Student Community Guide
HELLO & WELCOME from Liverpool Student Homes LSH is here to support you when renting privately during your time at university and we have produced this handy guide to help you settle into your new home and community. What we do The only accreditation scheme in Liverpool for private student accommodation. We only advertise accredited student properties - 25,000 bed spaces every year. Find a housemate meet-ups and accommodation fairs. Free housing rights advice service. Supporting students in their communities. LSH is owned and managed by @livstudenthomesofficial LiverpoolStudentHomes @livstudenthomes.bsky.social LiverpoolStudentHomes 0151 794 3296 LSH@liverpool.ac.uk www.liverpoolstudenthomes.org 5 Oxford Street, Liverpool, L7 7HL
A message from your student officers We are your elected student officers. We'll be campaigning and working for your rights as students, ensuring that you feel safe and happy as part of your community. We want all students to feel welcomed in their community, and that they have affordable rent and good standards of living. Ensuring all students know their rights and how to advocate for themselves is of utmost importance to us. We will also be campaigning for improvements in students rights. “ We recommend that you always use Liverpool Student Homes when searching for private student accommodation. It’s the only free service for students which is university-owned and managed. They have the largest choice of all types of accommodation, they inspect properties, landlords/agents must make sure their properties meet strict quality and safety criteria before they can advertise and they offer free housing rights advice. ”
Contents
Your accommodation journey September & October Welcome events, making friends and settling in. Check our website for moving in tips. November Don’t rush to look for properties! There are plenty available, take your time to choose. LSH accommodation talks and fairs. December Start your search when you’re ready. January & February Accommodation search continues! Think about location, who to live with and arrange viewings. March & April Accommodation search continues! Sort your guarantor and deposit. Staying in Liverpool? Search our website for summer lets. May Preparing to move out. Read our tips for getting your full deposit back. June - August Move in to summer let. Prepare for moving to your new accommodation in September. Enjoy your summer!
Chill Don’t rush to rent! Consider your options when searching for accommodation for next year
LSH ACCREDITATION SCHEME Accommodation providers (landlords, letting agents and private halls) can choose to sign up to an accreditation scheme for private student accommodation. They commit to meeting the requirements of the scheme. In Liverpool the scheme is called the LSH Standards and is operated by Liverpool Student Homes. By choosing an LSH accredited property you can expect the following from the accommodation provider: Ensuring the property is safe Ÿ Ÿ Legal and correct business practises Ÿ Ÿ Good standard of customer service Ÿ Ÿ Ÿ Ÿ Ÿ LSH STANDARDS Accreditation: commitment to quality & service How does this help students?
Moving in
Moving in check list Take meter readings for utilities Add all tenants names to the utilities accounts Find out how to turn off the gas & where the electric fuse board is Find out where the stopcock is Check the inventory Read the boiler & appliance manuals TV licence Fire safety
WASTE & RECYCLING Bins need to be put out at the right time and place, and stored away between collections so they don't get lost or stolen. Rubbish can also attract rats and other vermin, so it’s important to dispose of rubbish in the correct way. If you live in an area with alleyways, your accommodation provider should supply you with a key so that you have access. General waste Recycling No thanks! Underground super-bins Communal bins www.liverpool.gov.uk/bins-and-recycling Find out more information about rubbish disposal and your bin collection days:
RE-USE & DONATE By donating your unwanted items to local charities and organisations, you are contributing positively to your community and the environment too. Household waste recycling centres
FLY-TIPPING & LITTERING Illegal dumping of waste (fly-tipping) is hazardous, unsightly and can harm the environment. It can also attract vermin infestations including rats, cockroaches and flies. Liverpool City Council has an Environmental Enforcement Team who patrol the streets every day of the week to educate local communities on correct waste management and investigate environmental crimes. They can identify and take action against people who are dumping waste illegally, allowing their dog to foul the street or littering. This action includes issuing Fixed Penalty Notices or fines. Everyone has a responsibility to keep the streets clean and free of rubbish, by making sure that household waste and litter is disposed of correctly. if you see any instances of fly-tipping, you can report it to Liverpool City Council on their website.
BE A TOP TENANT! Once you have moved in, there are lots of things you can do to help get your tenancy off to a great start and to ensure that things run smoothly for the length of time that you are living there. Ÿ Ÿ Ÿ Ÿ Ÿ Ÿ Ÿ Ÿ
REMEMBER TO... Register to vote www.gov.uk/register-to-vote Find a GP & dentist www.nhs.uk/service-search
Sustainability With the recent energy price increases and many people finding themselves in fuel poverty, it’s more important than ever to be savvy with how we use fuel and making lifestyle changes to reduce our impact on the environment.
E-scooters TRAVELLING TO & FROM YOUR HOME Booking taxis Choose licenced taxis Car parking Personal safety
COST OF LIVING Your university has been working to support their students with the impact of the increased costs of living. This may be attributed to rising food costs, fuel bills and general living expenses. It is important to reach out if you feel you need support, each university will offer a variety of support mechanisms, some will be open for a set period while others will continue throughout the year. Each case will be dealt with individually. For more information please click the link or scan the QR code for your university.
