Our mission

We know that moving away from home for the first time can be daunting, especially if you’re not going to the same university as your friends. You can download the Student Roost resident app before you arrive to start to chat to other students in your property and prepare for your new adventure. Search for ‘Student Roost’ in your phone’s app store to download.

Our commitment to your wellbeing starts as soon as you book a room with us. Our property team will look at your year of study, as well as your age and any specific preferences you have outlined and match you to a room as close as possible to what you’re looking for. We can’t always guarantee we’ll meet every one of your preferences, as certain properties and room types sell out quickly, but our property teams will always do their best to ensure you are given a room that best supports a positive living experience.

Starting university and moving away from home is a big decision to make, so it’s completely understandable that you may experience feelings of anxiety. Remember that you’re not alone with the way you’re feeling, and there will be thousands of students across the UK who feel the same. There’s some great advice on preparing for university on the Student Minds website here, and our property teams are available 24/7 to answer any questions you may have about your Roost.

The current economic climate is a worry for many people, especially students. At Student Roost, all bills and super-fast Wi-Fi is already included in the price of your rent, so there’s no hidden costs and no nasty surprises. We’ve even got you covered with contents insurance, if something does go wrong. Our property teams are available 24/7 to help with any questions or worries you may have about money, and can also direct you to the support available at your university or organisations and charities who can provide further advice.

It’s understandable that you feel this way, as there are a lot of changes to be made when you move to university. Things like finding and registering with a doctor, knowing where the nearest supermarket is, and where the closest transport links are to your property are important to know before arriving. That’s why, on your Student Roost account, we’ve already put this information together for you. You can access this information at any time throughout your stay.

Please make sure you complete your induction as soon as it’s available on your account. This contains important information about your arrival, what to expect and how to access the property. You can also access our partner UniKitOut, where you can purchase bedding and kitchen packs to be waiting for you when you arrive to check in.

A banned item is anything that will pose a risk to the health and safety of the building, residents, and team members. You may not be aware that an item(s) you have, or plan to bring with you, is banned, so please do check what items and objects are listed in the ‘What items/objects are banned?’ FAQ below. 
 

What items/objects are banned? 

• Weapons (including replica weapons) and firearms 
• Drugs 
• Candles, incense sticks (also known as joss sticks), shisha pipes, portable gas, oil burning fires 
• Deep fat fryers, chip pans, grills, barbeques, portable hobs/cooking appliances 
• Flammable goods, materials or substances such as petrol, lighter fluid, gas cannisters and nitrous oxide (known as laughing gas) 
• Electrical heaters, large fans and air conditioning units 
• Large electrical appliances such as washing machines and portable washing machines, dryers, dishwashers and fridges/mini fridges (unless approved for medical use) 
• Animals and pets that do not fall under our Assistance Animal Policy (please contact your property directly if you have questions regarding this policy) 
   

It says I can’t bring a fridge/mini fridge, but I need one to store medication 
If you require a fridge/mini fridge in your room for medical use, you will need to notify your property team so they are aware and can ensure deliveries of medication and/or equipment are received and given to you as soon as possible.  

 
Can I bring an electric scooter/bike to my property? 
Yes, these are not banned items but they must be stored in a suitable place or in your property’s bike store. Please do not leave them in flat or communal corridors as they pose a fire safety risk.  

The first thing to remember when you feel this way is that your feelings are valid, and it’s okay to not be okay. If you feel comfortable talking to someone, our property team members are available 24/7 and can provide advice and support when you need it, as well as signposting you to specialist organisations and charities or university support. If you’d prefer not to talk just yet, you can download the Hub of Hope app by simply scanning the QR code on the posters throughout your property. From there, you can search for tailored support available in your area.

If you feel able to, try talking to your flatmates about how you feel. They may also be experiencing similar feelings, which you can work through together and establish a friendship. We always encourage open and honest communication between flatmates, as disputes can be resolved much easier if this takes place, and fall outs are often caused by misunderstandings or lack of communication. If you don’t feel like you can talk to your flatmates, our property teams are available 24/7 and will always find the time to talk, and chat through the options available to you.

