Student Castle Oxford

Can I leave early and get the remainder of my rent back?

Unfortunately, you are committed under the licence agreement to pay the full rent, however if you decide you want to leave early please tell the managers of your site asap. We may have a waiting list of people that would like to take over your licence agreement which would then relinquish you from your contract. If you find a new Licensee, we'll let you out of your agreement from the day they move in, and refund you any unused rent that you've paid in advance (minus a 350 admin fee). We cannot refund your rent until you have found someone to take over your licence agreement, their booking is confirmed and they have paid the first instalment of their rent. 

What bills do I need to pay?

All utility bills (gas, electricity and water), WiFi and contents insurance for your belongings are all included. If you bring your own television or use one that is pre-installed in your room then you will have to buy your own TV licence. See www.tvlicensing.co.uk for further details.  If you cease to be a full time student during the occupation of your room then you will become liable for council tax. If the second occupant of a double occupancy room is not a student then they may also be liable for council tax. 

Can I transfer my booking to a different Student Castle?

Its possible that youll be able to transfer from one Student Castle to another before moving in, but this completely depends on what we have available. If we can transfer you, your booking fee will move with your room but youll be charged an admin fee of 100 and unfortunately we cant guarantee that youll get the same sort of room. If you need to request a transfer, contact the site manager at your original Student Castle location.

Can I change my room?

If youd like to change your room once youve moved in, well do our best to accommodate you (providing were not fully booked). Any moves will incur a 50 admin fee. If youve moved to a cheaper room, any excess rent youve already paid will be taken off the next instalment. If youve already paid for the whole year, well simply give you a refund of the difference.

What happens if my student loan is late and I cant pay my instalment on time?

The student loan shouldn't be late, however if there is a problem we will need a letter from the loan company showing amount and dates of payments and four week's advance rent before you move in in September. You can get in touch with the Student Loans Company here, but please keep us posted and we can help you.

How long is the contract?

Most of our contracts run for 51 weeks. Our site in Edinburgh offers 46 week contracts only.

Guarantor

If you want to pay your rent in three instalments, youll need a UK-based guarantor. This is someone who lives and works in the UKand is willing to sign a contract saying theyll pay your rent if you fail to do so. We will run a credit check on your guarantor if they happen to fail well get in touch about what to do next. Your guarantor cannot be another student or a government.

If you do not have a guarantor then youll need to pay your rent for the whole Licence Agreement in advance.

How much is my rent?

To find out how much each room costs, go to the location youre interested in and youll find all the details there.

What is included in my rent?

All your utility bills (including super-fast broadband and WiFi) are included, as is contents insurance for your room.

What happens if I cant make my payment on time?

Come and talk to us - we will always work with you to find the best way for you to pay your rent. If your payment is seven days late and we haven't heard from you, you'll be charged a 30 admin fee. 

Can I move in earlier or later than my Licence Agreement date if need be?

This depends if your room is ready, so its best to contact the scheme direct. You would need to pay for the extra days beforehand.

When do I need to pay?

For our sites in England, if you have a UK guarantor then you can pay in 3 instalments in September, January and April. The 1st payment will be due 12 days before your licence starts. If the 1st instalment of your Student Loan is paid after this date then we can accept a payment of 4 weeks rent 1 week before you move in, with the balance paid when you receive your loan. For our sites in Scotland, we can align payments with when you receive your Student Loan. Please contact us for further information. If you do not have a UK guarantor then payment will be due in full 12 days before you move in. 

Whens the latest I can book?

As long as theres a room available. We keep our site perfectly up to date so youll be able to see where our spaces are.

Can I choose my flatmates?

You can request to be in a room close to or within the same flat as your friends, however this is subject to availability. We will do all we can to accommodate your request. Subject to availability you may request to be in a single sex cluster flat for religious or cultural reasons. 

How do I open a bank account?

The UK has lots of banks, including National Westminster (NatWest), Barclays, RBS, Santander, HSBC and Lloyds. All of these offer special bank accounts for students, which usually include an interest-free overdraft. All high street banks have the same basic range of services savings accounts, credit cards, overseas cash transfers and so on but they offer different deals to attract new customers, so shop around to find your favourite.

To open a bank account youll need to visit a branch of your bank (check to see if your chosen bank has a branch near your Student Castle) with the appropriate ID. Your passport, driving licence and one or two forms of proof of address (such as a bill or licence) will usually be enough. Bank accounts take a few days to get up and running, so try to open yours before you leave for university or make sure you have a credit card to keep you going when you arrive.

If I want to get a part-time job, where should I look for opportunities?

Youll find that your student union often has job adverts, and if youre looking for shop, bar or restaurant work you can usually spot Help wanted signs in the shop windows. Your local Jobcentre will also have opportunities simply head to the website and search by area.

How do I register with a doctor?

Most surgeries now offer online registration once youve found your local GP, check their website. Check with us too for any recommendations.

If Im an international student can I open a bank account in the UK?

No problem youll just need the same identification as other students. Take your passport, driving licence and at least one proof of address document such as a bill or licence. If you can get a letter from your bank at home recommending you, thats even better but you dont strictly need this, and you absolutely do need the ID mentioned above.

Is bedding included with the room?

No - however, you can purchase a bedding pack from us when you are making your booking and it will be unpacked and on your bed when you arrive.

Are there fridges in the rooms?

Yes each studio or flat kitchen has a fridge with freezer compartment. 

Unfortunately, you cannot bring your own fridge as this would invalidate our insurance.

Do I need to bring any furniture?

All our rooms are all really well equipped with high quality furnishings that provide ample storage and comfort.

Are there kitchen facilities in my room?

