International Students House Vauxhall, London

The main building is located just across the road from Great Portland Street Underground Station. It is also close to Warren Street and Regent's Park tube stations.Transfers by taxi or rail to and from London airports:Heathrow is 1 hour away by car or 20-30 minutes from Paddington Station using Heathrow Express or the Elizabeth Line.Gatwick & Luton are on the direct train from Kings Cross St Pancras station, which is 2 stops away from Great Portland Street by tube.Stansted is 45 minutes away by train from London Liverpool Street station.A coach service also serves London airports from Victoria Coach Station, 30 minutes away.

Residents are required to keep their room in a safe, clean and respectable state of living: failure to do so may result in disciplinary action.The Housekeeping Team do a termly clean of all washbasins and ensuite bathrooms: cleaning dates will be announced in advance by email. If you prefer to opt out of this free service, or to request additional cleaning at a cost, please contact the property.

At Kennington Lane, the laundry room is on the ground floor. The machines belong to Washstation, and guidance for their usage is displayed in the laundry room. Payment is made via the Laundry app. An iron and ironing board are supplied in the laundry room.

The mailboxes are located on the ground floor. A £10.00 deposit will be charged for the key to access your mailbox.It is possible to have parcels and registered or ‘signed for’ letters delivered to the property. As storage space is limited, please keep this to a minimum. When placing online orders, remember to include your full name, room number and the property's full address.

Please be respectful of other residents and avoid making noise or playing loud music late at night.Noise is to be kept to a minimum in the residence areas and public spaces between 23:00 and 8:00. Failure to comply with this rule will result in disciplinary action.If you are disturbed by excessive noise during the House Quiet Times, please report it to the Duty Manager.

Your room will have a radiator which is controlled by a variety of factors: the property's Heating Times, the external and building temperatures, and the radiator’s own temperature control, if installed.From early October, the heating times will normally be Monday – Friday: 6 - 9am, 12 - 2pm if the outside temperature is below 12 degrees centigrade, and 6 - 10pm. Weekends: 7 - 9am, 12 - 2pm and 6 - 10pm.There will be periods during weekdays when the heating is not switched on, so please do not expect your radiator to work outside of the times listed above. It is not common practice in the UK for heating to be on continuously throughout the night.From mid-April, heating is traditionally switched off. At times of unusually cold or hot weather, adjustments may be made to the heating times mentioned above.The water heating system is switched on from 5am until midnight all year round. After that time, if the remaining hot water in the system is used up, you risk having a cold shower.If the external temperature is higher than 15 degrees centigrade and/or the internal building temperature is higher than 22 degrees, then the heating will not come on. A temperature of 21-22 degrees is considered a comfortable level for indoor heating.Most radiators are fitted with a temperature control valve, usually on the bottom right of the radiator, which will be marked with a numbered dial so you can turn your heating up to 5 on the dial or down.

The property has a responsibility to provide a safe and healthy environment for students, staff and visitors. The property will not condone the possession or supply of any form of drugs and is opposed to the excessive consumption of alcohol. Drinking alcohol in the lobby or the immediate areas outside of the buildings is not permitted.

All electrical items must be in safe working condition and meet the required safety standards. Damaged items should not be used and must be reported. Multi-plug adaptors and overloaded sockets are not permitted, and electrical items should be switched off and unplugged after use. Certain appliances are restricted depending on the building, and new appliances may need to undergo Portable Appliance Testing (PAT). International appliances must use a suitable British Standard fused adapter.

A TV licence is required if you watch or record live television or applicable catch-up/on-demand programmes, including on laptops, tablets, games consoles or mobile phones. The televisions in the bar and common rooms are already licensed, but residents watching television in their rooms need their own licence.

Residents must ensure that electrical equipment is safe, meets current safety standards and is not damaged. Extension leads should be used safely, sockets must not be overloaded, and electrical items should be switched off and unplugged after use. E-scooters and e-bikes with rechargeable batteries are not permitted to be stored in the building. PAT testing is carried out regularly, and residents should check with the Duty Manager before purchasing new appliances.

Fire doors must remain closed and unobstructed, and candles, incense sticks, oil burners and other naked flames are not permitted. Smoke detectors and other fire-safety equipment must not be covered, damaged or tampered with. If the fire alarm sounds, residents must evacuate immediately using the nearest safe exit, without using lifts or collecting belongings, and go to the designated assembly point.

Residents receive a key card for access to the property and their room, and it also serves as a membership card. The card must not be given to anyone else. If it is forgotten, lost or stolen, residents should contact Reception or the Duty Manager. A replacement charge applies for lost or damaged cards, while a stolen card with a valid police crime reference number can be replaced without charge.

