University Code of Conduct for Livers Out

Maintaining contact with your college

Students who “live-out” remain members of their college and are encouraged to enjoy the privileges and responsibilities of membership of those communities no less than those who “live-in’. In addition to providing a focus for social and recreational life, and a place to collect your mail, your college remains an important point of contact with the University on official academic matters, pastoral support issues and, in addition, people must be able to get a message to you in an emergency. It is therefore essential that your college be kept informed of your correct term-time address and telephone numbers.

Crime

Durham is by and large a very safe place to live in. However, crime does occur and quite often this is targeted towards student residences. Thieves will look for lap top computers and mobile phones. They very rarely use forced entry but will look for easy opportunities such as windows left open and mobiles and laptops left on desks in front of open windows. Please be vigilante and take precautions to protect your property. If you need advice on securing you’re home, the police have deployed an excellent University Liaison Officer, Phil Raine, who can be contacted by email at philip.raine@durham.pnn.police.uk. As a liver out, you will probably not be part of a large group. Please bear in mind the need to walk around town in company late at night. These are just basic precautions and are not meant to imply that you are more at threat as a liver out.

On being good neighbours

Some neighbours may not be familiar with the University or with the pressures and exuberance of student life. You and your housemates may be their only contact with the University. The University and all your fellow students will, therefore, be judged by your behaviour. It is extremely important that you establish and maintain good relations with your neighbours (and they with you). The goodwill of all residents is essential for ‘Town and Gown” relations and in any case you will derive greater pleasure from living out if you get on well with your neighbours. Relationships between local residents and students are not necessarily a source of antipathy. Most Durham City residents choose to live here because they enjoy the vibrancy of a University town. Consider joining or supporting your local residents association as this will provide you with an opportunity to contribute to your neighbourhood. Remember that you are an important part of the community.

Noise

Excessive noise, at any time, but particularly late at night, is very un-neighbourly and can cause great distress. It is especially disturbing to those whose working day starts and finishes earlier than yours or who need an undisturbed night, particularly between Sunday night and Friday morning which are for most people their working week. Do please respect the needs of others, particularly in terraced houses with thin walls and keep radios, TVs and music at low volume. If you have a party at your home, remember to inform your neighbours and to promise them that it will finish at a reasonable specified time. During summer months, please remember that noise from garden parties can be excessive even if this is just normal conversation levels.  Fireworks should not be let off late in the evening and certainly not during the early hours of the morning as this is a criminal offence. You should be aware that any citizen who is repeatedly disturbed by excessive noise or other unacceptable behaviour may also contact the Environmental Health Office or the Police who have recently been granted extensive new powers in dealing with anti-social activities, as well as the Universities own Community Liaison Patrol.

Drunkenness

A significant proportion of complaints received from local residents relates to disorderly behavior resulting from drunkenness. The easiest way to avoid this type of behavior is to avoid excessive consumption of alcohol. Most Durham city houses do not have front gardens and therefore rowdy and drunken behavior on the streets causes considerable disturbance and distress to local residents. This includes distress to elderly residents and families with young children. Unfortunately, this type of rowdy and drunken behavior has all too regularly led to criminal damage to resident’s property. Any incidences of this type will be dealt with both by the Police, with whom the University shares information, and Colleges. In extreme circumstances, where the University is deemed to have been brought into serious disrepute, this may lead to rustication or expulsion.

Parking

The other major source of complaint by non-student residents is the inconsiderate use and parking of cars or other vehicles. The General Regulations of the University require that all students bringing vehicles to Durham City must make satisfactory arrangements for the parking or garaging of such vehicles and must obtain a vehicle licence from the University and display a University car badge on the windscreen if needing to park on University premises. Residents find it inconvenient and annoying if they can never park in front of their own home because another car is parked there on a long-term basis. You may also live within a City Parking Scheme area where a parking permit is to be obtained through the Council Authority (NCP) tel: 0191 3846633. Please be aware that street parking permits will not be issued to properties which benefit from off street parking for two or more vehicles.

Rubbish

All residents need to dispose of household waste and Durham County Council provides this service. Make sure you know the collection day for your “wheelie bin”, you must place your waste out at the waste collection area, and replace it in the boundary of your property on the same day, failure to do this may constitute a fixed penalty notice which can be severe. If you have large amounts of rubbish at the end of the year you should contact the County Council Help-line (0191) 3018669 who will book in any extra waste; this is a chargeable service. Please note if you are found to leave large amounts of waste outside your property this also may constitute a fixed penalty notice for Fly-Tipping. Please also note the days when recycling boxes are emptied and ensure that they are placed correctly outside of your residence. For further information please contact the Senior Neighbourhood Warden on (0191) 301 8205 or 07971569771.

University - City Liaison and the Code of Conduct

Residents who have cause to complain of student behaviour or students needing help with their neighbours may contact the City Liaison Officer in the University Office or the Bursar at Queen’s Campus, Stockton as appropriate, who will, if necessary, advise your Head of House. For Durham only in the evenings and overnight there is a Hotline number (0191 334 2222) for all residents (local people and students) to contact the Community Liaison Patrol who act under the authority of the University and whose involvement should be respected. Please be assured that the patrol sees their major role and helping and supporting students.

If disciplinary action via remonstration and fines proves ineffective (and it is hoped that there will be no such case), the College or University authorities are empowered to deal with the matter as a potential major offence, for which the penalty can be rustication or expulsion.