Welcome to your new home
Living independently at university can be one of the most amazing experiences, for you and your
housemates, some of the most important people you’ll ever meet.
We want you to enjoy your time here so we’ve put together this guide of everything you need to know, about living in your new student home.
General Information
Your rent is payable by standing order, and if you’re sharing with our students, you’ll need to arrange for the rent to be paid together in a single payment to us or your landlord. You’ll need to set up your standing order to leave your account 3 days before the rent due date, to ensure it is received on time.
If you’re a student in full-time education, you won’t need to pay council tax, but it is your responsibility to notify Brighton & Hove City Council that this is the case. Please don’t contact the council until you’ve moved in to arrange this, as you could inadvertently affect the current occupiers' account by doing it too early.
If your property doesn’t come with bills included, you’ll need to register with the relevant suppliers once you’ve moved in and read the meters. You’ll also need to set up regular payments to the suppliers and agree with your housemates on how bills should be managed.
If your property is with bills included in the rent, we’ll take care of everything for you!
It’s essential you have insurance for your possessions and any mishaps. By taking out an appropriate policy for a relatively small cost, you can protect important things like your laptop or bicycle, as well as having cover in place for any mishaps and damage caused to the property.
Please be aware your landlord is not responsible for damage or loss of your possessions, regardless of the cause.
During your tenancy, a representative from BVStudents or your Landlord will pop in to check your property for any maintenance issues. You’ll be given plenty of notice before a visit, which usually only takes 10-20 minutes. You don’t have to be present, but it’s helpful if you can be. If you can’t be, please leave a note on the kitchen worktop if there is anything you’d like us to take a look at.
Home Maintenance
THE TENANT PORTAL
Sometimes things go wrong in a property. From broken appliances to leaky taps and more, reporting any maintenance issues couldn’t be easier.
Use our FixFlo to let us know about any issues. You can even upload photos from your phone. We’ll get in touch with you as soon as possible.
Please note all non-emergency maintenance must be reported via the tenant portal. For emergencies only, please call our property management during office hours on 01273 22 11 03
EMERGENCY?
If you smell gas or notice a gas leak, call the emergency gas leak helpline on 0800 111 999
Lost Keys
If you lose your keys, we might have a spare set we can lend so that you can get a new set cut. You’ll need to bring ID, leave a deposit of £50, and return the set we lend you within 24 hours. Please note we do not guarantee to have a spare set and collection times are only possible during normal opening hours.
If you are locked out while we are closed, you will need to arrange a locksmith at your own expense.
Occupancy Guidelines
SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY
Unlike living on campus, living in private student accommodation means you are surrounded by other residents of the city. This means you’ll need to take your neighbours into consideration with noise and behaviour.
As a bvstudents tenant, you have a responsibility to your neighbours and to your landlord, so keep in mind these guidelines:
- Keep the exterior areas of your home tidy and clean. This includes front and rear gardens.
- Ensure rubbish is placed in your wheelie bin and recycling boxes and put out on the right day. If you are missing a wheelie bin or recycling box you can order new ones for free from the Brighton & Hove City Council website.
- Keep noise levels to a minimum, if you’re planning a party, make sure you inform your neighbours first and even then, keep noise levels down.
LIVING TOGETHER
Honesty, consideration, mutual respect, discussion, compromise and understanding are key in learning to live with your housemates:
- Talk to your housemates
- Set ground rules
- Discuss personal habits, sleeping schedules, musical tastes, needs, wants and expectations
- Seek help if a difficulty does arise between housemates.
- Try to be accepting and understanding of alternative lifestyles
- Plan in advance for overnight guests, and be considerate
- Keep accurate records of all bills that you share. Don’t forget you can work out bills and budgets on the student hub at bvstudents.co.uk/budgeting
- Make an effort to keep your living space clean, comfortable and pleasant. The more liveable your space is, the happier and more productive you will be
- Remember: you are all equally responsible for communal cleaning. We recommend you set up a cleaning rota to ensure everyone does their fair share each week.
HAVING GUESTS
This is your home, so feel free to have guests over, but remember the same social responsibilities apply, and you are responsible for the conduct and behaviour of your guests.
As outlined in your tenancy agreement, there is a maximum stay of 2 CONSECUTIVE DAYS for guests. You should always discuss and agree with your housemates before inviting guests to your home.