Yes studio rooms and flats have a combination microwave oven, a hob, a sink and a fridge/freezer and plenty of storage for all your pots and pans. Flats have communal kitchen spaces.

Do I need to bring my own saucepans, wok, etc?

If you would like to bring your own kitchen equipment we have lots of storage space. However, you can buy a kitchen pack from us when making your booking which will be in your room upon arrival. 

Is there a TV in my room? Can I bring one if not?

Some of our schemes have TV's in the rooms, however should you wish to use it then you will have to purchase a TV licence. Please note, there will be no TV's in the rooms in Bath, Edinburgh & Durham however you are more than welcome to bring your own to plug in. For more information on TV Licensing then please visit www.tvlicensing.co.uk 

Is there a common room?

One of the best things about living with Student Castle is the amazing communal space that is open for all residents to enjoy. We've got TV areas, pool tables, private or group study areas that are all perfect for you to enjoy on your own or in a group. We also hold regular social events in the common areas - check your information pack when you arrive for details. 

Are there bike storage facilities on site?

Yes we try to be as eco-friendly as possible so each of our schemes have plenty of secure bike storage space. 

We also offer FREE bike hire to all our residents across all schemes. Simply hand us your room key in exchange for a bike, helmet and lights. 

Can I bring my car?

All our developments are based in fantastic city centre locations, with great transport links nearby. We also try and be as eco-friendly as possible so we don't encourage students to bring cars. Very limited parking is available on a case-by-case basis if you have a genuine need to keep a car at university, you can contact the management for your chosen Student Castle development to discuss your options. All our developments have nearby public car parks, perfect for when friends and family visit. Short term car access is available for dropping off or picking up your belongings. 

Do you have a gym?

Yes - we have a gym in each of our sites. They are open 24/7 and completely free to use for all our residents. Unfortunately, our insurance does not cover guests to use the gym.

Who should I contact if I have a problem with my internet?

Our onsite management can do very little in terms of internet problems. Please contact the service provider, Ask4. Their technical support number is 0845 123 8710, and they have specially trained tech support staff to help sort out your internet as quickly as possible.

Where do I wash my clothes?

All our developments have easy to use laundry rooms with washing and drying machines (operated by Circuit Laundry). You can top up your laundry card from your computer and then use it to pay for your washing, or use your phone through the mobile app.

The laundry rooms are open 24 hours and we do not provide detergent. 

Is there a TV in the common room?

All our common rooms have flat-screen TVs with Sky TV.

What happens if there is a breakage or problem with my room?

You can log all maintenance issues online through the Student Portal. Our onsite maintenance team will respond to the issue as soon as possible.

Am I allowed to bring electrical appliances with me?

For safety reasons, we cant allow any overseas electrical equipment that doesnt comply with all relevant British standard. We do not allow portable heaters in any of our rooms.

Do I have to supply my own food?

Yes you do. All our sites have plenty of local supermarkets nearby.

Can my friend store their things/belongings/luggage in my room?

No. Letting someone else store their things in your room is a breach of your Licence Agreement, and it will also invalidate your insurance coverage. 

Can I have guests to stay?

Of course. We normally allow a maximum stay of two days per visit for guests but they will need to sign in/out at reception (this is outlined in our guest policy which you will sign when you move in). Guests are not allowed their own key.

Is insurance included in my rent?

Yes through Endsleigh, we provide complete personal contents insurance to protect you and your belongings. Additional cover is available with Endsleigh at an extra cost.

Is your accommodation suitable for mature students?

Of course! You can enjoy the social aspect of student living, while hanging onto some personal space in one of our self-contained rooms.

Are there specific times of day I have to move in?

So things dont get too hectic, we will send all students different timeslots prior to move in so you can book your slot, but the reception is always open 24 hours a day.

Am I able to have a party in my room if I want one?

We don't allow parties in your room - this is because we host regular parties and social events in the common areas throughout the year. 

Whose responsibility is it to clean my room?

Youll be in charge of cleaning your own room and helping to clean the communal area of your flat (if applicable). However, we do offer a cleaning service at a cost (details are in your arrival pack and on the Student Portal). 

How safe is my room?

Your room is very safe - all door entry is key fobbed and all communal space has CCTV.

How safe is the development?

All our developments have staff on site 24 hours a day, monitoring the entire site to protect you and our buildings.

Can I smoke in my room?

No. As per your Licence Agreement, if youre caught smoking or tampering with smoke/fire detectors youll be liable for a fine. There are designated smoking areas at each of our developments which you are welcome to use. 

As a disabled person I have specific requirements for my living needs, can Student Castle cater for these?

We make every effort to ensure that our accommodation is accessible for all. Rather than try to plan generic accessible rooms in advance, we prefer to work with individual students to see how we can help. We have a certain amount of flexibility at each of our schemes, which allows us to offer a wide range of possible solutions.

Is Property Management a member of an accreditation scheme?

Yes we are a member of ANUK/Unipol National Code for Larger Developments 

Can I use the common room facilities to run a private club/event/business?

No, the facilities are only for our residents. It is only polite not to abuse this. 

What happens if I stop being a full-time student?

You can still live at Student Castle until the end of your licence period, however you will become liable for council tax during this time. We can help you try and find somebody to take over your licence should you wish to leave, however this cannot be guaranteed. 

What does Property Management do for the environment?

Were committed to considering and, where possible, reducing our impact on the environment across everything we do. We focus on green methods of construction and waste reduction, and all our developments have the facilities for you to carry on our eco-friendly mission! You can do your bit by recycling as much as possible.

Are there recycling facilities on site?

Of course. Every site is equipped to recycle cardboard, plastics, paper and glass, and recycling tubs can also be found in each room. To recycle other items, check out the options with your scheme manager.