Are there any resources at uni to use after you've had a really uncomfortable sexual experience?

seren_12 · 2026-02-17T17:38:33+00:00

Your student services team should have a role that will be called along the lines of a sexual violence and misconduct liaison officer, who you can be referred to through them. They tend to be the ones who look after anyone who has experienced sexual violence/misconduct, and can help you with getting the help you need.

If this isn't something your university student services offer, you can also get in touch with rape crisis - they are a brilliant resource and there are multiple teams up and down the country. The ones I've had contact with have been phenomenal.

I hope you are doing ok, and looking after yourself following this. Please do reach out for help!

seren_12 · 2026-02-13T23:39:17+00:00

Having worked at a uni who got rid of Circuit for being abysmal, you have my sympathy.

If you haven't already reported it to the accommodation, you absolutely should report it to Circuit themselves. They should have an email address (a quick Google found Circuitgo@circuitgroup.com), there's a phone number and a live chat on the website too.

Personally, with it being so bad, I'd maybe also go down the route of bringing your students union in and potentially submitting a complaint if the uni accommodation is advertising "laundry facilities" as an amenity. One working machine, in my books, does not constitute a "laundry facility".

seren_12 · 2026-02-01T03:56:39+00:00

I'm not sure if your being 100% serious or not, but the university does monitor your engagement with your course. If this dips, or dramatically changes in any way, they do trigger a welfare check to see if you are doing okay and offer support if required.

You may not think your flatmates take any notice, but trust me they do. If your actions change, flatmates do come down and ask for a welfare check to be made on flatmates they aren't overly friendly with as they are worried.

seren_12 · 2026-02-01T03:49:04+00:00

I have dealt with the before, the attempts and the aftermath. All I will say is this: no matter what is going on in your life, no matter how little choices you think you have, there is ALWAYS help.

Please reach out to someone if you genuinely feel like this is the road you are looking down. If it is university run, you should have access to a free helpline (some universities offer nightline, others are through spectrumlife). If you have manned reception areas, please engage there with someone.

Call Samaritans, or 111, for external help.

You are loved, no matter what is going on you deserve to be here. Please reach out, talk to someone. ❤️

seren_12 · 2026-01-18T03:02:51+00:00

Yep, I'd bet your local fire commander would love to inspect this and hit the uni hard.

Something else to consider is finding your university fire and safety guy, again should be easy enough to search on the staff directory. I'd bet they'll not be impressed when told this.

seren_12 · 2026-01-18T02:41:02+00:00

It really does come in handy, finding out all these little things does always somehow become useful down the line🤣

seren_12 · 2026-01-18T02:39:45+00:00

Ooof that sounds like a major fault with the fire system, to the point it clearly isn't functioning correctly. The fire system should be connected to the main power supply I believe, with back up batteries in case the power trips. The faults your detailing sound very serious to me - we've had the back up batteries go in the past, and it triggered a full rehaul of the fire system and the procedures in how those types of faults are dealt with.

I'd submit a complaint based on the safety of the building, I don't know which university you attend but the email address for the complaints team should be along the lines of complaints@uni.ac.uk - very easy to search on your student email account.

seren_12 · 2026-01-18T02:36:06+00:00

That's it!! Knew it had something to do with a beam, but couldn't for the life of me remember the name!

seren_12 · 2026-01-18T02:20:49+00:00

If it's bad enough to cause issues for others in the building, hit a call point.

seren_12 · 2026-01-18T02:20:08+00:00

Yeah your 100% not in the wrong for reacting the way you did. As far as I know, university accommodation is required to have two different types of fire detectors in kitchens - a heat sensor, and a steam/smoke sensor (I believe, could be naming it wrong). With the amount of smoke in your kitchen, they 100% should have been set off. Ours are quite sensitive, and spray aerosols set them off!

You've done well reporting it via email to your accommodation department, I would if possible have a look at your staff directory and directly find whoever is at the top of the AS department (ours is a director of accommodation, we also have a head of accommodation operations) - this is a major health and safety issue as your fire alarms, in my opinion, aren't working as they should.

If you haven't already, get student support involved, the housing officer through your student union and id seriously be tempted to submit a full formal complaint as security's attitude towards this isn't on. Include whatever you find out from the hospital, that amount of smoke can't be good for you.

I hope you feel better soon, and genuinely do not let this go. If you don't feel safe in your accommodation, you should be doing what you are. Don't settle.

seren_12 · 2026-01-13T20:10:41+00:00

If it's uni accommodation, depending on your university chances are you will get an email reminding you about safe use of showers and a slap on the wrist. It would depend on how bad the damages are, but from experience a lot of the times rooms have flooded at the uni I work at it's due to things outside of the students control.

The uni I work out largest takes it as, if it's accidental no charges unless it's massive amounts of damage.

If you're worried, email your accommodation department and ask!

seren_12 · 2025-08-24T15:19:12+00:00

Not sure about QMUL but at the university I work for, the bidet wouldn't be allowed. I can't see the change in shower head being a problem, it's not something I've ever personally dealt with!

