List of Penalties for Students in Accommodation
Fire Breaches
At Canterbury Christ Church University, our priority is protecting the health, safety and wellbeing of our students.
The following table outlines the defined list of unsafe behaviours and staged level of penalties for breaching fire, health and safety requirements within the Accommodation Licence Agreement.
If your actions represent criminal behaviour, such as deliberately starting a fire in or near your accommodation, the incident will be reported to the police and you will be issued with a Notice to Quit forgoing any prior stages.
If you are issued with a Notice to Quit you will have 14 days to appeal in writing to accommodation@canterbury.ac.uk. Support from our Student Wellbeing Advisers will be available to those who are in serious or persistent breach for financial guidance and emotional support.
To support the penalty, the exact date and time the breach has been identified will be recorded as well as the room and flat/house number where the unsafe behaviour has been witnessed, with photographic evidence being sought (where applicable) by the staff member who observes the breach.
In addition to the assigned penalty and where relevant to the situation, the student/s responsible for the breach may be required to pay restitution (payment to replace or repair items damaged) as a result of the unsafe behaviour.
The University reserves the right to take action on a case-by-case basis depending on the severity of the breach or extent of damage caused, including where there are multiple breaches on the same occasion.
Minor breaches |
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Unsafe behaviour that would lead to a minor breach |
1st Instance
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2nd Instance
Written warning and enrolment on Kent Fire and Rescue Service Fire Awareness Course
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3rd Instance (or failure to attend fire awareness course) A formal warning will be provided in writing advising that a Notice to Quit will be issued if a further breach is observed.
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Ongoing issues or 4th Instance
Notice to Quit will be issued in writing.
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Accidental fire alarm activation e.g., aerosols, hair styling equipment, cooking.
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Possession/use of cooking equipment (e.g., toasters, microwaves, kettles) and/or mini fridges in bedrooms.
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Possession/use of fairy lights anywhere in the accommodation. |
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Unacceptable levels of waste which contribute to fire risk in kitchen and/or the accommodation.
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Unacceptable build-up of cooking fats/oil on hobs, in oven or within cooking receptacles. |
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Major breaches |
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Unsafe Behaviours that would lead to a major breach
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1st Instance
Written warning and enrolment on Kent Fire and Rescue Service Fire Awareness Course
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2nd Instance (or failure to attend fire awareness course)
A formal warning will be provided in writing advising that a Notice to Quit will be issued if a further breach is observed.
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Ongoing issues or 3rd Instance
A Notice to Quit will be issued in writing.
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Smoking or vaping, or evidence of (including illegal substances) in any part of the property, (whether or not a fire alarm is set off).
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Use of candles, tea lights, incense sticks or similar materials in the accommodation or other parts of property. |
√ As well as confiscation of candles, tea lights, incense sticks or similar materials |
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Possession/use of dangerous or flammable substances in accommodation e.g., gases, NO2 canisters, highly flammable liquids, fireworks etc. |
√ As well as confiscation of dangerous or flammable substances |
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Possession of / unauthorised use of a BBQ anywhere within the grounds of University accommodation. |
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Isolating or tampering with alarm or security devices installed for the purposes of life safety. |
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Deliberately setting off fire alarms e.g., tampering with break glass call points. |
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Deliberately tampering with emergency door release systems e.g., green break glass call points. |
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Deliberately tampering with firefighting equipment or setting off fire extinguishers. |
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Obstructing or blocking escape routes e.g., placing waste, furniture, bedding etc. in flat hallways, entrance lobbies or communal areas. |
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Making a fire door ineffective e.g., removing or tampering with closing devices, intentional damage to any part of the door or frame, propping open fire doors to bedrooms, kitchens, flats etc. or covering vision panels (where present). |
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Deliberately removing statutory fire signage e.g., green directional signage, fire action notices, fire extinguisher ID signage etc. |
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Possession/use of deep fat fryers in accommodation. |
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In possession an e-scooter, e-bike (or similar powered transporter) in accommodation (excludes mobility scooters/electric wheelchairs or equipment used for the purposes of accessibility). |
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Failing to respond to a fire alarm in a reasonable timeframe or where intervention required from response team to request student leaves during an unplanned activation or planned fire drill. |
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Severe breachesNote that If your actions represent criminal behaviour, such as deliberately starting a fire in or near your accommodation, the incident will be reported to the police and you will be issued with a Notice to Quit forgoing any prior stages.
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Unsafe Behaviours that would lead to a severe breach
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1st Instance
Written warning and enrolment on Kent Fire and Rescue Service Fire Awareness Course
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2nd Instance (or failure to attend fire awareness course) Notice to Quit will be issued in writing. |
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Covering or tampering with a fire detector to make it ineffective in room/flat/accommodation. |
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Causing a fire (where students’ unsafe actions solely contributed to the cause e.g., smoking, use of candles, cooking with deep fat fryer). |
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Isolating fire detection equipment e.g., disconnecting devices, turning off at fuse boards etc. |
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Behaviour Breaches
At Canterbury Christ Church University, we want to ensure all of our students living in our accommodation are safe free from disruptions and discrimination. In our accommodation we expect respect and want to support our students to co-operate and interact positively with each other according to our Accommodation Licence.
The following table lists unacceptable behaviours which are breaches of your Accommodation Licence Agreement. This list is not exhaustive, and other behaviours which may constitute a breach may not be listed here directly. The University reserves the right to take action on a case-by-case basis depending on the severity of the breach or extent of damage/disruption caused, including where there are multiple breaches on the same occasion.
