Inconvenience Policy

Purpose Statement

This policy aims to outline what will happen on the rare occasions when there is a loss of major services to a residence.

Applicability and Scope

This policy applies to all University-owned accommodation. It does not include incidents outside of the University’s control, which includes but is not limited to, National Grid power cuts or flash floods due to severe weather. This policy should be considered in conjunction with our Heating Policy.

Our Responsibilities

to contact you regarding any loss of a major service and communicate any updates with you as they become available
where appropriate, to provide you with a reasonable alternative/provision in the event of the loss of a major service
to provide alternative arrangements where it is deemed to be a health and safety risk to remain in your accommodation
where applicable, apply an inconvenience payment to your accommodation account

Your Responsibilities

to familiarise yourself with and adhere to this policy
to seek clarification from a member of Accommodation Services Team, about any aspect of this policy as required

Inconvenience Payments

In the event of a loss of a major service to your accommodation, which extends for more than 48 hours from the point of us being made aware, and where a reasonable alternative cannot be provided, you will be entitled to an inconvenience payment. This payment will be 20% of your nightly rate for every day until the major service has been restored. This will be credited to your accommodation account, and we will confirm when this has been processed.

If we offer you a reasonable alternative and you refuse this, the inconvenience payment may be waived.

Reasonable alternatives may include a temporary move to alternative accommodation. Where you are temporarily accommodated elsewhere due to the unavailability of your allocated accommodation, you will not be eligible for an inconvenience payment You should refer to your Terms and Conditions which set out any rights to terminate your contract.

Other incidents which cause an inconvenience within your accommodation will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

Definitions

Certain words and phrases used in this policy have the meanings given to them here.

Nightly rate: the rent for the tenancy period divided by the number of nights in the tenancy period.

Major service: the loss of service, such as but not limited to heating, hot water or electric.

We/us/our/ours: Newcastle University which is the landlord of the accommodation.

You/your/yours: the person who has agreed to take a tenancy in our accommodation.

Version Control

Version

Date of Amendment

Brief Description

May 2026

Policy reviewed and updated.

Added information relating to temporary reallocation to alternative accommodation.

Reviewed: May 2026
Review date: May 2028
Policy owner: Senior Management Team, Accommodation Services

Back to policies