov.uk/register- F Fire alarms to-vote. Whenever the fire alarm goes off, whether genuine, false alarm or test, you must leave the building immediately Electrical equipment and stay outside the building until you are told it’s safe to re-enter. If the fire alarm goes off on-campus out-of-hours, All electrical equipment that you bring into University- you can give the Control Room a call and they will send managed accommodation needs to be electrically safe and someone over straight away if they haven’t already. must comply with British Safety Standards. If a member of staff spots something that is electrically unsafe, we may Control Room: 01782 294444 (emergency line) remove the item from your accommodation and store it for you to collect at the end of your stay. Any items that have

been removed by us cannot be taken back into University- managed accommodation.

14 F-I

First Aid* Heating If you require first aid, call the Control Room and they will Depending on where you’re living, you will either have get someone to you to provide assistance. electric heaters or central heating. These outlets are Control Room: 01782 294444 (emergency line) often locked down and on timers to help prevent energy wastage. Feedback Insurance We’re always looking for way that we can improve and I innovate our service. Your feedback in incredibly valuable Contents insurance for your room is provided by Endsleigh. to us, both good and bad. If you have something to say, More info on what’s covered and how to claim can be get in contact or speak to a member of the team. found on their website.

G Guests Internet Check the latest guidance from the ResLife Team and See page 5. your licence agreement for more information on our guest policy. If our guest policy changes, we’ll make sure to In University-owned accommodation let you know. Glide are our internet service providers. If you have any questions or want to report a fault, you can do so directly H Health to them via their portal.

Your health is really important to you and to us while you’re In private University-managed accommodation studying and staying at the University. Don’t let things go untreated or put off seeing a doctor. The quicker you react, Check with the reception team for any information relating the quicker your will recover and be back on top form. to internet access.

15 K-M

K Kitchen appliances Leaving accommodation We provide a number of kitchen appliances including; hot We’ll be sad to see you go – there’s a few things to water boiler, microwave, oven and hob. If you’re struggling remember before you leave us: to operate any appliances, head to the ResLife portal and • Make sure you have disposed of/donated any food you click the link for instruction manuals. are not taking with you. • Make sure your room is clean and in the same Keys* condition as it was when you arrived • Triple check that you’ve packed everything and Make sure to keep your keys safe and on you at all times. quadruple check you have anything that is personally If you lose or break your keys let the ResLife Team know important (passports, bank cards, money etc.) as soon as possible. They will be able to organise for a new set to be provided – there may be a charge for Lost property* replacement. This also applies to access key cards. If you’re unlucky enough to lose anything around ResLife Team: 01782 294221 accommodation or on campus, speak to the ResLife Team. [email protected] They can check if it has been handed in there or at the Control Room: 01782 294837 (Out of hours) Control Room. ResLife Team: 01782 294221 L Laundrette [email protected] There are laundry facilities at all University-managed Maintenance* accommodation. On-campus facilities are managed by M Circuit Laundry. If you have any queries, or need to If something is broken or not operating how it should be report a fault, you can do so directly to their helpline: within accommodation, make sure to report your issue via circuit.co.uk/general-enquiry the online maintenance report form which can be found on the ResLife portal as soon as possible. The accommodation

16 M-N

Porter Team aim to respond to any reports within 24 hours Mental wellbeing of you first making the team aware during weekdays. If Being away from home and in a different environment can its something complex or that requires a specialist, they be tough on your mental wellbeing. There are a number of will pass this onto the University maintenance team to pressures in university life, but we don’t want where you’re action any repairs. The team prioritise any requests within living to be one of them. If you’re struggling and want help accommodation but if you think something is taking too or just someone to talk to, you can get in touch with the long to fix, make sure to check with in with the ResLife ResLife Team who will be able to advise on what support is Team regularly for an update. available to you. ResLife Team: 01782 294221 ResLife Team: 01782 294221 [email protected] [email protected] Control Room: 01782 294837 (Out of hours) The University offer a wide range of support services and Mail See post. you can find out about all of them at the Student Hub. For more information visit staffs.ac.uk/student-hub Moving rooms You can request to move rooms while you’re staying with N Noise us. If we have a suitable room available, we’ll endeavour to offer it to you. In the first instance, let the ResLife Team Excessive noise has a huge impact on peoples abilities know of your request via the help desk on the ResLife to work, relax and sleep. We want everyone to be portal and they will pass it onto the Accommodation Team. comfortable, so ask that you keep the noise down at all Once processed, they will be in touch to let you know the times and especially between 11pm and 7am. If you would next steps. like to report any excessive noise, you can contact the ResLife Team or the Control Room who will be able to take Do not arrange a room move or swap without contacting action if needed. the ResLife Team first. ResLife Team: 01782 294221 [email protected] Control Room: 01782 29 4837 (Out of hours)

