Lighting, Hot Water, and Ventilation in Our Housing

At Blackfriars Hall, we are committed to providing accommodation that is safe, healthy, and environmentally responsible. Our approach to lighting, hot water, and ventilation, below, reflects regulatory requirements and our broader sustainability goals.

Lighting

All student rooms and shared spaces are designed to provide adequate natural lighting, a core expectation under Oxford City Council’s HMO minimum standards, which require rooms to include suitable natural light and ventilation.
This not only supports student wellbeing but also reduces our reliance on artificial lighting.

To support sustainable energy use, we continue to:

• Use low energy, long life lamps wherever possible
• Maintain lighting systems to ensure efficiency and reliability
• Encourage residents to make use of natural light during daytime hours

These measures help minimise energy consumption while maintaining high-quality living conditions.

Read our Lighting Policy here.

Hot Water

Blackfriars Hall ensures a constant and adequate supply of hot water to all bathrooms, showers, and washbasins, in line with national HMO amenity standards.
This includes:

• Reliable 24 hour hot water availability
• Systems maintained for safety, consistency, and energy efficiency
• Temperature controls designed to balance comfort, safety, and sustainability

Providing dependable hot water is an essential part of our commitment to student wellbeing, while our systems will help reduce energy waste and support our sustainability objectives.

 Read our Service Commitment on Hot Water here.

Ventilation

Good ventilation is essential for comfort and indoor air quality. Rooms in Blackfriars Hall, including bedrooms and shared areas, meet HMO standards that require adequate natural light and ventilation to support healthy living conditions.

Our ventilation approach includes:

• Operable windows in all student bedrooms and common spaces
• Mechanical extraction in kitchens and bathrooms where required
• We have put into place controls on humidity and airflow (mechanical extraction) to prevent damp and mould, together with specific damp proofing measures, aligning with the expectations of the Housing Health and Safety Rating System (HHSRS)

By ensuring clean, fresh air throughout our buildings, we support both wellbeing and the longevity of our accommodation spaces.

Read our Ventilation Strategy here.

Sustainability Commitment

Across lighting, heating, and ventilation, Blackfriars Hall remains committed to:

• Minimising energy consumption
• Reducing environmental impact
• Complying fully with all HMO licensing and safety standards
• Providing comfortable, safe, and sustainable accommodation for every resident

Our ethos guides us to a strategy that looks to improve building systems, adopt more efficient technologies where this is financially feasible, and empower residents to make sustainable choices in daily life.

Read our Sustainability Statement on Lighting, Hot Water, and Ventilation.