Do I have to pay a deposit?
Yes and there are two reasons. Firstly it is to show us that you really do intend to take the room and the secondly to cover the cost of any damage or money that you might owe us at the end of your stay. Your deposit is separate from your rent.
When do I have to pay the deposit?
Deposits normally have to be paid within 7-14 days.
What happens if I pay a deposit and then decide I do not want the room before the start of the contract?
This all depends on when you cancel the contract.
If you cancel with more than 56 days to go before the start of contract, the deposit will be returned in full.
If you cancel with less than 56 days to go, we will retain £150 of the deposit as a cancellation fee. If you cancel with less than 14 days to go, we will retain £250 as a cancellation fee.
When will I get my deposit back?
The deposit is returned to you in full, if you do not owe us any money, within 28 days of the end of the contract.
When do I have to pay my rent?
Rent is paid in advance and you will have to make your first rent payment when you move in. If you live with us for the full academic year you will have to pay rent on 3 separate occasions; once in September, once in January and the final payment in April.
If you are sponsored or have a scholarship, you might want to pay your rent on a monthly basis. If this is the case, we can discuss this with you.
What happens if I want to leave?
When you agree to take on a room, it's for the whole academic year. This means, if you want to leave early we can only refund your rent if we get someone else to take your room. If you want to terminate your contract, you must let us know in writing.
If you leave University for educational or health reason, please speak to us about this.
Is there a curfew?
No, you can come and go as you please at any time of the day or night. You're given a gate code to enter the building. Just make sure that you do not let anybody into the building who you do not recognise and when you come and go from the building, please do so quietly.
What do I need to bring with me?
You will need to provide your own bedding (duvet, duvet cover, sheets, pillows, pillow cases). For information, the beds are 6 feet 3 inches x 3 feet.
You will also need to provide your own pots, pans, crockery and cutlery.
Please note we have induction hobs in the kitchen so you will need to have the right type of pan to use on the hobs. The best way to check if you have the correct pans is to place a magnet on them. If a magnet sticks then you have the right pans.
Do I have to insure my possessions?
The Association has provided room contents insurance for the duration of your stay through cover4insurance. This covers a wide range of belongings within your room, including laptops, sports and electrical equipment and clothes. We advise you to review your cover.
You have the option to extend your policy to suit your individual needs and avoid being under-insured.
For claims information, your policy details, to extend your policy, or if you have a question please visit : https://www.cover4insurance.com/insurance-products/block-halls/aa4s
Who cleans my bedroom and the kitchen?
You do! You are responsible for keeping your flat clean. We provide refuse and recycling bags in the launderette. You can borrow a vacuum cleaner from the office.
We carry out monthly maintenance flat inspections and twice each term, we carry out cleaning inspections. The cleanest flats get presented with prizes.
Can friends come and visit?
Yes but it's best to let your flatmates know if you've got people visiting. Family and partners can come to stay but not for long periods of time. The odd weekend is OK or a couple of nights each week but we draw the line when it comes to visitors taking the flat over, staying most days of the week or staying every weekend using it as their own as if they are living in the flat.
Please remember, you are responsible for your guests and their behaviour.
Do you have parking?
We have some spaces in our courtyard, which we allocate on a first-come first-serve basis and there's a £100 deposit for the gate key. These keys are issued only to those residents who require a car parking space for the duration of their stay. Day or overnight parking can be arranged but only be contacting the office during office hours. We will require car registration details. There are meters for short-term parking on local streets. Word of advice, make sure you read the street-parking instructions carefully and if you're on a meter, keep an eye on the time, because they're pretty eager to clamp cars and fine you.
I won't know my flatmates. What if we don't get on?
Meeting your new flatmates can be really exciting but sometimes a little daunting and don't worry as that is perfectly natural.
The most important thing to remember is to talk to each other when you first move in. You will soon realise that your flatmates are probably feeling the same as you.
The most common flat problems revolve around situations which might seem quite mundane such as washing up, cleaning, slamming of doors, front doors being left open, etc. However, if these things are not dealt with, flatmates can end up getting fed up and annoyed with each other.
Being a flatmate brings with it responsibilities. The best way to deal with these problems, or avoid them from happening is to realise that you have to show respect for your flatmates. Help keep the flat clean try not to leave plates unwashed in the kitchen, take the rubbish to the bins in the courtyard, keep the noise down and let flatmates know you are having visitors.
Some residents set up cleaning rotas at the beginning of the year.
Sometimes, there might be occasions where you might need to admit that you are sometimes wrong. By and large, everything works well and sharing a flat is great fun. Remember! The most important thing to remember. It's good to talk to each other!
How many toilets are there in each flat?
In flats with less than 5 bedrooms, there is one shower room which also contains a wash basin and toilet. In flats with more than 5 bedrooms there are 2 shower rooms, each with a wash basin and toilet.
Do you have washing machines and tumble dryers?
Yes, we've got 6 coin-operated washing machines and 6 tumble dryers. You need to use your own washing powder/liquid. The washing machine costs £2.00 and the tumble dryer costs £1.00 for every 30 minutes' worth of drying.
We also have irons and ironing boards in the Laundrette.
Can I have a pet in my flat?
Sorry, no pets.
What's the difference between the room sizes?
The rent differs depending on the size of the bedroom. The room category details are provided in a link along with the term-time licence agreement for information when you apply for a room. Please make sure you are looking at the information for the correct Academic Year.
Every bedroom at Claredale is a different size. The amount of bedrooms in a flat has no bearing on the size of the bedrooms within a flat.
You will see the overwhelming majority of the rooms are classified as C and D.
When you apply, you can let us know your room category preference but we cannot guarantee we will be able to offer you the type of room you asked for.
All rooms are furnished in the same way.
What should I do if I have a problem?
Please email us or pop into the on-site office, by the main gate. The office is open Monday – Friday 8.30am – 1pm and 2pm – 4:30pm. Outside office hours, we have Subwardens on duty until midnight and we will give you information about them when you come to stay.
Can I share a flat with my friends?
You can request to share with your friends but we cannot guarantee we will be able to help you with your request. This is because a lot of our flats are allocated to postgraduates and continuing students and therefore there will be very few flats left available to offer to groups of people. If we can, please bear in mind this might affect the size of the bedroom we are able to offer you.
Can I apply for a room at both buildings at the same time?
We will only consider your application based on your first choice of building so please only apply for one building.
Can I extend my contract?
You will not be able to extend your contract but you can apply for summer accommodation with us. We normally let residents know about this in March each year.