Accommodation Booklet - Arts University Bournemouth

ACCOMMODATION
ACCOMMODATION
INTRODUCTION
Now you have decided to study at the Arts University Bournemouth
(AUB) you will need to consider where you will live. The following pages
will provide you with information to help with this decision.
This booklet details our halls of residence: East and West House, and
Winton Halls, and our student accommodation at George Close, as well
as explaining how and when to apply.
The pages following on from halls will provide information on our
Accommodation Days and arranging student flat and house shares,
which is the type of accommodation the majority of our students
(including first years) live in.
We have also given brief details of the area and transport links.
We hope this is useful to you, but if you require further information
or have any questions our Student Advisors can be contacted on
studentadvice@aub.ac.uk or by calling 01202 363031/363242. More
information can also be found on the accommodation pages of our
website aub.ac.uk.
Kitchen, West House
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APPLYING FOR HALLS
OF RESIDENCE
Who can apply for Halls of Residence
All first year, full-time Preparation for Higher Education, Undergraduate
and Postgraduate students can apply for Halls of Residence.
The AUB has limited halls of residence and in view of this places are
allocated with priority to students living overseas, and to students with
disabilities/medical conditions.
How to apply for Halls of Residence
If you would like to apply for halls you will receive an email in February/
March advising you to access your MyApplication portal to make your
application online. Applications must be received by 24th May 2013.
Receiving an offer
We will notify you by late June to let you know if your application
has been successful. If you are not successful in gaining a
place in halls, you will still have the opportunity to attend an
Accommodation Day to arrange alternative accommodation.
If you are successful in gaining a room in halls we will email
you with details of your offer so please ensure that you provide
an email address that you will check regularly. You will need to
complete an acceptance form, guarantor form and pay a deposit
within 10 working days to secure the accommodation.
What next
We will confirm we have received your paperwork and, shortly
before your move in date (which is detailed in your offer letter),
we will email you with move-in information explaining where to
collect your Halls Welcome Packs and keys.
To apply you must have a conditional or unconditional offer to study at
AUB. If you are a UK student you must have selected AUB as your ‘firm’
choice with UCAS.
You will be able to indicate your preferred accommodation on the
application form; whilst we do our best to offer your preferred choice, this
is not always possible.
Cluster Flat Lounge,
Winton Halls
Cluster Flat Kitchen,
Winton Halls
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EAST AND WEST HOUSE
Study Bedroom,
West House
Winton Halls
WINTON HALLS
East House and West House are both situated on the AUB campus, located
in a fairly quiet residential area.
Being on campus means you do not have transport costs getting to and
from lectures, and no reason to be late. As well as the Arts Bar/Refectory
situated on campus, there is a convenience store located a few minutes’
walk away. More shops, pubs and restaurants are located in Winton and
Wallisdown, approximately 1 – 2 miles away from the campus.
Key Facts
Rent:
Size:
£105 per week.
East House: 50 en-suite rooms
West House: 50 en-suite rooms
8 kitchens in each building and every room has an allocated kitchen.
aub.ac.uk/accommodation/eastwesthouse
http://aub.ac.uk/accommodation/halls-residence/east-west-house/
Winton Halls is situated 2 miles away from the Arts University
Bournemouth in the popular student area of Winton. The accommodation
includes a range of rooms, including cluster flats with shared lounge/
kitchen areas, and self-contained Studio flats. It also includes one flat
which comprises 3 accessible rooms. All rooms are single occupancy.
Winton Halls are located in the main street of Winton with many shops,
restaurants and bars within easy walking distance. Students living in
Winton Halls can make use of all facilities on campus.
Key Facts
Single en suite room (x17) £105.00 per week
Double en suite room (x12) £110.00 per week
Single studio (x13) £115.00 per week
Double studio (x16) £125.00 per week
Owned and managed by ASN Capital on behalf of AUB
aub.ac.uk/accommodation/wintonhouse
http://aub.ac.uk/accommodation/halls-residence/winton-halls/
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7

