Being a good neighbour

Working together as a community

We strongly encourage all students living or passing through the local community to follow our Be a good neighbour guidelines and we provide further guidance in our guide to living in the private sector.

Each year, at the start of term, we run a ‘Halls to Home’ campaign focusing on informing students leaving halls and going into the private rented sector what it means to live in the local community. The campaign starts before the end of the academic year and continues beyond the start of new academic year. Royal Holloway’s community wellbeing advisors also visit some student houses to ensure they are settling into the community and to remind them of what it is to be a good neighbour.

Be a good neighbour guidelines Guide to living in the private sector Community Partnership - Working Together video

Complaints about student conduct

The university treats complaints about student conduct in the community very seriously and there is a process in place to monitor and respond to reported problems.

We urge our students to make every effort to maintain good relationships with their neighbours, and the vast majority of students living out in the community do so without any difficulty or tension.

However, if relationships between students and their neighbours do break down, the university works closely with the Runnymede Borough Council Environmental Health team and Surrey Police to ensure those responsible for serious anti-social behaviour are clearly identified.

If it is officially substantiated that students are in breach of our regulations there are consequences for students. These can include substantial sanctions, households can be served Abatement Notices (Noise Nuisance) and face seizure of noise-emitting equipment if these notices are breached. Enforced statutory action by the Council or Police can impact on students’ status at the university.

Runnymede Borough Council, Environmental Health, Surrey Police and Royal Holloway are committed to working closely in partnership to respond to community concerns. Our joint leaflet explains what each organisation can tackle and how to raise concerns with the relevant authority.

Parking in the community

Royal Holloway has signed up to a sustainable transport plan to reduce single car use. As a result, there are strict rules on students’ car use on campus and the university encourages cycling. Students living on campus are actively discouraged from bringing a car with them, they sign up to this as part of their Tenancy Agreement and they are not eligible for a permit to park on campus, with the exception of Kingswood residents who can apply for a permit to park at their Halls. We also encourage students who live in privately rented accommodation off campus to act as considerate members of the local community.

Capacity for parking in the area is a concern for both the university and residents. We are working with local community groups and Surrey County Council to seek solutions to help to address on-street parking issues. This includes co-operating with Surrey County Council’s review of parking in the local area.

FAQs about parking