accommodation at link house trust

On arrival, there will need to be payment of the rental for the remainder of the current month, plus one month’s rent, paid in advance. At the end of the tenancy, charges may be deducted from the rent paid in advance for any damage to property and/or furnishings. Lost or non-returned keys will incur a replacement cost.

Rents are payable monthly on the 1st day of the month and are inclusive of heating, hot water, lighting and use of washing machine and dryer. Wi-fi is provided free of charge. Rents are payable during periods of absence.

Residency is granted initially for a maximum of one year. Any extension is at the discretion of the Wardens. One month’s notice, emailed to wardens@linkhousetrust.com, is required by residents intending to leave Link House permanently. Link House Trust reserves the right to charge one month’s rent in lieu of this notice. Link House Trust will give two months’ notice if it requires a resident to leave.

The houses are well equipped with communal kitchens, dining areas and living rooms. A communal television and DVD player are available in each house. If students have their own TVs in their rooms or watch live TV or BBC catch up service (even on laptops, tablets or phones) they must purchase a TV licence in their own name. This is a legal requirement in the UK and it is an offence not to do so.

The Garden Room is available for residents to use for communal, social or other suitable purposes. It has a table tennis table, gym equipment, and facilities to make hot drinks and to serve and eat food. It is bookable in advance through the Wardens. The room cannot be booked by a resident to host large individual gatherings. The Garden room should be vacated by 10:30pm.

For hygiene reasons, no food may be kept, prepared or cooked in rooms. Each resident is allocated storage space in a kitchen cupboard, refrigerator and freezer for storage purposes, and the kitchens are fully equipped for food preparation.

Residents are responsible for cleaning and tidying their own rooms, storage space and whatever they use in the kitchen. Before vacating a room, the room will be inspected by the Wardens to ensure it is left in the same good and clean condition as when it was originally occupied; this includes furniture and fittings and allocated kitchen storage spaces. Charges will be made against any damage or neglect of the room. All rooms will also be inspected for maintenance and decoration purposes on a regular basis. Access to residents’ rooms may occasionally be required for the purpose of undertaking essential work or maintenance.

Furniture, fittings, pillows, duvets and bed linen are provided in each room by Link House Trust. Residents are responsible for cleaning their own bed linen.

As washing machines, dryers and washing lines are provided for the sole use of residents, clothes may not be washed or dried in rooms. There is no additional charge for this but residents must provide their own washing powder.

The houses are all centrally heated and a warm temperature is maintained for the comfort of all residents.

All residents are required to be responsible with their use of utilities, water, gas and electricity and participate in the refuse recycle scheme set by the local authority.

Residents are responsible for arranging insurance for personal belongings, if required.

All residents are required to assist in the security of the house by ensuring doors are closed properly when exiting the property and closing opened lower floor windows when leaving unoccupied rooms.

Residents are responsible for reading fire notices and making themselves familiar with fire escape routes. Fire alarms and emergency lights will be tested on a weekly basis at the time advised.

Residents are responsible for cleaning their own rooms, en-suites and toilets. Walls should not be defaced by fixing pictures, etc. with nails, sellotape or adhesive pads.

For the sake of other residents, everyone must wash up and put away kitchen utensils immediately after use to ensure the kitchen is left clean and tidy. A rota for basic kitchen cleaning duties is posted and all residents are expected to participate.

Smoking, alcohol and the use of illegal drugs is forbidden in the houses, garden room and grounds. Smoking is only allowed in the designated outside area.

Communal areas (lounge, dining room, laundry, etc.) should be tidied after use.

Heaters must not be used in bedrooms without the permission of the Wardens.

In the interests of safety no candles, incense or naked flames are permitted in bedrooms. Also for safety reasons, cooking and kettles are not permitted in bedrooms. Personal electrical appliances, laptops, hair driers, phone chargers, etc. must meet UK standards and residents are responsible for their safe usage.

No animals may be kept.

Because of Cambridge City Council regulations, there is no parking for residents of Link House, and breaches of these regulations could have serious consequences for the Trust. In signing a tenancy agreement residents at The Lodge, East Hertford Street and Chesterton Road agree not to:

· keep or control a car in Cambridge,
· park a motor vehicle in the garden between 17/19 Chesterton Road and 7 East Hertford Street or
in the surrounding residential streets,
· apply for or seek to obtain a resident’s on-street parking permit in Cambridge.

To enable the Wardens to maintain their care and responsibility for all residents, day visitor numbers may not exceed 3 per resident unless arranged in advance with the house Warden and no visitors may be on the premises between 11.00pm and 8am.

All resident’s rooms are let on a strictly single occupancy basis, and no overnight guests, sharing or sub-letting is permitted. Visitors from out of town may stay in the designated guest rooms only, at a charge of £20-35 per night. The guest room needs to be pre-booked (in writing, by email) with the Wardens, and bookings are granted on a first-come-first-served basis. Only guests are allowed to stay in the guest rooms.

Visitors and guests are not allowed in the kitchen or laundry.

General good conduct, in keeping with the ethos of the Trust is expected. Residents deliberately breaking conditions may be given two months’ notice. In situations of gross misconduct (risk to property/person) residents may be asked to leave immediately. Serious breaches of the tenancy agreement and failure to comply with the agreed conditions of residency, as determined by the wardens and/or Trustees, may result in the tenancy agreement being terminated. Any query in the interpretation of the terms of this agreement should be discussed with the Wardens in the first instance. If the matter cannot be resolved it shall be taken to the Trustees who will have the final say.

No business may be operated from Link House properties by residents.