Student Advice Centre

Living Off-Campus

Moving into a house in a residential area for the first time? There are loads of ways in which you can make a positive contribution to the neighbourhood.

• Be sensitive to levels of noise. Your neighbours may work shifts, may have to get up in the early morning or have young children. Loud music late at night can be very disturbing. Try to keep noise down when coming home late at night.
• When you move into an area, say hi to the neighbours. It's basic manners and very helpful if your post goes missing!
• If you are planning to have a party, let your neighbours know in advance and tell them what time it will end. Perhaps you could invite them too!
• If there is only on-street parking, be aware that you have to share the space with others and you may not be able to park outside your house all the time.
• Don't leave rubbish out on the street or in the front garden, and don't leave your dustbin out on the wrong day, where it may cause an obstruction.
• Use local shops, cafes and takeaways – it is your neighbourhood too.
• You could also take advantage of opportunities to get involved in the community through voluntary work, for example. Get in contact with Warwick Volunteers to see what projects are going on. If you think your club or society could make a difference and start something new, get in touch with the Sports or Societies sabbs who can help you!

Before you move in your landlord should show you both an Energy Performance Certificate, and a Gas Safety Certificate. If they don't, you may want to either contact the council or Trading Standards. If pre-agreed repairs haven't been carried out, contact the Student Advice Centre for help.

TV Licence information

If you are all listed on one tenancy agreement, joint & several liability, then you will need one licence for the house, no matter how many TVs you have. If you have individual tenancies you may each need a licence.

If you do not need a licence, you can inform TV Licencing via their website

Gas Safety Certificate

It is a legal responsibility for a landlord to organise an annual gas safety check by a specialised engineer, which should result in a Gas Safety Certificate. They are also obliged to (a) issue a copy of the certificate to any existing tenant after a check (b) issue a copy to any new tenants before they move in.

If a landlord doesn't do this, contact the local HSE office (0800 300 363) who have the option of prosecuting your landlord if they don’t comply – failure to follow gas safety requirements is a criminal offence. For more information about regulations on gas safety, see our housing safety page.

Gas Safe Register

Any engineer wanted to legally work on gas appliances and installations (e.g. a gas boiler) in a tenancy must be on the "Gas Safe Register" (formerly CORGI). Any Gas Safe Registered engineer should have a special card which you should ask to see.

Carrying out gas work with a non-Gas Safe Registered engineer is not a good idea for your landlord. Breaching the Gas Safety Regulations is a criminal offence, with the Health & Safety Executive empowered to bring proceedings against the landlord/agent responsible. The standard penalty is a £6,000 fine per item and/or 6 months imprisonment. Your landlord could also invalidate their insurance cover.

If this is a problem that's affected you, contact either the Health and Safety Executive on 0800 300 363, or contact us at the Student Advice Centre.