It must be noted that students who have a breached the Accommodation Licence Agreement forfeit their eligibility to return to University Approved Accommodation as a returning student.
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Breach of Licence Agreement
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1st Instance
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2nd Instance
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3rd Instance
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Unacceptable noise disturbance in accommodation or vicinity
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Informal warning will be provided in writing and advice from the Accommodation Team. Nuisance Diary to be filled out by complaintive.
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A formal warning will be provided in writing advising that a Notice to Quit or referral to Student Disciplinary Procedures will be issued if a further breach is observed. Disciplinary Meeting with Accommodation Team with formal warning issued. |
Student Disciplinary Procedure or Notice to Quit. |
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Damage to property or contents |
Informal warning will be provided in writing and advice from the Accommodation Team. Repair/replacement costs or NTQ if excessive. |
A formal warning will be provided in writing advising that a Notice to Quit or referral to Student Disciplinary Procedures will be issued if a further breach is observed. Disciplinary Meeting with Accommodation Team with formal warning issued. Repair/replacement costs or Notice to Quit if excessive. |
Student Disciplinary Procedure or Notice to Quit. Repair/replacement costs. |
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Untidy, unhygienic, hazardous Accommodation, or any other part of the property |
24hrs for students to clean, or if University staff clean, students to pay cleaning charges at a set hourly rate. Costs may increase based on cleaning needed, and if a pest contractor is needed. |
As per first incident. A formal warning will be provided in writing advising that a Notice to Quit or referral to Student Disciplinary Procedures will be issued if a further breach is observed. Disciplinary Meeting with Accommodation Team with formal warning issued. |
As per first incident. Student Disciplinary Procedure or Notice to Quit.
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Accidental damage to property e.g. stained mattress |
Replacement costs per items that needs replaced. |
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Sharing or subletting accommodation (over 2 nights a week) |
Informal warning will be provided in writing and advice from the Accommodation Team. Visitor suspension. |
A formal warning will be provided in writing advising that a Notice to Quit or referral to Student Disciplinary Procedures will be issued if a further breach is observed. Disciplinary Meeting with Accommodation Team with formal warning issued. Visitor suspension. |
Student Disciplinary Procedure or Notice to Quit. |
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Breach of visitor regulations/ unacceptable behaviour by visitors |
Informal warning will be provided in writing and advice from the Accommodation Team. Visitor suspension. |
A formal warning will be provided in writing advising that a Notice to Quit or referral to Student Disciplinary Procedures will be issued if a further breach is observed. Disciplinary Meeting with Accommodation Team with formal warning issued. Visitor suspension. |
Student Disciplinary Procedure or Notice to Quit. |
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Possession, use, or allowing others to use:
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Student Disciplinary Procedure or Notice to Quit or other appropriate action, including report to police. This could lead to criminal prosecution, which can impact some careers or visa access to other countries. |
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Misuse of accommodation key card (lending to another person etc.) |
Informal warning will be provided in writing and advice from the Accommodation Team. |
A formal warning will be provided in writing advising that a Notice to Quit or referral to Student Disciplinary Procedures will be issued if a further breach is observed. Disciplinary Meeting with Accommodation Team with formal warning issued. Visitor suspension.
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Student Disciplinary Procedure or Notice to Quit. |
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Loss of accommodation key/ card |
Replacement costs. |
Informal warning will be provided in writing and advice from the Accommodation Team. Replacement costs. |
A formal warning will be provided in writing. Replacement costs. |
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Access to flat - forgotten card / key |
Reminder/advice from security. |
Reminder/advice from Security |
If excessive or persistent - Informal warning will be provided in writing and advice from the Accommodation Team |
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Conduct - Minor Offences (Includes drunk & disorderly behaviour, excessive unreasonable noise) |
Informal warning will be provided in writing and advice from the Accommodation Team. |
A formal warning will be provided in writing advising that a Notice to Quit or referral to Student Disciplinary Procedures will be issued if a further breach is observed. Disciplinary Meeting with Accommodation Team with formal warning issued. |
Student Disciplinary Procedure or Notice to Quit |
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Conduct - Major Offences (violence, harassment, weapons possession, theft, noise abatement orders, criminal prosecutions, offences bring the University into disrepute) |
Student Disciplinary Procedure or Notice to Quit or other appropriate action, including report to police. This could lead to criminal prosecution, which can impact some careers or visa access to other countries. |
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Verbal abuse to fellow residents, staff or contractors |
Each case will be considered depending on the circumstances, and action could range from a formal warning, referral to Student Disciplinary Procedure or Notice to Quit. |
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Cumulative breaches of licence obligations or misuses of accommodation |
Informal warning will be provided in writing and advice from the Accommodation Team. |
A formal warning will be provided in writing advising that a Notice to Quit or referral to Student Disciplinary Procedures will be issued if a further breach is observed. Disciplinary Meeting with Accommodation Team with formal warning issued. |
Student Disciplinary Procedure or Notice to Quit . |
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Failure to attend a meeting with the Accommodation department, when requested without a valid reason, may result in a decision being made in a student’s absence. We reserve the right to move a student to another residence as an interim measure, (as per Licence agreement section E.3.b.ii) if viewed appropriate by the University, during investigations. |
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APPEALS A student can appeal an outcome within 14 days by sending their reasons for appeal and any supporting evidence by email to accommodation@canterbury.ac.uk. For a
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