ResLife Survival Guide

During your stay, access is required to university residences by staff and contractors for the following reasons: inspections, maintenance, emergencies and cleaning. Appropriate notice will always be given unless there is an emergency. All of our facilities team and our contractors wear a uniform and staff carry identification.

If you need to talk to the accommodation team then you can pop and see them in your residence reception, give them a call on 01522 886300 or, send them an email to accommodation@lincoln.ac.uk and they’ll be happy to help.

The postal address for each of the residences are as follows:

• Cygnet Wharf – Block (x), Apt (x), Room (x), Cygnet Wharf, Brayford Pool, Lincoln, LN6 7FU.
• Lincoln Courts – Court (x), Apt (x), Room (x), Campus Way, Brayford Pool, Lincoln, LN67TS
• 179 High Street – Apt (x), Room (x), 179 High Street, Lincoln, LN6 7AF
• St. Marks Student Village – Block (x), Apt (x), Room (x), St. Marks Student Village, Lincoln, LN6 7TW
• The Gateway – Block (x), Apt (x), Room (x), The Gateway Ruston Way, Lincoln, LN6 7GQ
• Valentine Court – House (x), Valentine Court, Valentine Road, Lincoln, LN6 7GU
• Viking House – Apt (x), Room (x), Viking House, 98 Newland, Lincoln, LN1 1YT

Not sure how to use an appliance in your flat? Don’t worry, you can use this website to search for all the manufacturers’ appliance manuals for all of the electrical equipment supplied by the University in your residences here www.manualsonline.com

We can’t wait for the summer months to have a BBQ. Remember that barbeques are only allowed outside in appropriate areas with the relevant permission form. Please speak to your residences reception team for further information.

All residents will need to provide their own bedding. If you need to buy bedding when you arrive then there are lots or stores within a few minutes’ walk to all of our residences and we provide tours at the start of term around the city and shopping areas if you’d like some help settling in. For more information on the tours we have available email ResLife@lincoln.ac.uk or visit our Eventbrite page where you can see all of our bookable tours and events here.

If you have any items which you no longer need or want then please grab a #PackForGood donation bag from your
residences reception and donate your items to your nearest BHF bank or donation point. Donation points are located across all of the university residences with the exception of Viking House – but don’t worry, you are welcome to use the ones on campus way or under the flyover near Cygnet Wharf which are only a few minutes walk away.

Bicycle storage areas are available at each of the university’s residences. Please remember the safety and security of your bicycle is your responsibility and that you need to make sure that you have means of securing your bike as they are not permitted to be stored within your accommodation buildings. The Residences Team recommend that you use a solid secure British Standard approved lock e.g. a D type lock. Bicycles are not included within the standard room contents insurance so it’s a good idea to take out additional insurance to cover your bike.

Not everyone will have the same standard of cleanliness within your apartment, so it’s important to discuss cleaning early on. Lots of our residents do find it helpful to create a weekly rota for their communal space which can include things like; wiping down surfaces, cleaning appliances, hoovering and regularly emptying the rubbish bins and recycling.

In most of the residences, the university will only clean the communal building stairwells & corridors – anything past your apartment door is your responsibility!

The University of Lincoln manages over 4000 students within its own residences. We are committed to promoting a safe and respectful environment for everyone in our community.

In compliance with the General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR), we are not permitted to discuss any details of your accommodation agreement or confirm information about you with any other person (including parents and guardians), unless you provide us with written permission to do so.

A property is exempt from council tax if it is wholly occupied by full-time university students.

University of Lincoln managed residences are automatically exempt from council tax but sometimes you may be asked by the local council to submit proof of this. The Student Support Centre can provide exemption certificates if you require one.

We’d always recommend that you should register with a doctor as soon as you can after arriving in Lincoln. Once you’ve registered, you will be able to access healthcare as quickly as possible if you become ill.

The closest Health Centre is located on campus next to the Student Services building.

The University of Lincoln has a zero-tolerance policy regarding drug use or possession. You should be aware that any allegations of drug use are always reported to the Police for investigation. This extends to the use or storage of any New Psychoactive Substance (often referred to as NPS or ‘Legal High’).

The University takes a particularly serious view of anyone involved in the supply of illegal drugs (this includes giving them to your friends). Please remember that the possession and/or use of cannabis is illegal.

All electrical items that you bring with you should be electrically safe; this means that they should be in good working order.

If you are bringing electrical equipment from outside the UK then all equipment must be compatible with UK sockets (three pin adapters).

In case of an emergency, please call 999 and request the emergency service which you require.

It is also helpful if you can contact the University Security Team as soon as possible on 01522 886062 to notify them of the emergency – particularly if an emergency vehicle will be attending our residences or campus.

The University’s Finance team are responsible for the collection of your rent. They can provide guidance should you experience difficulty in making payments. They can be contacted by email at ar@lincoln.ac.uk.

First Aid provision is available on campus 24 hours a day. If you require first aid, please call security on 01522 886062.

The most important thing is to be considerate of your flatmates and always let each other know if you’re inviting people over. Your communal areas belong to everyone in the flat and when you have a guest or visitor over, you are responsible for their behaviour at all times.