In the first instance, we would recommend reaching out to them, to see if they feel comfortable talking to you about how they feel. If you have serious concerns for their wellbeing and safety, as well as the safety of others, then you can download the Hub of Hope app to access the most suitable charity or organisation for guidance. We would also recommend contacting your university student services as they will have a team available to support you and your flatmate/friend during this time. Don't forget you can always speak to your property team, too.

Moving away from home to study at university is hard, and it can take you a while to adjust to this new way of life. You are not alone in feeling this way, and many of our residents will also be feeling the same. You can attend property events to meet new people, or download the Student Roost app to connect with other residents in your property. Our property team are also always available if you feel comfortable talking to someone in person. They’ll listen, support, and advise, and can also direct you to different sources of support if you need it. Your property team will also let you know of any upcoming events. This can be a great way of meeting new friends that may be feeling the same way as you.

The transition from studying at college to university level can be daunting for many people, and it can take time to adjust to a new way of learning. If you feel comfortable to speak to your course leader or tutor, they will understand how you’re feeling and can provide advice and support. Many of our team members also studied, or are currently studying, at university, and will be more than happy to take some time to chat to you about their university experience. You can also download Hub of Hope app if you’d prefer not to directly speak to someone about how you’re feeling.

Please speak to your property team as soon as possible, so they can investigate and take the appropriate action. 

Please speak to your property team directly. They will assess your item and if it falls under our banned items policy, they will ask you to remove it within a certain number of days. Failure to do so will result in your property team removing the item and, depending on the nature of the item, informing your university and/or the local authorities.  

We talk about signposting a lot when it comes to wellbeing. This means giving someone information that they would benefit from, based on what they need. This could be providing contact information of a local organisation, showing them a leaflet, or a website, or putting them in touch with their university services. The information given as part of signposting, will depend on the concern of the resident. Our teams are dedicated to supporting residents to find the right support, but they cannot offer the specialist advice that, for example, a trained mental health professional could - so we will always signpost to relevant services, including those that can be found on the Hub of Hope app.

As a parent or guardian, it can be a worrying time when your loved one leaves home to study at university. At all Student Roost properties, team members are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year, access to the building and flats is by key card only, and we work closely with the emergency services in our cities should the need to contact them arise. If you are able to, we recommend visiting the property so you can see the measures we have in place and can settle any concerns. If you are unable to visit the property, the property team will be more than happy to give you a virtual tour of the accommodation.

We know how worrying this can be for a parent or guardian, especially when your loved one is away from home in another city, or even another country. If you contact the property team to raise your concerns, we will attempt to contact the resident directly. If we are successful in doing this, we will inform them that you have been in contact and advise them to reach out to you. We are unable to confirm with you if one of our residents is in the property, however we will report any concerns, with their consent, to the university, and signpost to support based on their needs.

We always encourage residents to keep their room and flat clean and tidy, and we conduct inspections during the academic year to try and manage this. In instances where there are disagreements in flats, we always encourage open and honest communication between flatmates, as disputes can be resolved much easier if this takes place, and falls outs are often caused by misunderstandings or lack of communication. If the resident in question feels they are unable to do this, we encourage them to speak to the property team to explore their options.

Our team members receive regular training regarding resident wellbeing, supporting residents in distress and how to effectively signpost, and therefore teams have the knowledge to offer supportive guidance to anyone who requires it. We have several team members also trained in mental health first aid, who are trained to identify a potential wellbeing concern.

It is important to remember that, although our team members have training, they are not mental health specialists.

All incidents are recorded internally. Depending on the nature of the incident, we will seek assistance from the local police, ambulance, and fire departments in each city. If required, we may report any serious incidents, such as anti-social behaviour or safeguarding concern, to the university. If needed, residents will be notified of updates regarding the incident.