Home From Home Guide
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@yorkunisu
Hello! Welcome to your new home! As a student at the University of York you will not only be a member of the University, you will also become a member of the local community. As a student, you face many opportunities and new experiences; living in a new home is one of them. You will become more independent and become a part of a new community which is part of a wider city, rich in history and culture. For some of you, this may be your first time living away from home or living with new neighbours. Make sure you keep this guide somewhere safe as it will give you some top tips, advice and important information to make sure your time in your new home is enjoyable, comfortable and safe.
First Things First... Take an inventory of your property Your landlord may have provided you with one already however it is still important to check all the contents that are currently in the house already and note anything that’s damaged and inform your Landlord. Make sure you keep a copy.
Take meter readings for your gas, electric and water suppliers and inform the relevant companies that you have moved in Register for a TV License at tvlicensing.co.uk Redirect your post to your new address Get contents insurance for your personal possessions Register to vote in your local area at gov.uk/register-to-vote
Register your new term time address on eVision Register with a GP and Dentist in York
First Impressions Moving into a new home can be an exciting time, but it can also be a bit overwhelming. Once you have settled in and moved all your stuff, get to know your area and the people living around you. •
Introduce yourself to your neighbours not long after you move in. Even though York is full of students your new neighbours might not be, they will appreciate the ‘hello’ and any effort you take to get to know them.
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You might want to give your neighbours your mobile number just in case there are any problems.
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Explore your local community. From your local corner shop to Zumba in your community hall; when you get to know your area you will be more likely to enjoy your experience living there.
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Get involved. Try and find something in your local community to get involved with, not only does it look good on your CV but it will be a fun way to get to know people.
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YUSU run 14 volunteering projects in the York community. To find out more visit: yusu.org/opportunities/volunteering
Respect Your Neighbours It is totally natural for students to socialise, meet new people and have fun while doing so. However, noise is often the most common complaint that the local residents have about students. We strongly encourage you to be mindful of your actions when hosting parties and socialising late at night or in the early hours. •
If you are planning on having a party, be considerate and make your neighbours aware that you are hosting. If your neighbours are elderly or have young children be mindful of how much noise you make. Music must be turned off before 11pm.
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Set boundaries with your neighbour; if they feel like you are making too much noise, tell them that it is ok for them to send you a subtle text message telling you to keep the noise down. You would rather have that than them knocking on your door or banging on your walls midparty.
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Try not to host your parties midweek, your neighbours may be on different work schedules and won’t appreciate being disturbed by noise.
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Remember, you have responsibility for your friends’ actions. Remind them to keep quiet in the residential area late at night; slamming taxi doors and talking loudly when outside, noise should be kept to a minimum. Also, close windows and doors to reduce noise.
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Instead of waiting outside in the street for taxis, wait inside until they arrive. Not only will you be warmer but you won’t disturb your neighbours.
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If you have your own car make sure you are not blocking any driveways or right of access for your neighbours.
Although we hope you won’t have any problems with your neighbours, if you feel like you can’t tackle a problem alone or have tried without success, get in touch with The Student Hub who will be able to put you into contact with relevant support depending on the situation. Contact details are ont he back cover of this booklet.
Stay Safe York is generally a very safe city but like everyone, students should think about safety. Make sure you keep yourself safe and look out for your housemates to make sure they are safe too. •
Make sure you lock your front door whenever you enter or leave your property.
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Don’t leave valuables on display or by open windows.
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It is important to keep your home ventilated, however make sure that windows are closed and locked when you are out and while you are sleeping.
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If you have a bike make sure there is somewhere to keep it locked and safe.
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Make sure you switch off electronics like hair straighteners and irons when unattended. Only use UK plugs, anything else poses a fire risk.
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If you are going home for the holidays, or you know there will be a period where all your housemates are away at the same time, ask your neighbour to keep an eye on your home and let them know when you expect to be returning.
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Don’t write your address on your keys, if you lose them, you don’t want someone to know where they can get into! Consider writing your phone number instead so you can be contacted if they are found.
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Avoid walking home alone late at night, walk with friends and stick to a well-lit main route, even if it adds time onto your journey.
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Make sure you plan how you get home from a night out. Get the UoY dedicated 66 bus service which runs through the night or book a taxi in advance and stick with your friends.
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If you have any problems make sure you report them. There is a list of important numbers which can help you if you have any problems at the back of this booklet. If you are in an emergency situation that requires immediate help, and need assistance from the Emergency Services, call 999.
Live Well It is important that while you are studying you make sure you take the time to look after yourself. It can be very convenient to order a takeaway after a long day of uni but it won’t be long before you run out of money or feel like you have no energy to socialise. Here are some ways through which you can make sure you live well while being a student: •
Plan your meals and plan your shopping list in advance - this way you will always know what you will be eating for your next meal.
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Invest in some good tupperware and bring packed lunches to uni. You will be saving money and it will stop you from getting the same meal deal every day.
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Meal prep. Always go overboard on the amount of pasta you cook? Pop your leftovers in a tupperware and you have your dinner sorted for tomorrow!
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Use social media to get inspiration for your meals. This will not only help you decide what you want to eat every day but you can also learn lots of new skills and tasty recipes so you can say goodbye to eating pasta every day.
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Budget. There are so many apps that make it easy for you to do this. Save money on eating out and the things that you don’t need.
