杏吧app下载

Living in halls - finance

When do I need to pay my accommodation fees by?

You will not be required to pay any accommodation fees until after you have signed your Licence Agreement and moved into halls. You select your own payment plan scheme. For students in residence for the duration of the academic year there are options to pay in 9 instalments (at the end of each month), 3 instalments (one to be paid at the start of each term), or in one instalment (to be paid by 30 September or within one month of arrival).

The first payment will be due on September 30 if you move into halls in September. If you move in after the start of the academic year or are in residence for one semester only,  further information regarding your payment options will be available at the time of booking. Staff are also available to discuss your payment plan options if you have any queries. For residents moving in after September, your first instalment would be due at the end of the month that you have moved in to hall.

Please note that your deposit will be offset against your accommodation fees and should be deducted from your first instalment plan. Most residents will deduct the deposit payment from the first instalment but you can choose the option most convenient for you.

Further information about fees, payments and instalment plans is available in the Accommodation Portal and within your booking acceptance forms.

How are the instalments calculated?

You are charged fees from the start date of your Licence Agreement until the end date of the Licence Agreement (standard end date is the 3rd Saturday in June but some students may have earlier or later official end dates).

Your total fees are shown on your Licence Agreement and you should check this amount. If you have any queries regarding your payment plan or fees, particularly if you receive a fee payment reminder and are not certain of the amount due, please contact the Accommodation Service Team.

You pay an equal portion of the fees in each instalment. If you are living in halls for all three terms and wish to pay termly you will pay 1/3 of your fees at the start of each term (dates are shown at time of acceptance and are available within the Accommodation Portal). If you wish to pay monthly and you live in halls for the full academic session you will pay 1/9 of your fees at the end of each month from 30th September to 31st May. The calculation for instalment plans will vary accordingly for students on non-standard licence dates.

Payments are not for an exact period of time, they are an equal share of your total hall fees. If you are released from your Licence Agreement before the original end date your account will be adjusted accordingly and you will be notified of the final balance or if a credit is due back to you.

Do I get my deposit back?

If you have already taken up residence your deposit will offset against your accommodation fees and should be deducted from your first instalment plan. If there are any charges or damages that you are liable for, during you time in hall, you will be notified and any costs applied to your accommodation account. You will be expected to pay the costs no later than the end of your Licence Agreement or, if costs are applied after departure, within 28 days.

If you cancel your room booking 21 days before the start date of your Licence Agreement, your full deposit will be refunded.  If you cancel after this time some or all of your deposit may be used to cover any loss to the University. The University will take steps to mitigate your loss by trying to find a replacement resident to take your place but will charge you up to the full deposit amount if no replacement is found.

Are there any other things I need to pay for?

You need to pay for your own food and other personal items you require while in hall.

You will need to pay for laundry costs (each hall has launderette facilities).

If you wish to bring a car, you will need to pay for parking at the Avery Hill Campus and Medway Campus Monday to Friday (there is no parking available at the 杏吧app下载 halls).

You need to pay for replacement keys if you lose the set issued to you on arrival. If the keys can be identified and are lost in the proximity of the hall you may also need to pay for a lock change.

You will need to pay cleaning costs if the condition of your room is poor when you vacate the building or there are any issues with the cleanliness of the flat while you are living there (residents are always encouraged to work together with their flatmates to keep communal areas clean and tidy, staff can assist if there are problems).

You may be charged costs for deliberate or accidental damage in the flat or your room. If damage is noted or reported during the residency period, residents will be written to and asked to provide further information and to discuss communal matters with their flatmates. Accommodation Service staff will take steps to ensure charges are applied fairly and only to residents who have taken responsibility, or are considered liable. Residents will be asked to tell staff before they depart if there are any damages as liability will be assumed to be shared if they are noted after the end of the licence period and everyone has vacated. To avoid damage costs, you must ensure you carefully complete your inventory on arrival and report any issues to staff immediately if they arise during your time in residence.

Living in halls - general queries

What if I want to leave before my licence ends?

If you are withdrawing from your programme of study or interrupting your studies then you must notify the Accommodation Service by completing a Leaving Early Form online through the accommodation portal requesting to vacate your accommodation and contact staff via email accommodation@gre.ac.uk. Staff will usually be alerted when your student status changes but you should also ensure you contact the Accommodation Service in person. You will be given a 28 day notice period from the day you submit the form. If you wish to be replaced before the 28 day notice period is up, we will try to find a replacement student to take your room and you will be asked to confirm your date of departure on the relevant form.

If you wish to vacate for another reason then you should complete the Leaving Early form available on the accommodation portal and speak with a member of the Accommodation Services Team. The Team will advise if there is a waiting list of students looking for accommodation. If this is the situation then arrangements will be made for another student to move in and your licence will be terminated. If there is not a waiting list you will need to find a new student to move into your room or you will remain liable for the fees until the licence ends. Please be aware that it can often be difficult to find a replacement after mid-October and becomes more difficult as the academic year progresses. You should therefore consider very carefully whether the halls environment is somewhere you would like to live before completing your licence agreement.

What if I want to move to another room or hall of residence?

Residents can apply for room swaps from the first Monday in October by submitting a Room Transfer Request online on the accommodation portal. Moves will be arranged subject to availability and you will be asked to stay in touch with the Team and regularly check the availability and/or whether there are other students who would prefer your room type and with whom you could swap.