17 O-P

accommodation. We have a huge outdoor space that O Out of Hours* they can have a run around in when they visit, but please We have two Community Support and Wellbeing don’t bring them into the buildings. Coordinators who are available 6pm - 4am, and are there to support our residents throughout the night. They will Post* be based in Coalport and will do regular drop-ins to There’s a number of ways for residents to collect their post. check everyone is happy. You can contact them on the normal ResLife reception number if you need them. Leek Road Halls All post will get delivered directly to your house. No need If you need to report emergency or urgent maintenance to visit the post rooms. or security issues out of hours, please contact the Control Post Lockers Room. For any non-urgent matters, speak to the ResLife We have two post lockers installed on campus, one at Leek Team during their normal opening hours or send them Road Halls (opposite ) and another at (in an email. the courtyard near the laundrette). When you get a parcel Control Room: 01782 294837 (Out of hours) or or letter delivered to you, the post rooms at Coalport or 01782 294444 (Emergency) Clarice Cliff will accept your package and, in most cases, ResLife Team: 01782 294221 will load it into one of the post lockers. You’ll get an email with a barcode on that will allow you to pick up your parcel Pest Control* or letters. This means that you can collect your parcel at P any time of the day and will reduce the number of trips to While it is incredibly rare that pests will be a problem, if you the post room. notice any uninvited critters in your accommodation, report Amazon lockers the issue via the online maintenance report form on the We have two Amazon lockers installed on campus, one at ResLife portal so we can arrange for pest control to attend. Leek Road Halls (opposite Spode - Banyan) and another at Clarice Cliff (in the laundrette - Bendy). When you Pets purchase something directly from Amazon, you should get As much as you love your furry, scaly and fishy friends, your package delivered directly to the Amazon lockers if they’re not allowed within University-managed available.

18 P-S

Post Rooms Not all post will come directly to you or be put into a post R Room moves See Moving rooms. locker. There are two post rooms on site, one in Coalport for residents of Leek Road Halls and one in the Clarice Cliff Repairs See Maintenance. office for Clarice Cliff residents which is where your post will be stored for you to collect if we can’t load it into a post Room inspections locker. Please contact us before heading down to the post Throughout the year, the ResLife Team may do a quick room and we can check if you have any post to collect. inspection of your room or flat. This isn’t to tell you off or If you’re living off campus, check the postal fine you but to check that you’re safe and comfortable in arrangement in your accommodation with your accommodation. the team there. Once your stay has ended, we don’t forward any mail – it S Security and safety will be returned to sender. There are a few key things to remember which will help you keep yourself and your valuables safe: Phone numbers • always lock your room door when you’re leaving. We’ve included a list of important contacts on the very • make sure windows are shut when you’re not in back page of this guide. your room. • don’t leave valuables in communal areas. • don’t prop block or flat doors open (this could void Q Quiet hours your insurance). It’s important to remember, not everyone enjoys loud If you have any concerns about your personal security environments, especially when they’re studying or trying and safety, there are number of places you can go to get to sleep. Be respectful of your flatmates and neighbours. reassurance and advice: Keep noise to a minimum between 11pm – 7am. There’s ResLife Team Security University plenty of places on and around campus for you go if you ResLife Reception Control Room Police Officer want to be a bit loud. 01782 294221 01782 294837 PC Simon Stone 01782 294311

19 S-V

Smoking Utilities University-managed accommodation is a strictly non- U smoking area. Do not smoke or vape in your rooms, All basic utilities are provided as part of your licence kitchens, corridors or anywhere inside accommodation agreement. If you notice a problem with any utilities, let buildings. If you do smoke, please do so at least five the ResLife Team know as soon as possible. meters away from any buildings and not in front of any windows or entrances. Visitors V Summer stay See Guests. If you need to stay with us during the summer period, we do offer summer stay to students who require it. We Vacating accommodation send out information towards the end of your main licence See Leaving Accommodation. period with details on summer stay arrangements.

Social media W Windows Make sure to follow us on our social media channels for Make sure that your windows are shut and secure updates, events, advice and important announcements every time you leave your room. Although we wouldn’t from the team. recommend that you dry clothes in your room, if you do, /staffshalls #staffshalls StaffsHalls please open your window to avoid mould and damp.

Waste T TV licences Each resident is responsible for the removal of their own We provide TV licences for any TV’s in communal areas. If personal waste and any waste in communal areas within you have a TV in your bedroom and watch live programs their flat. There are designated bin compounds for you to or iPlayer catchup you require an individual TV Licence for put your waste in around the accommodation. Dates and your room. times of bin collections are posted in the bin compounds.

20 W-Z

XY

Z Zebra See Pets.

*this information is correct for on-campus accommodation. Check with the team at our off-campus accommodation for the most up to date and correct information.

21 22 KEY CONTACTS

ResLife Team 01782 294221 Financial Services 01785 353383 Enquiries 01782 294400 Student Hub 01782 294751 Student IT Service Desk 01785 353700 Students Union 01782 294629 Control Room 01782 294837 Control Room (Emergency) 01782 294444 Police (Non-Emergency 24/7) 101 NHS Direct (Non-Emergency 24/7) 111 Mental Health Access Team (24/7) 0300 123 0907 PC Simon Stone 01782 294311 HopeLine UK (Suicide Prevention) 0800 068 4141 Emergency Services 999

23 101840