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Communal Living

Communal Living

Refuse and Recycling

When kitchen bins become full please tie the top of the bag to prevent spillages, take it to the designated waste collection area and place in the appropriate bin. This will help ensure the area is clean and tidy.

  • Remember to replace the bag in the bin. These are left by domestic assistants.
  • All broken, sharp objects should be placed into the correct sharps bin provided. Due to the nature of occupancy in Cryfield Studios and Benefactors flats, neither of these residences are given additional bin liners and they are not provided with a sharps bin. If you are staying in Cryfield Studios or Benefactors flats, sharp or dangerous items should be boxed and labelled and left by the exterior refuse collection points.

For more information on how to recycle certain items please visit the Environmental Sustainability website.

Shared Kitchens

A cooker, microwave, kettle, toaster and sink will be provided in your communal kitchen. You will have to purchase your own crockery, cutlery and cooking utensils (except if you are living in Westwood Ensuite Halls of Residence). There are many local charity and reuse shops where you can find new and second-hand items and you can also attend our ‘Pay As You Feel Market’ on campus during Welcome Week (further details will be noted on your Welcome Week timetable).

You cannot purchase your own white goods such as fridges/freezers. If you require a fridge in your room for medical reasons, you will need to apply for specific accommodation requirements and the University will supply the fridge.

Please do not place anything on the tops of kitchen cupboards, fridges and freezers to avoid accidents. Kitchen doors should be kept closed at all times. In the event of a fire, keeping fire doors shut prevents and slows the spread of smoke and fire. Propping fire doors open compromises the safety of others living within the residence.

Your kitchen door will lock automatically when closed. You will be able to open your kitchen from the inside but you should ensure you carry your key fob with you at all times as you'll need this to enter your kitchen.

Cooking and Cleaning

You are responsible for keeping your accommodation safe, clean, and in a tidy condition at all times. When you first move in, we recommend that you speak with your flat mates about how you will manage the daily cleaning and tidying of your communal areas such as kitchens and bathrooms and plan a bin rota. It is helpful to set these expectations and boundaries when you first move in. If you would like support in having these conversations at any time during your tenancy, please contact The Residential Community Team.

A weekly cleaning service is provided with your accommodation for all communal access areas including communal kitchens and communal bathrooms. You can find a schedule for when the cleaning team will visit your kitchen, and you will need to be prepared to vacate these spaces at those times to allow the cleaning team to work. Please be mindful that it is your responsibility to make sure these areas are clear of obstructions that prevent the cleaning team from completing a clean. We expect that you will clear worksurfaces, mop up spills and do your own washing-up to keep the sinks clear. It is your responsibility to keep your bedroom clean, tidy and clear of obstructions at all times as this will be dangerous for staff that may need to gain access to your room. Residence Managers will conduct occasional room checks to make sure that bedrooms are being well cleaned and maintained.

Messy kitchens and communal areas

It is important that our residences are clean and tidy for the health and safety of our residents. If Campus Cleaning Services find that they cannot complete a clean due to mess in a communal area or kitchen, Campus Cleaning Services will implement their Messy Kitchens Process.

Messy kitchens process

In the first instance, the flat will be given the opportunity to tidy the area. However, if the mess is not cleared, or the flat is regularly reported for mess, the residents of the flat will be charged the additional cost of the cleaning team clearing and cleaning communal areas; this may include charges for the cleaning team’s time, materials and repair of any damage, plus an administration fee of £50.00.

Ordering items through UniKitOut

If you prefer to purchase your items in advance of your arrival, you can kit yourself out for University with pre-arrival student packs from UniKitOut.

You can order food, bedding, kitchen or bathroom kits, as well as singular items. Use code ‘WARWICK10’ to save 10% off everything. UniKitOut are rated excellent on Trustpilot, offer a 100% Money Back Guarantee and a Free Cancellation promise so rest assured you’re completely covered should any of your plans change.

Electricity

All of the electrical equipment provided by the University is fitted with a plug that has a fuse. If you intend to use your own equipment, which was not originally designed for use in the UK, then you will need to use a suitable adaptor with a fuse marked with with the British Safety Standard.

You need to check the labels on your electrical equipment to see how much power they use in watts. The label will have numbers followed by "w". For electrical equipment/appliances rated:

  • up to 700w - you will need an adaptor with a 3 amp fuse
  • between 700w and 1,000w - you will need an adaptor with a 5 amp fuse
  • between 1,000w and 2,300w - you will need an adaptor with a 10 amp fuse
  • over 2,300w - you will need an adaptor with a 13 amp fuse

Electrical safety is very important to the University. If an item is considered to be unsafe then the University will unplug and remove the equipment bringing the issue to your attention. This will enable you to make the equipment safe using an appropriately fused adaptor. It is important that you check that your plugs, equipment power ratings and your adaptors have the relevant fuses. If you are going to use a plug adaptor please make sure it is marked with the British Safety Standard.

Do not leave wires or extension cables trailing across the floor. This creates a trip hazard. You should maintain a safe environment for the university staff that may need to enter the premises by ensuring that cables to personal electrical equipment are safe.

The University has a Portable Appliance Testing (PAT) policy and all electrical items supplied by the University will be tested annually. Please note: this does not apply to electrical items that have been purchased by the individual.

Fault Reporting

If you live on campus and you need to report a fault that requires fixing, you can visit or contact your local Residences' Hub for assistance.

Alternatively you can report faults in your room or residence online using our fault reporting system. Find out more information about reporting a fault online, including what to do out of hours or in an emergency.

Heating

The heating systems are controlled centrally by the University to achieve a room temperature of 19°C to 21°C. Please do not use heating appliances other than those provided by the University. Portable heaters are not allowed in the residences.

In many residences, you can use the numbered radiator valve to adjust the temperature which will help to control how warm your room is automatically. If you have a numbered radiator valve, please turn this down before opening the window to cool your room. Due to the age and variety of our residential halls, the times when buildings are heated may vary. Not just throughout the day, but throughout the year in response to the changing seasons. We recommend to set the valve at 3 when you first enter your room and turn it up or down by 1 and leave it for a couple of hours to settle. You can report a fault if your TRV isn’t working.

Please remember to close your windows while your heating is on, turn your numbered radiator valve off before opening a window and wear more layers before turning up the heat. Remember to keep your room well ventilated to reduce the risk of damp, condensation and mould. To do this, open windows and do not dry clothes on radiators.

Water

The cold water within your accommodation is suitable for drinking and you are encouraged to use this as it helps to maintain a fresh supply of water to the cold taps. Hot water within your accommodation is heated to approximately 60°C to help washing of plates, pans and cutlery, accommodation cleaning and also helps control legionella bacteria therefore any local water heaters in kitchens must not have the temperature setting adjusted.

You should quickly become familiar with your accommodation however care must be taken to check the temperature of the hot water to avoid scalding. Showers and areas of higher scald risk will have thermostatic control for user comfort but care should always be taken.

If you are going away for a period of 7 days or more, please make your Residence Manager aware as the Campus Cleaning Services Team can undertake water flushing in your room to maintain a hygienic water supply for all residents.