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Cook your meals together. This is a great way for you to save money and everyone in your house to bond over a home-cooked meal.
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Join a sports club; whether that be with York Sport or within your College, trying a new sport is a great way to keep active, relieve stress and make new friends. Visit the York Sport Union pages for more information yusu.org/opportunities/sport.
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Sleep. It goes without saying that you need to make sure you get a good night’s sleep as this plays a big part on your mood and your performance at uni.
Maintain a tidy household There is nothing worse than having to deal with the stresses of uni and then go home to a house which is uncomfortable to live in. Whether that be the living conditions or generally keeping tidy, it will make your life easier if you know how to keep your house feeling like a home: •
Know when your bin collection days are. All the information can be accessed on york.gov.uk/waste and make sure bins are put out before 7am on your collection day.
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Recycling is a great way to help your local community, you will be provided with three recycling bins; glass, paper and card and plastic, tins and cans. Make sure you follow the recycling guidance and separate your recycling.
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Discard any packaging from food deliveries and takeaways appropriately; recycle your empty pizza boxes and make sure that any leftover food is placed in your black bin.
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Make sure you dispose of additional waste appropriately, legally and responsibly.
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Download the free One Planet York App for your phone to remind yourself when bin collections are if you tend to forget.
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If you have a garden, make sure it’s well kept and tidy.
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Make a rota with your housemates to share the cleaning responsibilities. Make sure you set these ground rules early when you first move in to avoid problems down the line.
Fit For Purpose? If your rent was too good to be true then there is probably a reason for it. When you move in make sure you thoroughly inspect the property and take dated photos of any existing damage or damp and report to it your landlord. Damp, mould and condensation are common problems in student homes, if you find any of these in your home here is what you should do: •
Keep your home dry. Make sure you ventilate your home by opening windows and making sure any extractor fans are working. Try and move furniture a couple of centimeters away from walls so they don’t touch, this gives the air in your home some more opportunity to circulate.
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Reduce excess moisture by getting a dehumidifier which will remove excess moisture in the air. It will also surprise you how much your everyday activities produce moisture; leave lids on pans, open the window when you’re in the shower, hang wet laundry outdoors or use a tumble dryer when you can.
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Stay warm. Condensation occurs when the moist air touches cold surfaces. Try to maintain a constant temperature in your house and avoid sudden rises and falls in temperature. Move furniture away from radiators and keep your home well insulated.
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Report it! Make sure that the problem is reported to your landlord and keep a record of when you reported the problem. If nothing gets done, keep reporting the problem and seek further advice and support from the student hub: student-hub@york.ac.uk.
Getting Around York Car There is limited parking in the City of York and at the University. If you do choose to bring your car to York, it is encouraged that students leave their car at home and not bring it onto campus. However, if you have a specific mobility need, you may be eligible for a “blue badge”. If you do decide to bring your car to York, make sure that there is space to park it at your property and that you have a parking permit if necessary. If you are unsure if you need one, check with your landlord. Cycle It is very easy to get around York by bike. With many cycle lanes and cycle storage around the city, it takes around 15 minutes to cycle from the City to Campus West. The University also provides secure cycle storage, cycle pumps and showers on campus in various locations. • • •
Use the University’s Bike Doctor service to buy a recycled bike, or get a safety check. Make sure your get your bike registered, meaning that if it is ever stolen the police will be able to identify it and return it to you. Make sure you use a D Lock to secure your bike. D Locks are more secure and help minimise the risk of your bike being stolen.
Public Transport With the dedicated 66 Bus, it is very easy to travel between campus and the city centre. With a variety of tickets; from Yorkey Cards to an Annual Pass, search First Bus York for
Moving Out Before you know it, it will be time to pack up your stuff and move out of your property. It is worth thinking ahead what you’ll need to do when you move out, to make sure you don’t lose your deposit. •
Check your tenancy agreement to see what your Landlord’s expectations are.
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Make sure you’re acting lawfully when clearing your property, dumping rubbish and fly tipping can incur a huge fine! Use the city dump on James Street for non-household waste.
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Have a clean-up day with your housemates to take care of communal spaces, nobody wants to be left to do it on their own.
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Try not to leave anything behind as this can incur extra charges, make sure the space is exactly how it was when you moved in.
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Try and keep your accommodation clean throughout the year, this will save you a lot of effort when it comes to moving out!
Never face any problems alone, there will always be somebody to help and support you if there are any issues. My Landlord: My Gas Company: My Electric Company: My Water: My Internet Provider:
York City Council
01904 55 1550 | york.gov.uk
Campus Security
01904 324 444/323 333
NHS Helpline
111 | nhs.uk
Non-Emergency Police
101
Crimestoppers
0800 555 111 | crimestoppers-uk.org
Crimestoppers offer Anonymous reporting
01904 323 724
YUSU ASC Independent Student advice service
Student Hub
01904 324140
Search student hub on the University website
Citizens Advice
01904 623 648 | citizensadviceyork.org.uk
Samaritans 01904 655 888 | samaritans.org Free 24hrs a day
York Nightline
01904 323 735 | yorknightline.org.uk
If you need support and want to talk to someone, Nightline are a confidential listening service run for Students by Students. You can also email them on istening@york.nightline.ac.uk
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