Residents at Great Portland Street can rent a kitchen locker to store food and kitchen items, subject to availability. A refundable £20 key deposit is required, although the deposit is forfeited if the key is lost. A maximum of two residents can share a locker, and it must be completely emptied when checking out.

Smoking is prohibited inside the property, except in designated outdoor smoking areas. This also applies to vaping and e-cigarettes. Residents found smoking inside the building or tampering with smoke detectors may face disciplinary action and a fine.

To open a bank account, residents generally need their passport, visa where applicable and a bank letter. The property Reception can provide a letter confirming the resident's London address, but course details must be obtained from the resident's educational institution. Some online banks may not recognise the property's address.

Residents experiencing homesickness, loneliness, depression or other difficulties can speak with a friend, Resident Advisor, university counselling or wellbeing service, or their GP. If these options are not suitable, they can speak with the Dean of Student Life about a property-funded referral. Concerns about another resident's wellbeing should be reported to an RA, staff member, Duty Manager or Dean of Student Life where appropriate.

A Resident Advisor is a student who has previously lived at the property and helps new residents settle into the community. RAs are trained in areas such as basic first aid and mental health awareness, provide information and support, communicate with property staff and help residents get involved in activities and meet others.

Residents who want to change rooms should contact the Accommodation Office and complete a room-move request form. Their name will then be added to the waiting list, and they will be contacted when a suitable room becomes available.

A dedicated study room is available at Great Portland Street, and other suitable rooms may be used for quiet study when available. Residents can also use available study rooms for music practice during the permitted hours. Rooms must be booked or signed for as required, kept clean and used according to the applicable rules. Food and alcoholic drinks are not permitted, and overnight stays are prohibited.

Scholarship applications are made through the property's partner universities and colleges, which are mainly located in London. Students should review the available scholarships and follow the application instructions provided by the relevant institution.

Residents can meet other people through property events and activities, by getting to know their neighbours and by taking part in community activities. Resident Advisors also help new residents settle in and meet other residents.

Some bicycle storage is available at the property. Residents can obtain a bike-shed key from the Duty Manager by paying a £20 deposit. Bicycles are stored at the owner's risk and must only be kept in designated bike sheds; they are not permitted in bedrooms, corridors, stairways or fire exits.

Residents should report any pest sightings to the Duty Manager promptly. Pest-control visits take place weekly, while maintaining good hygiene, cleaning food waste and storing food in sealed containers can help prevent pests.

Residents are responsible for the contents, fixtures and fittings of their rooms and must report damage or maintenance issues when discovered. Residents may be charged for repairs, replacement or cleaning where they are responsible for the damage. In shared rooms, costs may be divided between residents if no individual accepts responsibility.

The property collects and processes residents' personal information for purposes such as applications, accommodation allocation and registration in accordance with UK data-protection laws. Personal information is not normally shared with third parties without consent. However, certain resident details may be provided to Westminster Council for electoral-register purposes where required.

Long-term residents should register with a GP soon after arriving in the UK and will generally need identification and proof of their London address. Short-term students staying for less than six months may need their own medical insurance and may use pharmacies, emergency services and walk-in healthcare. The property also provides information about local health centres, medical costs, vaccinations and other healthcare options.

A Duty Manager is available 24 hours a day, every day of the year, and can assist with a wide range of issues while helping maintain security. Duty Managers are trained in first aid, and many have mental-health first-aid training. They also lead fire evacuations and respond to emergencies, and can assist with matters such as kitchen lockers, luggage storage and bicycle storage.

The Dean of Student Life can provide guidance on budgeting and financial matters. In certain circumstances, eligible residents and students from outside the UK studying at member universities may apply for a small grant or loan through the hardship fund. The property also advertises part-time and temporary job opportunities.

The property provides block Student Possessions Insurance covering residents' belongings inside the building. Residents should review the policy to understand its coverage and exclusions. Additional insurance can be purchased for high-value belongings or for extra protection when items such as bicycles, mobile phones or laptops are taken outside the accommodation.

Residents share communal kitchens and are expected to keep them clean and tidy. Food should be labelled and stored in sealed containers, and expired food may be removed. Cooking must never be left unattended, extractor fans should be used when cooking on hobs, kitchen doors should remain closed and residents must clean the area after use. Specific safety rules also apply to hobs and microwaves, and residents with serious food allergies should inform their cluster residents, Resident Advisor and Duty Managers.