GEORGE CLOSE
Bedroom,
George Close
Recently built, George Close is situated in the residential area of Ensbury
Park, approximately one mile from the AUB campus. The student
accommodation consists of six newly built four bedroom houses on a
small development.
The houses benefit from having double bedrooms, a shared kitchen and
lounge, and garden.
Key Facts
Size:
Rent:
6 x 4 Double Bedroom Houses
£105 per week.
Longer contracts are available for Postgraduate students.
aub.ac.uk/accommodation/georgeclose
http://aucb.ac.uk/accommodation/halls-residence/george-close/
“It’s a very
sociable place and
great to meet new
people from all
over the world.”
Tatum Le Patourel
“I really enjoy
living in halls –
you don’t have
to worry about
being late, since
you live right near
the University. You
can always return
home if you forget
something”
Narianna Safro
George
Close
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Halls of Residence FAQ
Can I bring a Car
There is no car parking available, other than for students with mobility
difficulties. Bike storage is available at all sites.
I have a specific need/disability; can I still live in Halls
Yes. We have a number of adapted/accessible rooms in East/West House
and a further 3 accessible rooms in Winton Halls.
How do I pay rent
Rent is paid termly in advance by direct debit or bank transfer. Full details
of rent payments and due dates will be included in the offer letter.
Are there any additional costs
Rents are inclusive of all bills (except TV licence), including utility bills and
internet. Laundrette facilities are coin operated in East/West House and
there is an on-site launderette with student discount at Winton Halls.
Do I need a TV Licence
If you watch or record TV as it’s being broadcast you will need a TV Licence.
This includes the use of devices such as a computer, laptop, mobile phone
or DVD/video recorder. A TV Licence is included in the rent at George Close
but is not included in any of our Halls of Residence.
Can I use the Internet for online gaming
No – the internet service is restricted and monitored and does not include
Peer2Peer networking, live TV streaming or online gaming provision.
How long is the Tenancy Agreement
Tenancy agreements are from 27 August 2013 to 13 June 2014 for Prep HE
students and from 2 September 2013 to 13 June 2014 for undergraduate
students. These are fixed term tenancies and are legally binding
agreements, so you cannot move out without finding another student to
take your place. Longer tenancies are available for Postgraduate students.
Halls of Residence
10 11

Private Rented
Accommodation
What’s Available
AUB is located on the border between Bournemouth and Poole, about 2.5
miles from Bournemouth town centre. The most popular areas of student
accommodation are Winton and Charminster, which are within easy
cycling distance and are well served by the Uni Linx bus service.
Bournemouth has a wealth of private rented accommodation available, to
suit all tastes and all price ranges. Large houses, with up to 6 bedrooms,
are popular, but there is plenty of choice if you are interested in smaller
houses, flats or bedsits. Most houses are let fully furnished but you will
need to provide your own bedding and (possibly) crockery and cutlery.
Facilities such as gardens, parking and internet connection vary from
property to property.
You may wish to rent a room in a private home, where you have your own
room and use of the kitchen to prepare your own meal. Some shared-withlandlord
lodgings can also provide breakfast and evening meals. There
is no need to sign a tenancy agreement for this type of accommodation,
which usually requires a notice period of one month.
Finding your Accommodation
Finding somewhere to live, especially if you don’t know the area, can seem
a little daunting. To make things easier, AUB has a specialist “studentpad”
accommodation website. This lists properties registered by accredited
landlords and you can search for properties by size, area or cost, or browse
to see what’s available. This site also has a message board facility, and lots
of our students use this to arrange their accommodation. You can check
out messages from students advertising rooms or looking for housemates,
or post a message of your own. It’s a great way to get in touch with
students who are also looking for a house and people to share with.
There is also a facebook page ‘AUB Accommodation 2013’ which works in
a similar way to the message board.
Tenancy Agreements
Winton
Most landlords will ask you to sign an Assured Shorthold Tenancy
Agreement. Tenancy agreements are legally binding documents issued
by landlords or letting agents and, once signed, will usually tie you to a
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property for duration of the agreement – usually twelve months, although
this may vary from property to property. Some landlords may agree to
you leaving if you find another student to take your place, but this is not
guaranteed.
A group of students renting a house will usually be asked to sign one
contract, which makes each student jointly and severally liable for the
rent. This means that if one student leaves the others will be asked to
make up the shortfall in the rent. Many landlords will ask students to
provide a guarantor (usually a parent).
You should always read any tenancy agreement carefully and ask if you
do not understand something. If the landlord agrees to make any repairs,
or makes any amendments to the agreement, you are advised to obtain
written confirmation of this. The landlord should provide you with a signed
copy of the tenancy agreement and a receipt for any deposit.
Paying the rent
You should remember that your rent is a continuing expense throughout
the period of your tenancy, regardless of whether or not it is continuously
occupied.
You should ensure that any agreement for the payment of rent is clear, and
that you are given signed receipts for any money paid to the landlord. Any
failure to pay your rent may put your tenancy at risk.
Most landlords will ask for a deposit, equivalent to one month’s rent,
when you sign a tenancy agreement, to secure your property. By law, your
landlord should place this in a Tenancy Deposit Protection Scheme and
should provide you with details of the scheme used.
Furnishings and fittings
When you first move into a property you and your landlord should take an
inventory of all furniture, fittings and equipment. If there is any damage
evident before you move in, you should note this on the inventory to
ensure you are not charged for damage you have not caused. A copy of the
inventory should be retained by all parties. It can be a good idea to take
photos of any existing damage when you move in.
Most landlords will insure their buildings, but it is up to you to arrange
insurance for your own personal possessions. You may wish to consider
security marking and noting serial numbers of any valuable items such as
computer equipment.
Accommodation Days
What to expect on Accommodation Days
The aim of AUB Accommodation Days is to make it easy for you to arrange
your accommodation for the start of your course. The days provide you
with the opportunity to meet other students, form house-sharing groups
and view private rented accommodation. On the day we provide lists of all
our registered properties, plus details from local letting agents.
We have street maps and bus timetables available, and our student
advisers are on hand to help you start to mix with other students.
It can be daunting to get to know new people, so we hold a quick “speed
dating” session to help you meet other students. This takes place at the
start of the session, so please arrive promptly. If you’d rather not take part,
don’t worry, there is no obligation.
There are always more properties than students, so we advise you to form
a group before starting to select properties. Alternatively, you may decide
to join a group that already has a house with a spare room to fill.
We inform our landlords about the accommodation days and many of
them will be there with details of their properties.
Registering for Accommodation Days
Please click on the link in your Applicant Portal to register for
accommodation days: You can book for a maximum of 2 days at a time,
but there is no limit on the number of days you can attend. We will confirm
your booking by email.
With your permission, we will include your name and contact details on
the list of attendees and email this to everyone who has registered to
come to an accommodation day approximately 10 days before the day.
You can start to make contact before the day, or arrange to meet up with
people you’ve got to know through Facebook and other social networking
sites, or our “student pad” message board.
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What to bring with you
We recommend that you spend some time looking at the properties listed
on the “student pad” website before the day, and bring details of any you
are interested in.
You will want to go out and visit properties so it’s a good idea to make sure
you (or someone with you) has access to a means of transport. You may
also want to bring a camera to take photographs of the properties you
view.
Most of our students will sign a tenancy agreement on the day, so you will
need to ensure that you are able to pay a deposit to secure your property -
this will usually range from about £300 to £350.
Accommodation Day Dates
March 21st & 22nd
July 10th & 11th
August 16th
Things to Consider
Prices do, of course, vary but the average rent students paid during the
past year for a room in a shared house or flat was around £80.00 per week
(excluding bills). For lodgings (including bills and often meals), the figure
was around £90.00 per week.
You will usually have to pay for gas, electricity and possibly water rates on
top of your rent. We would advise you to allow a minimum of £14—£16 per
week to cover these costs if they are not included in the rent.
Liability for household bills rests with the person named on that bill, so
make sure any arrangement with housemates is clearly agreed by all
parties. Many students set up shared accounts to pay bills, but you may
also like to think about other shared costs such as laundry and cleaning
products.
Any tenancy agreement cannot give a tenant less rights than they have in
housing law. The law entitles tenants to “quiet enjoyment” of the property,
which means that your landlord should provide reasonable notice of their
wish to enter the property to carry out repairs or inspections.
East House
West House
16 17

