- How do I book?
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You can enquire online using our online booking service or by telephone on 0121 554 7213 from 9am to 12pm and 2pm to 5pm Monday to Friday to speak to a member of our team. Please note that all potential bookings are subject to availability and to contract. You can also use the online form to request an appointment to come along to campus to view. Hamstead Campus is a secure, gated private village. Please make an appointment before planning to visit.
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- Is a reservation fee payable when I book?
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No. Here at HamCam there are no reservation fees or admin fees or security deposits to pay. There is just the rent to pay. Once you have booked your room (if it is a studio flat or a room in a 2 bed or a 5 bed flat) and signed the tenancy contract an Initial Rent Payment is payable by you before we sign the tenancy contract as well. The Initial Rent Payment is part of the rent due under the tenancy contract and is simply rent paid by you in advance - it is not an additional fee or charge or deposit. The standard Initial Rent Payment is £500 towards the rent for a studio flat, £250 towards the rent for a room in a 2 bed flat and £100 towards the rent for a room in a 5 bed flat.
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- Are there any other charges?
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No. Here at Hamcam we don’t take a security deposit and we don't charge reservation or admin fees. You just pay the rent at HamCam - we like to keep things simple.
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- What does my rent include?
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Your rent includes heating, hot water, electricity, contents insurance with Endsleigh (terms and conditions apply) and up to 250MB WiFi broadband. Electricity and gas usage are subject to reasonable use tests.
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- Do you take a deposit?
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No. At HamCam we don't take security deposits However, your room will be inspected on a termly basis and charges may be made for any damages not considered to be reasonable wear and tear.
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- Do I have to pay Council Tax?
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No. Registered, full-time university students are exempt from paying Council Tax. You will need to provide proof of your student status upon application or on arrival. Only full-time registered University students are able to live at Hamstead Campus. Almost all residents are students at Birmingham City University or Aston University.
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- Can I book with my friends?
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We have a range of accommodation available including 2 bed and 5 bed flats. You can book as a group of 5 subject to contract and do ask about any special offers for group booking.
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- Can I choose where I live at Hamstead Campus?
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HamCam offers a range of accommodation types. If you have a preference as to where you would like to live please indicate this at the time of booking and we will do our best to accommodate you. Accommodation will be allocated on a first come first served basis so book early to avoid disappointment!
Hamcam is a vibrant and eclectic student village, it’s a great place to make friends during your time at uni. That said, however, we understand that your home is important and that you may have some preferences around who you share with, for example single sex flats.
HamCam will do its best to accommodate reasonable requests, however, we cannot guarantee that we will be able meet every preference and we will not engage with any requests which are inconsistent with our approach to fairness, privacy and decency.
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- Can I apply if I am a part-time student?
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All students who meet the following council tax exemption definition can apply to live at Hamstead Campus:
"You will usually be considered a full-time student for Council Tax purposes if you are enrolled to attend a course of education lasting for at least one academic or calendar year and which you are normally required to attend for at least 24 weeks out of the year and study for at least 21 hours per week during term time."
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- Can I apply if I am under 18?
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We are not able to accept applications from students who will be under 18 years fo age at the start of the tenancy period.
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- I only have a conditional offer from my university, can I still book a room?
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Yes you can! If you do not receive the grades to be accepted by your chosen university then send us a confirmation of this from the university and your booking will be cancelled.
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- What happens after I book?
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Once we have received your application we will check the information received, credit check your guarantor (if applicable and only with their prior agreement) and discuss with you any further information we may need.
Once the process is complete, we will confirm by email that your room is reserved. We will then contact you again with your tenancy agreement and moving in information.
If you have any queries, please do not hesitate to contact us on 0121 554 7213 or enquiries@ham-cam.com
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- How long is my contract?
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We offer the option of a 44 or 51 week contract as standard. Contracts for studio flats are all for 51 weeks.
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- Can I move in before my course starts?
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If you wish to move in early before your contract starts we will try to accommodate you but this may not be possible. Please note that additional rent will be payable if an early arrival is accommodated. Please contact us for further information.
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- Can I stay after my contract has expired?
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You may be able to extend your stay at Hamstead Campus into the summer months if you wish once your standard contract 44 week contract has expired but this is subject to availability and contract. You should assume that you will need to move out when the initial fixed term of 44 or 51 weeks expires. 51 week contracts expiring in late August or at the start of September cannot be extended - a new tenancy for the following academic year must have been agreed in advance. Please visit the Accommodation Office for details.
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- Can I move out early?
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You can move out of the accommodation but you (and your guarantor if applicable) will remain liable for the full fixed term of the tenancy and you will still need to pay the full rent until the end of the agreement.
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- How do I pay my rent?
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We offer a 1% discount if you pay your rent in 1 instalment all in advance at the start of your tenancy. Alternatively you may pay in 3 termly instalments. A Guarantor is required for this. Payments can be made by online bank transfer (our preferred method) or debit card and must be paid before you receive keys and move in. We do not accept cash. The second and third rent instalments under a standard tenancy contract are normally payable in January and April.
