Summer in London – University of Westminster Housing

Here are some general rules, tips, and expectations to help you become accustomed to your new home!

Students participating in the Summer in London – University of Westminster program can be housed in Alexander Fleming or Marylebone Hall. All housing options have single bedrooms and are self-catered. Students will receive their room assignment upon arrival.

Housing is scarce and expensive in London, and while Westminster does its best to ensure that students are housed as close to their classes as possible, students should expect some London commute time between their apartment and their classrooms. Want to see what it looks like? Take a 360° virtual tour here

Please note that although CISabroad makes every effort to provide your preferred form of housing, we cannot guarantee that all personal preferences are met. We have carefully selected safe and adequate housing for each student and each living arrangement is distinct and special in its own way.

Every housing placement is different with different pros and cons. Your accommodations will be different than what you’ve come to expect in your home country. In general, be prepared for a relatively small living space in an older building with very basic amenities. Now is the time to open your mind and get ready to experience something different; this attitude is in the spirit of your decision to study abroad. Please also remember, that when you are abroad, you will be representing your home institution and your home country; behave appropriately.

There are no housing changes allowed during the first 2 weeks of the program. There is a natural adjustment period to life abroad and making any housing change decisions during this time is usually premature.

Cleanliness:

Keep your room and the common areas clean; this is especially important when you are sharing a bedroom, apartment, residence, or dormitory.

Bedrooms

Bedrooms are centrally heated and generally contain:

• a single bed
• wardrobe
• desk and chair
• storage drawer
• bookshelf
• bedside cabinet
• mirror
• washbasin

Bathrooms
Each shared bathroom contains a bath, shower, washbasin and a toilet.  Marylebone Hall has ensuite bathrooms.

Laundry facilities

There are on-site launderettes at each hall, with coin-operated washers and dryers, where you can wash your laundry.

Irons and ironing boards are available on request.

Storage
There are limited storage facilities in each bedroom, so you are advised not to bring more belongings than necessary.

Cleaning
Some cleaning of communal areas is provided, but you are expected to keep your room and communal areas clean and tidy.

Noise:
In order to avoid disturbing the neighbors or housemates, please use headphones when listening to music, or keep the volume low, and please keep your voices down.

Utilities and use:

• The cost of utilities and Internet access are included.
• Heating and air conditioning should be used sparingly. NEVER leave heating or air conditioning units while you are not home. If you must have them on when you are sleeping, keep them low.
• Always turn off the lights when you leave the apartment and when you are not in the room.

Do the Halls Have Wifi

High-speed network is accessible from all bedrooms and some communal areas. Like any service, there are rules and regulations in place to ensure that students use the Internet legally and responsibly.

Catering: 

All halls are self-catered and the majority share a kitchen between six students.

Depending on the hall of residence, kitchens are shared between a minimum of four and a maximum of eight students.

Each flat has a large kitchen/diner equipped with a stove, microwave, fridge-freezer, kettle, toaster, table and chairs, and television aerial socket. Note that heaters and cooking equipment are not permitted in bedrooms.

You will not need to bring your own cutlery, crockery, saucepans and cooking utensils these will be provided.

Safety:

• CCTV is installed at hall entrances and each hall is also normally staffed by a receptionist during the day and a security guard at night.
• You should lock the apartment door at all times. Also, when leaving the apartment, make sure the windows are closed and locked. Neither the study abroad company nor the housing company will not be responsible for any stolen items.
• If the keys to the apartment are stolen, lost or misplaced, all locks to the apartment will have to be replaced at the student’s expense, including key copies for all apartment members.
• If the keys are left inside the apartment/bedroom and the locksmith has to open the door for the you, you will have to pay for this service.
• It is strictly forbidden to throw any object or substance from windows, balconies, terraces or roofs. This includes keys, cigarette butts or anything else big or small.

Guests and Alcohol Policies:

• Disrespectful behavior related to alcohol consumption will end up in dismissal from the housing and you will have to find your own housing at your own expense.
• Smoking is not allowed anywhere inside the apartment.
• The consumption of drugs, as well as keeping or dealing with them, is absolutely prohibited

Financial Liability:

• You will have to pay for any damage done to the apartment (doors, walls, floors, furniture, kitchen supplies, washing machine, etc.).
• FOR PROGRAMS WITH HOUSING DEPOSITS. If extra time is needed to clean the apartment, or if items are damaged or missing, you will be charged and those charges will be deducted from your housing deposit. Housing deposits will be returned 12-16 weeks after the program has ended

Helpful tips for living with other people:

• Respect your hosts and the other people that live in the building.
• Remember that you are not on a college campus and not in your own home. Respect the property and get out of the “college campus” mentality.
• Talk to your roommates if they do something that bothers you. Talking it through is the easiest way to solve a small problem before it gets bigger.
• Talk to the staff if a problem arises and you cannot work it out with your roommates.

Warning process:

• If any of the above rules are broken, you will receive a first verbal warning. This warning will also be written and sent to your sending study abroad program and your home school.
• The second infraction of any of the above rules will result in you being evicted from your apartment. You will need to find a new place to live at your own expense.
• Please read through all of our behavior policies noted in the CISabroad Policy Handbook, linked inside of the attachment to your acceptance email