What if I don't like my flatmates or I have problems in my accommodation?

Accommodation Services Teams are available 24/7 to assist you and will work closely with you to ensure that you feel happy and settled and that the problems you are experiencing are resolved.  You should either contact the Resident Assistant in the hall (6pm to 8am Monday to Friday and 6pm to 8am Friday to Monday) or email or speak with Accommodation Services Team weekdays from 10am to 4pm.

Is there car parking available?

Car parking permits are available at Avery Hill and Medway. You can apply for this permit, which is only available to student who live on campus, via the student portal. There is no parking at halls of residence in 杏吧app下载. Further information is available at on the university's accommodation webpages.

Can I have visitors?

Yes, students are allowed visitors and guests. However they must have the agreement of their flatmates before having a guest stay over for periods of more than one night. Please remember that bedrooms are for single occupancy and there is not space for a number of guests, guests are not permitted to sleep in communal areas of the flat. Residents are responsible for the behaviour of their guests at all times and must ensure they are aware of the regulations, of the evacuation procedures should the fire alarm activate and that they are not left alone in the flat or provided with a key.

Further information about the regulations regarding guests is included in the Accommodation Licence Agreement.

I did not get an offer for halls, where else can I live?

We operate waiting lists for our halls of residence. If you contact the accommodation services they will be able to add you to this list and endeavour to offer you based on availability. We also provide a list of alternative housing in the area to help you with your search.

My course doesn't start in September, can I still get accommodation?

We are aware that there are different course start dates, specifically January and March starters. For these start dates you do not qualify for the accommodation guarantee, however there are often rooms available and you will be able to make an application from mid-October if you are starting a programme of study in January. Applications for students commencing studies in March will open in January, please check the accommodation portal for further information nearer to the time applications will open.

The Team will notify you shortly after you have submitted your application when you will expect to receive an offer of accommodation and will keep you up to date with the status of your application. If you are starting a programme of study at any other time of year then you will be able to make an application via the portal and staff will notify you of availability and discuss your accommodation options with you.

Can I stay in halls for the summer vacation and/or in my next academic year?

Returning students are guaranteed university accommodation for subsequent academic sessions rooms are normally available for returning students, particularly at the Avery Hill and Medway campuses. At both of these campuses, we have been able in recent years to offer rooms to the majority of continuing students who apply. Applications usually open in February and information is sent to all students shortly after the start of the second semester. If you are a January starter who requires accommodation until the following January, you will also need to complete this application process. If you are a March starter you will be provided with information about applying for the next academic year during your booking process.

A separate application process for rooms during the summer is in place which usually runs throughout January. At the end of semester one and beginning of semester two, information about the process is sent to students who registered an interest in summer housing when completing their halls application form. If you did not register an interest at the time of your original application please amend it via the link in the portal or by contacting Accommodation Service staff.

Can I smoke in my room?

No, the University has a no smoking policy throughout its buildings. Smoking is not permitted in any of the halls of residences or university owned or managed buildings.

Applying for accommodation

When can I apply for accommodation?

Applications for new students open 10 March and you can apply any time after this date. Students who apply on or before 30 June are guaranteed accommodation (see the Accommodation Guarantee for full conditions). We recommend submitting an application no later than 30 June if possible as students whose applications are received before that date have priority booking status and will have the first chance to choose a room providing they meet the guarantee criteria

Please note that applications received before 30 June are not considered on a first come first served basis and any applicant submitting by the end of the day 30 June will be given equal chance to book one of their preferred rooms. After this date, applications will be considered in date order from when they were received.

How do I apply for accommodation?

You can only apply for accommodation after you have confirmed the University of 杏吧app下载 as your firm choice on UCAS or if you are a direct entrant via the Admissions Office. You can apply online by clicking on the 'Apply Now' button available on accommodation webpages.

Please note that if you have advised UCAS you planned to live at home this does not affect you making an application for halls of residence and you can apply regardless of the information you supplied to UCAS.

When do I need to apply for accommodation by?

The deadline to apply for accommodation in order to be covered by the Accommodation Guarantee is 30 June.      

After this date an offer of accommodation will be subject to availability, however the majority of students who apply after the deadline (including those who apply through Clearing) are normally offered accommodation. Please submit an application as soon as you have received your acceptance and portal log-in credentials from the university.

What is the accommodation guarantee?

杏吧app下载 guarantees all new students a place in a hall of residence or in university-approved housing* provided that they have met all the conditions of the guarantee below. Please note that applications for accommodation are open for students who have firmly accepted either a conditional or unconditional offer to study.

Please be aware that the guarantee criteria this is not applicable to Bird College Students.

Accommodation guarantee conditions

• You are attending the University of 杏吧app下载 for the first time (either as a first-year undergraduate or postgraduate, or as a direct entrant to another year)
• Your accommodation application has been received before 30 June.
• You are enrolling on a full-time programme of study, for which you have qualified and have accepted your offer of study
• You start your studies in September and you are studying for the whole academic year (note: students studying for one semester can also live in halls of residence)
• You are studying on one of the three main University of 杏吧app下载 campuses (Avery Hill, 杏吧app下载 or Medway)