Instructions for your radiator or electric panel heater should be provided to you when you arrive. If your heating doesn’t feel like its working then talk to your residences reception and they will be able to advise you on this and if required, report a repair for you.

All University of Lincoln residences include a level of personal possessions insurance as part of your accommodation agreement. The contents insurance is provided by Endsleigh Insurance. It is important to find out exactly what you are covered for as you may find that the contents cover is not sufficient and you need to extend it to protect all of your possessions both inside and outside of your room. For further details please enter your policy number HH1050 at endsleigh.co.uk/reviewcover to check your policy details & what is covered.

For claims information, or to extend your policy, visit the Endsleigh website.

Flat communal area inspections are carried out by the Residences Team every month and bedroom inspections take place once each semester. Flats that don’t meet the required standard will be checked on a more frequent basis and disciplinary action may be taken against residents who consistently fail to comply with requests to improve hygiene or remedy a health and safety issue. Inspections are conducted for health and safety considerations and to ensure that flats are being kept in reasonable order. You will be given advance notice of these inspections.

All of the university’s residences have secure door and room entry systems. To Maintain the security of you room and building at all times, please remember to always lock your door when you leave and keep your key card or keys with you at all times. Lost, stolen or damaged key cards should be reported to your reception immediately.

If you need a replacement card or key, a non refundable charge will apply. A new key card costs £10. If you lose your key in courts it is around £40 (depending on what you lose).

All residences have laundry facilities provided. With the exception of Valentine Court, all of our residences have a card operated launderette which includes washing machines and tumble dryers which residents can pay to use. You will need to bring your own detergent with you. Operating instructions are displayed on the outside of the machines.

Once a laundry card has been purchased, credit can be added to the cards online at www.circuit.co.uk. Any faults should be reported directly to Circuit Managed Laundry Systems on 0800 032 0070.

In Valentine Court, each house is provided with their own washer/dryer and any faults should be reported in the same way as any other repair or maintenance issue or directly to your reception.

There are lots of ways for you to report any maintenance problems in your accommodation. Don’t wait until an inspection or until you move out, the Residences Team is here to help and want to hear from you all year round. Please report all maintenance requests to your residence’s reception or to us online via https://lncn.ac/fixit.

For emergency maintenance outside of office hours, maintenance can be reported to Security on 01522 886062.

All students have a responsibility to be considerate and courteous to their neighbours. Excessive noise will not be tolerated in any of our residences. If you are experiencing excessive noise then please contact the Security team on 01522 886062.

If you need to report maintenance or speak to someone urgently then Security can be contacted 24/7, 365 days a year on 01522 886062.

Pets are not permitted in university managed residences.

It is important that you’re happy where you live. If you are not happy with your current student accommodation, it is possible to request a room change. Rooms are usually fully booked at the beginning of each academic year, which
means Accommodation Services will only be able to transfer students to another room if rooms become vacant.

If you’re not happy with your current room, go and see someone in your residences reception and they will talk to you about your reasons for moving to help them prioritise room availability but also to understand if there is anything they can help you with. If you’d like to talk to one of our ResLife Student Assistants about your flat or the possibility of moving rooms, then they will also be able to talk you through the process.

The Security Team is on duty 24/7 for the personal safety of students, visitors and the protection of university property.

The Security Team also act as a source of information and
advice, particularly outside of office hours. The Security team are based in the Minerva Building. You can call them on 01522 886062. The Security team are available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year and patrol the campus regularly.

Smoking (including e-cigarettes) inside all of the university’s residences is prohibited. This includes bedrooms, out of windows and communal areas.

The Residences Team will treat any breach of this extremely seriously as you are affecting the health and safety of all your fellow residents.

We hope that your residence feels like home as soon as possible and we will provide lots of help with settling in. As well our ResLife Student Assistants, there are lots of departments across the university who are committed to ensuring that you have the best possible experience at university and if you are feeling homesick or need some additional support, you can contact the following departments too:

• Student Support Centre – 01522 780020
  studentsupport@lincoln.ac.uk
• Student Wellbeing Centre – 01522 886400
  studentwellbeing@lincoln.ac.uk
• Students’ Union – 01522 886006
  reception@lincolnsu.com

Residents who have a television, or watch television through a computer or tablet are required by law to have a valid TV licence. You will require a TV licence regardless of which
kind of device you use to watch or record live television. You will also need a licence to download or watch BBC programmes on iPlayer – live, catch up or on demand.

Check out the TV licensing website for more information.

All University of Lincoln residences are managed in accordance with the Universities UK / Guild HE Code of Practice for the management of student accommodation.

The Code protects students’ rights to safe, good quality accommodation, to ensure they get the best out of their time living in our residences. It outlines everything students can
expect from their accommodation as well as their responsibilities as tenants. The University is fully committed to providing a safe, comfortable living environment which will help support our students in leading a successful and enjoyable student life.

For further information, please visit www.thesac.org.uk

For your own safety and the wellbeing of others, you are advised not to bring guests into residences unless they are known to you. As a resident, you are responsible for the behaviour and conduct of your guests at all times.

Security will remove visitors if they are found causing damage, nuisance or an annoyance to other residents.

The water supplied to all cold taps in bedrooms and kitchens (including kitchenettes in studios) is suitable for drinking throughout all of our university residences.