Accommodation Leavers’ Guide

Moving Out

On the day you are due to move out, we ask that all residents check out by noon on the end date of your licence agreement. You can leave your accommodation earlier if you prefer, but please be aware that you will still have to pay for any accommodation charges due until the end of your agreement. You will receive an email close to your end date to confirm your leaving arrangements and the return of your keys. Normally, keys should be left on the desk of your room when you leave. If you plan to leave the accommodation early, or wish to request an amendment to your leaving date, please contact the Blackfriars Bursary Team.

Once you have vacated your room, the Accommodation Team will make a final inspection of the property. They will check the state of the accommodation against the inventory completed at move-in. Your deposit will then be returned to you in line with our deposit policies, minus any deductions for charges such as additional cleaning or damage to the room. We aim to return your deposit to you within 28 days of the end of your licence period to the details you provide.

Leaving Clean and Leaving Green

To avoid deductions from your deposit, please make sure that your room and the accommodation are left clean for a new tenant. In advance of your leaving date, please:

• Vacuum the floor thoroughly.
• Ensure that your allotted kitchen cupboard and fridge/freezer shelf are clear and clean.
• Remove all posters etc. from your noticeboard.
• Report any faults or damage, e.g.: lamps/light bulbs not working.
• Remember to check your drawers, wardrobes, and laundry room for any belongings.
• Wash and dry any bedding that Blackfriars provided (if applicable).
• Remove any bicycles from the garden – if left, they will be disposed of soon after departure.

Any rubbish or recycling should be placed in the large bins provided following the Blackfriars Sustainability Guide. Oxford City Council also provides a guide to recycling and rubbish, and offers collections for small appliances, bulky waste, textiles, and other items, sometimes at a further charge or at its recycling centres. Use the ‘Oxfordshire Waste Wizard’ for further guidance.

Please do not leave items in your room or flat for future tenants to use. Either take your belongings with you, arrange to hand them to another student in person before you go, or dispose of them responsibly. Any items in good condition can be donated to a charity shop near the accommodation: the ‘Oxfordshire Waste Wizard’ recommends nearby charities that accept donations. The Oxford Student Union in partnership with the Oxford Class Act Society have set up donation points for any Sub Fusc you will no longer use at the Radcliffe Camera, the Radcliffe Science Library, and the Old Bodleian.

Entering the Private Rental Market

After leaving Blackfriars accommodation you may want to enter the private rental market in Oxford or elsewhere. While a little bit daunting, with planning, patience, and care, finding private accommodation does not need to be stressful. You should always know your rights and seek advice.

The most common kind of private tenancy, one where the landlord or one of their family is not also resident, is an ‘Assured Shorthold Tenancy’ and comes with a number of rights, but also responsibilities. You have limited rights when landlords or their families are resident.

Your main rights under an Assured Shorthold Tenancy include:

• To live in a safe property, in a good state of repair.
• 24 hours’ notice if your landlord needs to come around (unless it is an emergency).
• To live in the property for the length of your contract.
• To have your landlord’s contact details (not just a letting agent).

Your landlord must also provide you with:

• A copy of the government’s ‘How to Rent Guide’.
• A gas and electricity safety certificate.
• An Energy Performance Certificate (EPC), with an Energy Efficiency Score at minimum in ‘Band E’ (see the linked government guidance).
• Deposit protection paperwork showing you where your deposit is held within 30 days.

In return, your main responsibilities under an Assured Shorthold Tenancy include:

• Taking good care of the property.
• Not causing any noise or nuisance to your neighbours.
• Manage your waste and recycling effectively.
• Let your landlord/letting agent know of any repairs that are needed.
• Repair or pay for any damage caused by you or your friends.
• Pay the agreed rent on time.
• Pay your household bills on time.
• Not to sublet unless you have your landlord’s permission.

Detailed guides to your rights as a private renter, and to finding accommodation in Oxford and elsewhere are provided by the government’s guide to renting and its guide to renting a safe home; by the Oxford Student Union; by Oxford City Council; and by the housing charity Shelter.