Information for students
For most students, moving into a rented house is a very new experience and it's a great part of being at university.
With it comes important challenges and responsibilities and we wanted to help you with some useful information and advice so you can get the most out of it.
The serious bit
When you started at Brookes you signed an agreement that you wouldn't behave in a way that would bring the university in to disrepute. This includes how you behave as a resident in the communities where you live in Oxford. Residents use our community communications service to register their concerns or complaints and every one is followed up.
In serious cases the university can issue fines or take formal disciplinary action against students who are causing serious problems in the community.
Who are your neighbours?
Part of living in rented housing is being a member of the community you are in. Your neighbours may not be students - so why not introduce yourselves? It'll be useful to have made an introduction so if there are any problems you can talk to your neighbours about them easily.
Police Community Support Officers
Oxford Brookes University has appointed two fully funded Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs), Rachel Cooper and David Hession. They have been familiarising themselves on campus for a few months and officially started in their roles at the beginning of September. Based at the Gipsy Lane Campus and working in partnership with Thames Valley Police they will be providing a resource for both members of the public and Oxford Brookes students, patrolling the university’s Headington campuses and streets in the local area.
The Headington North neighbourhood policing team can be contacted via the Thames Valley Police non-emergency number 08458 505 505 or by email headingtonnorth@thamesvalley.pnn.police.uk
David and Rachel can be contacted on their office number +44 (0)1865 484999.
The latest neighbourhood update for Headington North can be read on their neighbourhood page on the Thames Valley Police website.
Rubbish and recycling
Rubbish is one of the biggest causes if complaint about student properties in Oxford. You can help reduce the problem.
If you put your rubbish out too early you can be fined. Leaving rubbish bags on the street or in the garden attracts vermin, looks unsightly and smells bad. Rubbish collection and recycling collections in Oxford have changed and in most areas recycling and refuse are collected on alternate weeks - find out more by visiting the Oxford City Council website.
Noise and parties
Get to know your neighbours and please try to be considerable to them - they may be elderly, have young children or have to get up early each day.
Keep music noise to a reasonable level, especially after 11.00pm at night.
It is courteous to advise your neighbours if you plan to have a party. Try and agree a mutually acceptable time for the party to end and do your best to stick to it. If you are happy to give a contact telephone number to your neighbour it can avoid a confrontation if your neighbour has to come round late at night to make a complaint about the noise.
Cars
Think seriously before you keep a car in Oxford. The city has excellent public transport and parking can be a hassle.
Reducing traffic is a big issue in Oxford and Brookes works closely with the local councils to reduce car use.
If you do have a car while you’re living in rented housing we ask that you:
Be careful where you park so as to not block people’s driveways or the road for emergency vehicles.
Try to consider others when parking your car – elderly neighbours or those with young children need to park outside their houses.
Use the Brookes Bus to get to any of our campuses. There is very limited parking and it is permit holder only. There are also new double yellow lines and residents parking zones in the roads around the campuses and cars will be clamped or fined.
Useful contacts
Community Liaison Team
community@brookes.ac.uk
+44 (0)1865 484428 or 484451
Brookes Medical Centre
medicalcentre@brookes.ac.uk
+44 (0) 1865 483193
Studental (Dentist Service)
www.studental.co.uk
+44 (0) 1865 484608
Students’ Union Safety Bus
obsu.safetybus@brookes.ac.uk
+44(0) 771 444 5050
Students’ Union
+44 (0) 1865 484750
Brookes Bus
Recycling and Rubbish Information
Oxford City Council website
+44 (0) 1865 252900
Pest Control
pest@oxford.gov.uk
+44 (0) 1865 252887
Environmental Health
+44 (0)1865 252887
Noise Nuisance
+44 (0) 1865 252887 and +44 (0) 1865 742138 (out of office hours)
