Please take the time to read these notes carefully, as failure to do so could cause you problems or unnecessary expense. England is different from other countries. There are some differences in housing and in how utilities work.

1. Heating – We British live in colder houses. British properties are not designed to have heat on maximum except in cold weather. We recommend that you do not turn your central heating on until the weather is cold. Remember utility bills are paid up to £10 a week (a high level). Please remember to turn heating off in vacation times.
2. Plumbing – British toilets are not the same as you are used to. You have to press the handle down firmly and hold it in place for 10 seconds.
3. Electrical switches – Please take time to read the instructions about your heating before calling to tell us that it does not work. All appliances have been tested and are in working order. If you have trouble with any utility, please ask another student (if possible British) to check it first. Often, it turns out not to be turned on properly. This will save you and us time and expense.
4. You will be given on arrival a room inventory form. Please take time to write down any damage to walls etc; it is also your responsibility to leave your room clean, tidy and empty of rubbish when you leave as any damage to room, furniture, etc. and extra cleaning costs will be charged to you at the end of term.
5. Cleaning – Cleaners will thoroughly clean each house at the start of each term. Maintaining cleaning is the students’ responsibility. Cleaning extends to common areas only and does not include your private bedroom (this is at the request of most students) or washing dishes. Using aluminum foil under the hot plates of the stove, in grill pans and on the base of ovens saves a lot of unnecessary work for the cleaners and your stove will work better for you. Please do your part to keep the common rooms tidy – beer cans should be deposited in bins (waste basket) rather than on the floor.
6. Breakdown/Repairs – Please call the WISC office first on 201132 and ask for housing. It is important that you realize that the property owner will only pay for the repair if it is due to normal use. If the repair is caused by misuse or damage then you will be billed.
7. Parties – Please remember that you will be living in predominantly residential areas. You should at all times have a considerate approach to both your co-tenants and neighbours; in particular, do not hold large parties in flats as damage is inevitably caused which is expensive to put right. Parties running on late into the night (after midnight unless they are quiet) are not acceptable. Small parties (when you get to know the people) are better socially.
8. Noise should be kept to a minimum at all times but particularly after 11.00 p.m. Windows should be kept shut when playing music, especially at night.
9. Keys – please take care not to lock yourselves out. If you do lose your key another student can usually let you in or you can phone WISC to get a spare during office hours. These flats have security locks and duplicate keys cost a lot. If you are locked out at night, agree with a friend beforehand to let you sleep on his or her couch for the night.
10. Refuse storage and collection – All students will be advised of the relevant refuse collection day. Refuse should only be stored in bins provided; bin bags should not be left on the pavement or in drives prior to collection day.
11. Bulbs in your flat will eventually burn out (they are sometimes “liberated” by visitors). Replacement of the interior bulbs are the students’ responsibility; they are available in most grocery and hardware shops.
12. Hanging pictures/posters – please only use sticky tack to affix posters/pictures since other products will damage the walls. If you wish to purchase and use a pinboard (bulletin board), the Housing Office will arrange appropriate mountings and refund the cost with a receipt.
13. Ventilation – the climate in Oxford is damp. It is necessary to keep a current of fresh air, so please try to leave windows open whenever possible except when playing music. (Do not leave windows open if you live on the ground floor and are not at home).
14. Security – please do not leave main doors to your residence open. Try to be security conscious at all times on behalf of both yourself and your co-tenants.
15. Towels, (because of their personal nature) toilet paper, washing liquids, expired light bulbs and bin bags are the responsibility of the students. Sheets, pillow cases and blankets are provided and must be cleaned at the end of your stay ready for the next students.
16. Fire precautions/Procedures – all students should be made aware of fire precautions; an advice form will be included in your orientation pack.
17. Fire doors will not work if they are not kept closed. This is why they are fitted with self-closers. It is particularly important that doors to high risk areas such as kitchens are not wedged open.
18. Please be careful when cooking, especially toast and stir fry, as excessive smoke will set off the alarm. False alarm call-outs are costly, noisy, and totally avoidable.
19. Please do not wedge foreign objects in the alarm; it is vital to your safety (and the safety of others!) that you do not ignore or silence the alarm.
20. Bedbugs or other insects will appear in a house once in a while. They are a plague in university houses all over Britain. We will do our best to remove them. We may have to move students to another house for a few days. As with other acts of nature (e.g. floods, fires, etc.), we cannot be responsible for such events.
21. Unlike all the other overseas programs in Oxford, we have our own housing staff to make basic repairs. However, students should remember that some repairs cannot be done immediately (spare parts may be needed, etc.) and may take a few days. 
22. Let us know right away if you have a housing problem of any kind and we will do our best to fix it as soon as possible; we are sometimes dependent on landlords but we will press them to work fast.