Graduate Accommodation
The College aims to provide subsidised accommodation for its Research and other Graduate Students but does not guarantee this. Priority is given to those who are coming to Cambridge for the first time.
Room Allocation
Single graduate students will normally, so far as space permits, be offered a room in a College house. The College also has a small number of partnered flats. Graduate rooms and flats are located in Chesterton Road, Alpha Road and Newnham Road. Students are offered College accommodation for a maximum of 3 years and 11 months during their period of graduate study (even if they choose more than one graduate degree).
Tenancy Agreements
Graduate accommodation is managed by the Head Housekeeper and the Rooms Coordinator, who will issue you with an annual tenancy agreement. Graduates can request a change of room at the end of each year. If, at any point, you wish to request a change of room, please make an appointment with the Rooms Coordinator: email md291@cam.ac.uk Should you wish to suspend your accommodation for a period of research leave, or terminate your agreement, you will need to write one month in advance to the Rooms Coordinator.
Cleaning
The College will clean communal areas such as landings, halls, bathrooms and kitchens. Rooms are not cleaned by the College, but cleaning equipment (such as vacuum cleaners) is provided.
Furniture
The College furnishes rooms with a standard set of furniture at no charge. We do not allow students to bring their own furniture into College rooms; nor must furniture be removed from any room. However, we do respond positively to requests for replacement of worn or broken pieces of furniture.
Room Inventory
The Rooms Coordinator holds an inventory of the contents of each room. The inventory includes all furniture, furnishings and fittings. A copy of the Room Report is given to each new occupant of a room.
Heating and Lighting
In shared houses or flats, the Head Tenant is responsible for paying the bill to the relevant company supplying the gas and electricity. Couples, or those living in single flats, are responsible for paying their own bills.
Residents at St Regis House and 34-38 Newham Road are billed monthly - the bill being split equally between all residents.
All gas appliances are gas safety checked once a year and all boilers serviced annually.
Waste and Refuse Disposal
All the properties have wheelie-bins which are collected by the City Council.
The residents are responsible for putting bins out for collection on the correct day and taking them in after collection.
Telephones
Telephone points are installed in all student rooms.
Television Licences
It is your responsibility to obtain a TV licence for any TV brought into College. Your home address licence will not cover you and there is no College-wide cover. TV licensing authorities make checks on a regular basis and students are personally liable for any fines imposed.
Cars
Car parking is available at the St Regis site. At Queen Edith’s Way there are garages and a driveway but all other accommodation falls in "resident only" parking areas and the City Council do not issue permits to students. If you bring a car to Cambridge you will need to obtain a Motor Proctor Licence from the University. Parking is very limited and there is no overnight parking for guests.
Maintenance and Fault Reporting
Maintenance and repairs to all College buildings and graduate housing is controlled by the Buildings Office team. All requests for maintenance repairs (for example broken windows, water leaks, electrical failures, heating problems etc) are made through a computerized reporting system. This can be accessed on-line via the College network http://www.clare.cam.ac.uk/maintenance/
Council Tax
Students in full time education are usually exempt from Council Tax. Graduate students living with non-student partners are liable to Council Tax, with some exceptions. If you need a Council Tax exemption letter, please contact the Graduate Administrator, Jenny Colling at jc661@cam.ac.uk