Terms and procedures

Solent University student residences fully comply with the standards for student accommodation, the Universities UK/Guild HE Code of Practice for the Management of Student Housing.

This code covers, among other matters, health and safety, maintenance and repair, and relationships between the University and student tenants. It outlines best practice and provides benchmarks for the management and quality of student housing in the sector.

A healthy and safe environment

• University life provides the opportunity to be independent and stand on your own two feet but equally we believe that help should never be far away, so a dedicated residence management team is on hand 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
• Each residence has a designated police officer or police community support officer (PCSO) who is able to give confidential help or advice.
• Planned maintenance is undertaken throughout the year to meet our health and safety obligations.

Repairs and maintenance

• Urgent repairs can be reported to our Resident Team, or via telephone, 24 hours a day.
• Non-urgent repairs can be reported on our maintenance system.
• We endeavour to carry out planned maintenance in study bedrooms during the summer when students are not living in the residences, however, should access to your study bedroom be required at least 48 hours’ notice is given.

A clean, pleasant living environment

• There is a dedicated cleaning team that clean communal areas throughout the year.
• We encourage residents to respect those living nearby and keep the communal areas clean and tidy.

A formal, contractual relationship with your landlord

• When accepting an accommodation offer, via accommodation online, students agree with their acceptance of the terms of residency.
• Students are advised that acceptance of the accommodation offer will form a legally binding contract.
• The terms of residency are available all year, detailing what Solent University (the landlord) provides and what is expected from you, the resident (licensee). 

A living environment free from anti-social behaviour

• We encourage all residents to respect everyone living in residences and the local community.

• We believe help should never be far away, so a dedicated Residence Team is on hand 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
• The Student Hub can give advice and guidance on your course, timetable, options, assessments, disability, funding and money, counselling, chaplaincy and much more.
• Students' Union can offer support with academic issues, welfare, housing, health, community relations, funding and also societies and volunteering.
• Information about registering with a doctor and the surgery contact details are given in the online induction accessed through your accommodation account.

The resident comment form is for students living in residences who have issues or comments. The aim of the form is to help students focus on their particular issues or comments and to assist the Residence Team to investigate the problems and hopefully resolve them. 

Resident comment form

The following are examples of issues students may have:

• Noise
• Problems with other residents
• On-going repair problems (not an initial report of a fault)

The form should not be used to report faults. You should use the online system to report a fault or defect.

To complete a resident comment form please follow this link. Ideally, complaints will be resolved at this stage with no need to go through the formal student complaints process. The forms and procedure are primarily for use in the accommodation service, but if necessary, they could be used as the first stage of a formal complaint process.

Residents, individually or collectively, may be subject to disciplinary measures if they breach the University's published disciplinary regulations and are charged with acts of misconduct or gross misconduct. The disciplinary regulations can be found within the terms of residency.

Terms of residency

In addition, the University and its officers reserve the right to issue verbal cautions, written cautions and/or final written cautions to students who are in breach of the terms of residency.

The following are examples of conduct, which may be construed as misconduct or gross misconduct. The list is intended to be neither prescriptive nor all-encompassing.

• Causing damage to residential premises, property, fixtures and fittings.
• Abusive, threatening or violent behaviour towards other residents, members of staff (including contract staff), guests or visitors.
• Causing noise, disturbance or nuisance affecting the sleep or study of other residents at any time.
• Causing damage, disturbance or nuisance which adversely affects local residents.
• Possession, use or storage on residential premises (including vehicles) of prohibited weapons, firearms (real or replica), air rifles, explosives, fireworks or the like and any hazardous or flammable chemicals.
• The improper use of keys or access control devices including duplication or lending to other persons.
• The abuse or misuse of any fire detection and/or fire-fighting appliances or fire notices.