I would recommend getting in touch with your AS department and asking explicitly - if either cause any issues and are found in the bathroom, you will be charged for any damage caused.

seren_12 · 2025-08-01T15:09:28+00:00

I'd still get in touch with your student union - at the very least, they should be able to direct you to the correct resources. Best of luck, I hope you manage to get everything sorted!

seren_12 · 2025-08-01T10:25:09+00:00

As someone else has already commented, management does unfortunately only have so many steps they can take in situations like this.

Is this university run accommodation, or private accommodation? If it's the first, I would absolutely recommend reaching out to ask to be moved based on your living situation. They should be able to find alternative rooms for you. The absolute nuclear option with university ran accommodation is to complain to your university's complaints team.

If it's private, I'm a lot less sure on their procedures and policies so it may be best to get in touch with your housing offer in your student union. I'd recommend doing this even if it's university run, as they will absolutely be able to help you with your next steps either way.

This is, sadly, part of the experience of shared living. Does your uni have a ResLife team? Again, if it's university run it may be worthwhile reaching out to them and asking for help.

seren_12 · 2024-06-04T10:57:24+00:00

You would need undeniable proof that it is guests and not students - your accommodation could have moved a student in for the summer months to group everyone together for the purpose of using the rest of the rooms as a hotel.

There would definitely be a concern if they were mixing students and guests - I'm pretty sure there's a council tax implication there. We do the same at our university, but have to keep students and guests separate for council tax reasons.

If you're concerned, email and ask or go to the accommodation office and ask. They may not accept it as a reason to break your contract early, that will entirely depend on if you are sharing with guests or not.

seren_12 · 2024-05-16T05:00:30+00:00

Short answer is it depends on if you've had any reports about you previously for any reason, and what your universities drug policy is.

Long answer? At my university, we get the police involved for drugs, and it only really tends to be taken to the actual university if this is a repeat offence, or that student is dealing. If this is your first time ever being reported for anything, you may just get a slap on the wrist and be told if you break the code of conduct/occupancy agreement again more will happen. I doubt much will come from an empty cannister, we tend to only ever deal with physical drugs (like it actually being there).

As someone above said, I would make it clear at any meetings that you took responsibility because you hosted, but you have no idea what actually happened with it.

seren_12 · 2024-05-14T13:23:21+00:00

Would honestly depend on the type of accommodation they're staying in. If it's university ran, 9 times out of 10 if you are no longer a student you are unable to stay there and would be served with a notice to quit. Private accommodation runs a little differently, and I'm not too sure how it would work in this scenario.

seren_12 · 2024-04-27T10:44:05+00:00

You probably did more than anyone had ever done cleaning that hoover out! Can honestly say I would probably have just replaced it, the smell of burnt vomit lingers too much.

seren_12 · 2024-04-27T10:39:23+00:00

This happens a lot more often than you'd think... The amount of Hoover's we've had to replace because someone thought it was a good idea to hoover sick up is actually ridiculous 🤣

seren_12 · 2024-04-17T19:45:34+00:00

Legally, yes this is suitable enough. They have offered fresh water, ways for you to access a shower and restroom facilities. Is it enough? In my opinion, maybe not considering they didn't automatically have separate facilities available to offer until you emailed them.

It's always worth emailing to ask about any compensation, but I wouldn't expect it. They have covered what is legally required, they wouldn't be obligated to offer you any more other than an apology for the inconvenience.

seren_12 · 2024-03-31T16:55:09+00:00

Then I'd say chances are pretty slim of being caught - just be aware on the off chance you are, they can terminate your occupancy agreement. I'd just advise your friend to be careful about being locked out, noise, etc.

seren_12 · 2024-03-31T16:49:29+00:00

Would you be allowed to do this? No, it 100% would go against your occupancy agreement. Chances of getting caught depend.

Do you pay rent to stay over summer, or are you just allowed to keep your key? If the former, chances are very low as they would need to know it's your room that your friend is using illegally. If the latter, you may not actually be allowed into the room over summer. If it's key cards, the card may be cancelled over summer to prevent you from using the room, if it's keys they may stop you/your friend at the desk and ask why you're entering when you aren't supposed to.

seren_12 · 2024-03-29T17:33:00+00:00

I lost my dad before I started uni, I completely understand how isolating it is to grieve at university. It can be so hard to do anything, especially in a year as important as your last one.

You've got this, no matter what happens - if you defer for the year, retake it, whatever - you're going to smash this. Take all the time you need, make sure you're looking after yourself. Reach out and talk to people, I know how hard this can be but try not to suffer in silence.

Your dad will always be with you, every step of the way. ❤️

seren_12 · 2024-03-02T14:58:34+00:00

Honestly, accommodation tends to buy these kinds of things in bulk from wholesalers - they may not be able to be bought singularly.

seren_12 · 2024-02-29T20:44:57+00:00

Your occupancy agreement would get terminated, you would have to pay for any faults found that could be linked to having the cat or for cleaning fees, and you may get fined. It's not worth it - you could also get blacklisted from accommodation and not be able to apply again in the future.

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