86


these houses are located in areas of mixed communities – your neighbours will be a mix of students, young couples, fami- lies with children and elderly people.


ost student property is within 2 miles of the University City Campus –


Although you’re probably only going to


months, your stay can have a big impact on your neighbours. Every year the University


minimise the risk of complaints and the need for the University, Northumbria Police or Newcastle City Council’s Environmental Health (who can confiscate equipment and fine noisy households) to contact you, we advise: • When you move in, introduce yourself to your neighbours. They will appreciate that you have made the effort. Ask them to pop round if they have any problems.


This will help to resolve any minor problems before they get serious and are reported elsewhere. Your neighbours may also be able to keep a look out for any security problems when you are away on vacations. • Remember that neighbours


To live there for 12


Accommodation Offices receive a small number of complaints about student behaviour in private accommodation.


To advertise call 0191 265 6999


studenthousing.co.uk


Become a Good Neighbour M


with children or who get up early to


reasonably expect things to be quiet in the evening. • Tell your neighbours well in advance if you are planning a party and make sure you don’t have too many.


you can – but always remember to keep the noise down after about 11pm. Avoid impromptu gatherings when you return from a nightclub. • Keep TV’s and stereo speakers away from neighbours’ walls as noise travels easily. Victorian and Edwardian properties like yours were not designed for multiple occupancy with several sound systems, TV’s etc. • Be aware that neighbours can often hear people running up and down stairs, doors slamming and raised voices too. • Most complaints about noise relate to students returning from a night out. Don’t make lots of noise in the street, don’t stand outside talking and come back into your home quietly. • Avoid parking outside your neighbours’ properties wherever possible – it will cause them inconvenience especially if they are elderly or have a young family.


Newcastle now have resident’s parking schemes, which mostly


Many residential areas of Invite them if start work may


Although you’re probably only going to live there for 12 months, your stay can have a big impact on your neighbours.


allow only two permits per property, so it will be difficult for all students in one house to have parking permits. Do you really need a car during term time? • Keep the outside of your property clean and tidy. Use your wheelie and recycling bins and make sure you put them out and take them back in at the right time. Burglars often use bins that


have been left out to get into backyards. Contact the Council’s ENVIROcall on 0191


274 4000 if your rubbish is not collected regularly or you need to know the day your bin will be collected. Keep your garden tidy, or remind the landlord or agent if it is their responsibility and they haven’t been doing it. • If you have bulky rubbish to get rid of, Newcastle City Council will remove


collections each year free of charge – just phone 0191 274 4000. One “collection” is up to 20 black bags of rubbish. Remember your University wants you to have a good time –


four


but Universities take student behaviour in the community seriously – when they receive a complaint from a neighbour they will call out and speak to you and if there is evidence of continuing problems, repeat offenders will be warned, fined or even removed or suspended from their course. In addition to


powers, both Northumbria Police and Newcastle City Council are increasingly becoming involved in student behaviour issues and persistent misconduct can lead to an on the spot fine of £100, sound equipment being seized or even a criminal record. Last year five students were Acceptable


Agreements by Northumbria Police and any breach of those will lead to


Behaviour Order. Also, please bear in mind that any police record – fine, caution or conviction – must be declared on job applications and may bar you from your chosen career. Finally, we appreciate that


served with Behaviour


groups of an Anti-Social University


students themselves are often victims of noisy neighbours - if you are having problems and would like advice then contact your Accommodation Office without delay.


© Northumbria University 2010


Ensure you are not a soft target W


students renting private property. A burglary can be a very upsetting and disturbing experience for anyone, let alone a student living in rented property for the first time. Students are more often than not perceived as easy prey for burglars. It is assumed that students neither have


money or the interest to adequately protect themselves from break-ins - an assumption that in all too many cases proves to be right. Steps taken by University schemes and initiatives to raise the standard


accommodation mean that student properties are


of student


becoming less and less prone to burglary. Whilst no one wants to turn their home in to an impreg- nable fortress of barbed wire and watch towers, it is only common sense that you should aim to reduce the risk of a break in.


precautionary steps that you can take to make sure that you do not invite trouble. No matter how proud you are of your academic background, it is not


There are a number of simple the


Avoid displaying any expensive possessions in windows and remove all expensive items if you are away from your property for any great length of time especially over Easter and Christmas


always a great idea to advertise the fact that your property is a occupied by students. It may sound a little silly, but many prospective burglars will be attracted to the possibility of a ‘soft target’.


assuring against this is by removing all of those Trainspotting, Robbie Williams and ‘Student Crossing’ posters (You all know the ones I am talking about) from your front window. You should also avoid displaying any expensive possessions in windows - remove all expensive items if you are going to be away from your property for any great length of time, e.g. Christmas


One of the best ways of


or Easter. Simple things like leaving lights on and closing the curtains whilst you’re out will also help. You should make sure all of the windows and doors are securely locked. Properties that are signed up the University’s


to


Accreditation scheme will be fitted with a 5 lever mortice lock (BS 3621) on both the front and rear doors. If your property is not registered to such a scheme, it is advisable that you see your landlord about fitting appropriate locks for both your front and rear doors, as well as on windows. Burglar alarms are also an obvious deterrent, though it is worth remembering that


should you forget to activate your alarm and you are burgled it may affect any insurance claims that you choose to make. Don’t be fooled into thinking that you’ll only be burgled when you aren’t in the house or at night. A would be thief targeting a


student house in Sunderland actually walked up the path to the property in full view of one student who was working at her desk by the window. The thief casually walked into the house and then two minutes later left with a video recorder tucked under his arm. If it wasn’t for a couple of vigilant students who spotted him leave he may very well have got away with it.


downward trend, with figures showing a 20% fall in burglary, the old maxim of ‘better safe than sorry’ seems to


apply to


hilst current crime rates throughout the country are showing a general


While the publisher was a stu- dent he had everything stolen over the easter break. Everything including his undies!! It turned out to be one of the tenants who literally stripped the whole house bare (the house had a mixture of Students, DSS & Professionals.) Fortunately for him the thieves were so tired after loading their lorry with the booty that they just left it fully loaded. An eagle eyed neighbour had taken the number plate of the van and when the police called they found it with all the stolen property still in it. While these two stories have a happy ending - this is not always the case. A friend who had a collection of over 200 CDs had them stolen - never to be seen again. His CDs were is pride and joy with many rare imports. He wasn’t insured. For just a few pounds he could have had the cash to replace his whole collection. You should be insured, whether you live in a high or low burglary area make sure you are covered. There are quite a few companies offering student schemes so you can shop around for the best deal. See what their excess is (ie the amount you have to contribute to a claim) and make sure it covers all your larger more expensive items like computers.


editorial


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