Joining a community
BECOMING PART OF A COMMUNITY Ÿ Ÿ Ÿ Ÿ Ÿ Ÿ
GET INVOLVED THROUGH VOLUNTEERING www.liverpoolguild.org/opportunities/ volunteering www.jmsu.co.uk/volunteering www.hopesu.com/main-menu/get-involved/ volunteering
Noise & antisocial behaviour Noise and antisocial behaviour can impact anyone living in a community whether they are students, professionals, families, elderly, long term or shortterm residents. If you are experiencing noise or antisocial behaviour you, along with other residents, can report your concerns to the local authority in respect of noise, and Merseyside Police for antisocial behaviour. What is considered to be nuisance noise? Tips for keeping noise down Ÿ Ÿ Ÿ Ÿ Ÿ Ÿ
Raising concerns If you are experiencing noise nuisance or antisocial behaviour you can report it in the following ways: Noise nuisance or antisocial behaviour Parties or loud social gatherings Abusive language or threatening language or behaviour towards others For reports of potentially criminal behaviour
City Centre - L1, L2, L3 Liverpool Area Guide Kensington - L6 & L7 Toxteth/Georgian Quarter - L8 Edgehill - L7 Childwall - L16 Smithdown/Wavertree - L15 Mossley Hill/Allerton - L18 Aigburth - L17
Keep up-to-date Liverpool City Council website is a great place to start to find out about what is going on in the city and your local community. You can also find information about council services such as bin collections, parks and green spaces, council tax information and environmental health issues. www.liverpool.gov.uk facebook.com/lpoolcouncil instagram.com/lpoolcitycouncil www.liverpool.gov.uk/bins-and-recycling www.liverpool.gov.uk/leisure-parks-and-wellbeing Contact your local MP or Councillor
Safety & security
PERSONAL SAFETY Although Liverpool is a relatively safe place to live and study, Merseyside Police have asked that students take extra care on getting home after a night out. To help you and your friends stay safe while enjoying a night out, we wanted to remind everyone – regardless of gender – of these key safety tips: Ÿ Ÿ Ÿ Ÿ Ÿ Ÿ Ÿ Ÿ Ÿ Ÿ
Spiking Types of spiking Ÿ Ÿ Ÿ Ÿ How to tell if you have been spiked Reporting spiking to the Police
Home security We welcome all students to the local area and hope that you have a safe and enjoyable time. Ÿ Ÿ Ÿ Ÿ Ÿ Ÿ Useful contacts www.immobilise.com
ONLINE SAFETY & FRAUD Ÿ Ÿ Ÿ Ÿ Ÿ Ÿ Ÿ Ÿ Ÿ Ÿ Student accommodation scams
FIRE SAFETY Hello, and welcome to Merseyside, Electric bikes & scooters Ÿ Ÿ Ÿ Ÿ Ÿ Ÿ Ÿ More fire safety tips IN THE EVENT OF A FIRE, GET OUT, STAY OUT AND CALL 999 AND ASK FOR THE FIRE & RESCUE SERVICE
Wellbeing
MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT Getting help Student Support Services Your GP Talk Liverpool www.talkliverpool.nhs.uk Samaritans www.samaritans.org
MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS Who to contact if you or someone you know needs help urgently due to having a Mental Health Crisis. If your life is in immediate danger call 999 emergency services or go to A&E or walk-in centre as soon as possible. Your GP NHS 111 Mersey Care Urgent Mental Health Support Service James’ Place REACHOUT Liverpool Suicide Prevention 15
Reporting an incident If you have experienced bullying, harassment, sexual misconduct, hate crime, assault or discrimination, you can contact Student Services at your university for support. www.reportandsupport.liverpool.ac.uk/ www.ljmu.ac.uk/discover/student-support www.hope.ac.uk/lifeathope/studentsupport/ www.lipa.ac.uk/why-lipa/student-support/ www.lstmed.ac.uk/study/student
Housing Advice
HOUSING ADVICE If you experience any tenancy-related problems while renting privately in Liverpool, you can get free, confidential advice and support. You can contact your students’ union, who have advisors available or if you property is accredited with Liverpool Student Homes, you can contact us. Property disrepair Contract checking Damp & mould Deposit problems Tenants’ rights Landlord disputes Get support from a Housing Advisor
Disputes with your accommodation provider LSH accredited providers www.liverpoolstudenthomes.org Deposit protection Letting agent redress schemes Deposit protection schemes Letting agent redresss schemes 18
Council Tax Full-time students Ÿ Ÿ International students Living with non-students Find out more about Council Tax www.liverpool.gov.uk/council-tax/discounts-andexemptions/full-time-student-exemption/
Moving out
Moving out check list Tenancy agreement Cleaning Bills and contracts TV licence Unwanted items Rubbish Return keys Mail
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