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- What is a guarantor?
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If you wish to pay your rent in 3 termly instalments you will need a guarantor. Your guarantor is liable to pay the rent due under the tenancy contract if you don't pay. Hamstead Campus requires that a Guarantor is a permanent UK resident, in employment and has no CCJs registered against them.
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- What happens if I miss a direct debit payment?
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We no longer take payment by direct debit. Rent payments should be made by online bank transfer or debit card.
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- Do I need a TV licence?
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You need a TV licence if you watch or record television programmes as they're being shown on TV - online, on a TV, or on any device and if use BBC iPlayer. There is a large television room in the Hall which is available for all students to use for which you will not need to purchase a TV licence. TVs provided in 5 person flats also come with a TV licence. For more information on TV licensing please visit http://www.tvlicensing.co.uk/check-if-you-need-one/for-your-home/students-aud1?WT.mc_id=r107&x=0
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- Is insurance included with my contract?
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Yes. We provide insurance cover via Endsleigh Insurance Limited free of charge. This cover includes insurance against theft and fire damage. This cover can be extended to cover accidental damage if you wish. Details of how to register are included in your welcome pack. Terms and conditions apply and the standard cover included is subject to limits and to exclusions.
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- What's in my room?
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Your room is equipped with a bed with mattress and mattress protector, a wardrobe, a set of drawers, a desk, a chair, internal phone, bin and notice board. You will need to bring your own bedding and towels.
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- Is there an internet connection in my room?
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Yes. All rooms have a broadband WiFi service with speeds up to 250MB. This is provided by Glide.
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- Can I smoke?
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No. Hamstead Campus Limited operates a non-smoking policy in all buildings.
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- Can I bring a pet?
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No.
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- Will my room be cleaned?
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No. It is your responsibility to keep your room clean and tidy and not to cause any damage beyond what might reasonably be considered 'wear and tear'.
In the flats, the block communal areas only will be cleaned by our team, the flats are the responsibility of the residents.
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- Can I swap my room?
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Hamstead Campus is normally fully occupied so it is unlikely that you would be able to swap or change your room or flat once you have moved in. If you do wish to move please talk to us as soon as possible and we will see if anything can be accommodated.
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- Is there a laundrette?
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There is a 24 hour low-cost laundrette on site with both washing machines and tumble driers.
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- Are there social facilities on site?
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TV room - A television room is available for residents to enjoy. With a 50" screen and plenty of comfy sofa space we're sure you'll agree it's a great place to relax when you're not studying. Note: this room is not always available, please talk to the team in the office if you wish to use.
Study Rooms - we have 2 study rooms to allow our residents some quiet space to work away from their rooms. Note: these rooms are not always available, please talk to the team in the office if you wish to use.
All Weather Sports Pitch - located to to side of the Village Inn our multi use games area (MUGA) has an all weather surface. Please note that use is strictly at your own risk.
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- Can I have overnight guests?
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You may have 1 overnight guest stay in your room. Guests are welcome for a maximum of 3 nights in any 7. You must sign in all guests/visitors at security where you will be handed a guest pass. This process is for your own safety so that we know how many people are on campus in the event of an emergency.
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- Is the accommodation single sex?
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All flats on campus are available to mixed or single sex groups according to your preference. HamCam is a friendly, diverse and inclusive student village.
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- Is parking available?
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Yes - limited parking is available on a first come first served basis. Hamstead Campus takes no responsibility for loss or damage.
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- Is there cycling storage on site?
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There are two secure cycle stores on site. Please visit the Accommodation Office to obtain a key at a cost of £5 (refundable when you return the key).
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- What is security like?
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We take the security and well-being of all students seriously. Our security team are here to provide a professional, friendly service to all our residents.
Security are available 24/7/365 in the main Hall reception area and are here not only to make sure everyone is safe on campus but also to provide customer service out of office hours - fire alarms, maintenance enquiries, lost keys etc.
Our security team is an in-house (not outsourced) team of experienced security professionals.
HamCam is a gated private student village with full CCTV coverage.
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- How do I report a problem with my room?
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Email repairs@ham-cam.com
We have an onsite Accommodation Office next to the security desk in the Main Hall building which is open normally Monday to Friday between 9am and 5pm. You can email repairs@ham-cam.com with details of any fault.
Our onsite maintenance team can resolve most issues and you will be kept informed of progress until the issue is resolved.
For maintenance enquiries outside of office hours you can contact Security who will take a note and advise the accommodation team of any issues reported out of office hours or arrange for immediate assistance in case of an emergency repair. In the case of an EMERGENCY call security on 0121 5238939 or visit them in the main Hall reception area.
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- Got another question?
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If you have any questions that have not been answered above please contact us on 0121 554 7213 between 9am and 5pm Monday to Friday or by emailing enquiries@ham-cam.com and we'll get back to you as soon as we can.
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