‘The Small Print’
Map
AUB is not able to arrange private rented accommodation on your
behalf and we do not view properties listed on our “studentpad” website.
Only Bournemouth Borough Council or NLA Accredited landlords are
registered. However, in registering properties, or providing details at our
accommodation days, we are not recommending them over any other.
Any tenancy agreement is strictly between you and your landlord, and we
advise you to seek legal advice if you are uncertain about any of the terms.
You should ensure that any agreement with your landlord is put in writing,
and should keep copies of all correspondence and receipts.
You should not sub-let any part of your property without the written
consent of your landlord. If you make use of a local letting agent please be
aware that you will be charged an arrangement fee.
All full time students are exempt from Council Tax for the duration of their
course of study. Exemption starts on the first day of your course, so if you
move into your house before then, you should expect a bill.
WALLISDOWN ROAD
ALDER RD.
KINSON ROAD
COLUMBIA ROAD
George Close
West House
East House
Arts
University
Bournemouth
ensbury
park
BOUNDARY ROAD
TALBOT AVE.
WIMBOURNE ROAD
Winton Halls
TALBOT ROAD
Winton
ensbury
park
When looking for accommodation, view as many properties as you can to
help you make a decision. For safety reasons, never go to view a property
on your own. Remember to consider the full cost of your accommodation,
including bills, contents insurance, television licence…and food!
RICHMOND
PARK
AUB students are expected to behave in a responsible, co-operative
manner and failure to do so may result in disciplinary action.
AUB accepts no legal responsibility or liability to any party in matters of
the provision of accommodation.
Wessex way
A338
BOURNEMOUTH
TOWN CENTRE
18 19

Student Services
Arts University Bournemouth
Wallisdown, Poole, Dorset, BH12 5HH
Telephone:
01202 363242
01202 363031
Email:
studentadvice@aub.ac.uk
Website:
aub.ac.uk/accommodation
If you require this information
in an alternative format contact
equalities@aub.ac.uk.
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