Contractual information

Please read your contract before you accept your accommodation agreement because it contains information and guidance about the terms and conditions that apply to your residence in accommodation, and the regulations appplicable to University residences.

The document contains information that will help make your stay at the University of Exeter as easy and as pleasant as possible. The information it contains is not exhaustive but it may give the answers to some questions about your accommodation.

As a student at the University of Exeter you will be bound by the University’s Regulations. A full copy of the Regulations can be found in the University Calendar.

Many of the student residences in Exeter are owned and managed by the University, however some are either owned or managed by carefully selected partners (or third party providers). These partners will usually employ their own staff to carry out services such as reception, cleaning and maintenance.

Sample accommodation contracts for 2012/13

• 2012 Example Self Catered Contract for accommodation with shared communal areas
• 2012 Example Self Catered Contract for Self Contained Studio or Flat
• 2012 Example Catered Contract for all catered halls

Your right to cancel

Under the Consumer Protection (Distance Selling) Regulations, if we have not met you before you enter into your accommodation agreement, you have the right to cancel your contract by giving us written (by email, fax or post) notice within seven working days, beginning on the day after the date the contract becomes binding. This period begins the day after the date the contract becomes binding. This is the date when you accepted your accommodation contract and it has been checked and confirmed by the University. Students will receive a dated email of confirmation which will be considered the date at which the contract becomes binding.

If you fail to notify us within the seven day period, you are no longer entitled to cancel the contract.

Your right to cancel does not apply once we have started to provide the accommodation to you. After you move in, it is too late to cancel.

Charges may apply to cancellations: details of the charges which apply to cancellations (which include an obligation to pay rent until we are able to relet your room) are set out in clause four of the accommodation agreement - read these carefully.

If you cancel and are entitled to have any deposit repaid, we will refund the deposit within 28 days of receiving your notice of cancellation. Refunds are made in accordance with the University's normal procedures. Please note that once a payment is on a student's University account then any refund from the account must first be authorised by the student. Part of the authorisation process allows the student to nominate the account to which that refund is made.

Your deposit

If you take up your tenancy, your accommodation deposit will be split and credited equally against your accommodation charges in terms two and three. This will reduce the outstanding amount for terms two and three and should be taken into account when making your termly payments.

If you wish to pay the whole year in advance, please remember to deduct the amount of your deposit from your total charges due. If you do not do this, we will refund the deposit to you within the first payment period if you notify the Student Fees Office of your overpayment.

Letting periods

The 2012/13 academic year runs from Monday 24 September 2012 to Friday 14 June 2013 (excluding Welcome Week).

Rooms in the catered residences are let for 32 weeks based on the University's term dates. If you live in a catered residence you will not be able to stay in your room during the Christmas and Easter vacations.

If you become a resident of St Luke's, Holland or Mardon residences, you will be required to move your belongings out for the Easter vacation.

Students in all other catered residences will be able to leave belongings in rooms over the vacation periods.

There are a limited number of rooms let for a short period to incoming study abroad/Erasmus students. For these approved short courses the accommodation contract will be:

Please note that contract dates are not negotiable.

Some self-catered residences are kept open over the summer vacation for students who are staying in Exeter for academic purposes and wish to stay on in university owned/managed/approved accommodation. More information about what accommodation is available is provided in the summer term.

You will be expected to remain in University accommodation for the full period as stated in your contract.