What’s provided
Remember, you are not allowed to bring any furniture into the house. Adequate, good quality furniture is provided and must all meet fire-safety regulations and our code of standards.
Bedroom
- Bed with clean, stain-free, firm mattress (replacement mattresses must be new)
- wardrobe (not canvas or plastic)
- mirror - full length
- chest of drawers with adequate storage
- desk or table (minimum size 2.5ft x 3ft)
- desk lamp
- upholstered desk chair which is suitable for studying
- book case or wall shelving of an appropriate size
- rubbish bin
- lined curtains or blinds (with nets in ground floor rooms)
- at least four electrical plug sockets.
Kitchen
- Free-standing or built-in cooker
- refrigerator – suitable for the size of the home (one shelf per student)
- freezer (one shelf per student)
- plumbed-in washing machine
- one cupboard for each student and adequate food preparation areas
- chopping board (replaced annually)
- rubbish bin of adequate size and a recycling box
- fire blanket (checked annually by the owner and replaced if used)
Bathroom
- Shower
- sufficient cabinet or shelf space for those sharing
- washable nylon shower curtain (renewed annually)
- electric extractor fan ideally with a humidistat sensor
- sufficient towel rails and hooks for the number of sharers
- mirror
- toilet brush (renewed annually).
Communal room
- Enough comfortable and contemporary seating to enable students to sit together
- table and chairs (if not in kitchen)
- working television aerial capable of receiving a digital signal
- adequate low-energy lighting for night time and enough natural light for daylight hours.
General
- Working broadband service to enable immediate access to the internet
- ironing board (with cover – replaced annually)
- vacuum cleaner and tools in good working order, serviced annually and suitable for the size of property and regular use
- broom, dustpan and brush
- mop and bucket (mop head replaced annually)
- dustbin (or local authority provided bin) and recycling bins supplied by the local authority
- doormats
- lockable outbuilding for student use or space for cycle storage (where possible)
- a clothes airer or other means of drying washing
- manuals for all appliances
- noticeboard in communal area, approximately 600mm x 900mm.
What to bring with you
- Basic provisions for the first few days, until you have time to get to the shops
- washing powder or liquid
- bedding and bed linen, including sheets, pillows and duvets or blankets
- towels and tea towels
- crockery – plates, bowls and mugs
- cutlery and cooking utensils, including tin opener and a bottle opener
- pans – a couple of saucepans, frying pan, baking tray
- hairdryer and toiletries.
You will need to decide with your housemates how you want to shop for and share the cost for communal items like toilet paper and cleaning products.
All electrical equipment you bring must be in good condition and in safe working order. Please remember that you will be sharing accommodation with a number of other students so try not to bring too much.
See further information on electrical appliances and TVs
What to do when you move in
Check the property
Once you have your keys and walk through the door, one of the first things you should do is to have a quick look around the house to make sure everything is fine and there are no obvious problems.
If there is anything you think we should know about, then please call the accommodation office immediately and we will be happy to help.
Check and return your inventory
We will provide you with an inventory. This is a list detailing the condition of the property and its contents before you moved into the house. The owner will have noted any damage. It’s really important that you go through the house checking that what the inventory says is correct. This is your opportunity to highlight any damage not recorded.
If you see any discrepancies record as much detail as possible in the ‘Tenants Comments’ column and if possible take photographs and email them to us at accommodation@brighton.ac.uk or send them to us with the inventory.
It is a contractual obligation to return your inventory to us within 24 hours of moving in. We recognise that this is not always possible but inventories must be returned within five working days of you moving into your home. If you don’t return the inventory, you could be held responsible for the cost of any damage which was not recorded.
Set up your utilities
You are responsible for paying for utilities such as gas, electricity and water. You must set up an account with each supplier. Details of the current supplier can be found in the inventory, but we would recommend you shop around to find the best deal. You should take utility readings as soon as you move in.
The easiest way to do this is probably through a comparison website such as Moneysupermarket or uSwitch.
If you do change your supplier, please let the accommodation office know who you are going to be using.
You are collectively responsible for utility bills so any accounts should be in everyone’s name and divided equally between all the residents in the house.
You can either make payment direct to the supplier or form an arrangement with the other occupiers to make a joint payment.
It’s a good idea to know where the master switches are for the gas and electricity and the stop cock for the water. You might need them if there is a leak or electrical fault. Details can be found on your inventory.
Check your rubbish and recycling collection days
When you move in, make sure that you find out when the rubbish and recycling collection days are for your street. You can find out by checking your local authority website. See Useful links and contacts
