The Students’ Union is run by students for students – that means we’re completely dedicated to representing students at Staffs and helping provide what they want from their student experience. That covers everything from advice and support, great venues and events to representation, sports clubs, activities and even a dedicated student media service.
We’re constantly striving to ensure the best possible experience for all students at Staffs and free membership of the Students’ Union is automatic on enrolling at Staffordshire University. That means our students get to have their say in what we do and how we do it.
Staffordshire University Students’ Union is a democratic organisation, working entirely for the benefit of students.
The Students' Union sponsors and supports a diverse range of student-run groups. These include both competitive and recreational sports groups, special interest groups, academic societies and some that we are unable to categorise! You can find out contact details and any info the groups have posted by following the links below.
The Student Advice Centre (SAC) offers confidential and impartial advice on a variety of issues, such as: student finance, academic affairs, student housing, debt management etc. In addition, there are a number of online self help materials which you can access from the Advice Guide.Find out more...
Academic Reps can raise issues when something is wrong or tell the University what works for you and your student experience. If you need advice regarding your course then contact your Academic Rep.Find out more...
Money Doctors is part of the Students’ Union Student Advice Centre. It is free, independent, impartial and confidential. Click on the logo to see how we can help you keep your finances healthy and make your money achieve what you want it to.Find out more...
You can feel safe in the knowledge that the University has a Cop Shop with a friendly campus police officer who is around to answer any questions. You can speak to him about anything from the security of your property, your personal safety or to report a crime.Find out more...
LRV is the Stoke Campus nightclub and holds our regular clubnights such as the ever popular Gobble on a Wednesday night and Super Friday. LRV is the Union’s largest venue with 1300 capacity.Find out more...
Legends and The Lounge are the Union's Beaconside campus venues. The Lounge is a recently refurbished, stylish bar serving great food and coffee as well as the traditional bar refreshments seven days a week. Legends is the Stafford Campus's nightclub and holds our weekly clubnight Mukky Duck as well as regular live music performances. Find out more...
The Ember Lounge is Staffordshire University Students' Union second Stoke Venue. Winner of Best Late Night Venue Midlands and Wales and a Best Bar None award, the Ember Lounge offers something for everybody. Whether it's an early morning espresso to get you ready for the day, a great value lunch or a night of cocktails and entertainment, we aim to deliver. Find out more...
The Squeeze Box has a delicious menu for both breakfast and lunch. For those wanting something healthy, yet tasty, Squeeze Box caters for all with options big and small. There is also a wide variety of hot drinks, with Fairtrade products being used where possible. Find out more...
Verve is Stoke’s newest venue offering students a funky place to relax and enjoy a tasty burger and the creamiest milkshakes. Open all day, students can pop in for food and drink, listen to some music, catch up on the latest magazines and just take a break from the world outside. Find out more...
The Students’ Union is a student-led organisation, and in that spirit endeavours to hire students and harness their skills where possible.
The latest video updates from the officer team about their work on behalf of the students at staffordshire University
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Although there are many different types of housing contract - Assured Shorthold tenancies, Assured tenancies, Licenses, joint ones, individual ones, and many more - some things are the same whatever type you have; even if there's nothing in writing. These are:
When you agree to rent a property you are creating a contract between yourself and the Landlord even if there’s nothing in writing. You have rights as a tenant (for example, under the Housing Acts 1988 and 1996) which nothing in your agreement can alter (despite what your landlord thinks or says).
Make sure you can prove what you agreed with your landlord: insist on getting a written copy of your housing contract, and any other deals you make with your landlord, and keep copies of all correspondence with your landlord. Letters are easier to prove than conversations, emails, or texts; provided you keep a copy and send them by recorded delivery. So, do send anything important to your landlord the old-fashioned way.
Tip: if your landlord hasn’t given you an address in England or Wales to write to in order to contact him/her, your rent is not yet “due” (so you don’t have to hand it over in this circumstance only). However, don’t spend the rent: you’ll still have to pay all the rent owed as soon as the landlord does provide you with this “address for service”. Do not act on this tip without getting advice first – sometimes things are trickier than they look.
Probably the most important piece of advice in this whole guide is: read your contract thoroughly before signing it; and, if you don’t understand anything in it, bring a copy to the Student Advice Centre: we can go though it with you.
You will often be asked to pay a "Summer Retainer" when signing a housing contract. These are contracts by which the Landlord undertakes to hold the accommodation ready for you to move in at the start of the tenancy.
Tip: if you and the landlord have already signed the tenancy agreement, and you have a copy of it, when the landlord mentions a retainer: we say don't pay or agree to it - the retainer will give you no extra rights whatsoever and the contract will be enforceable. However: if your landlord insists on a retainer before s/he will sign the contract, you may well have to pay one if you want the house.
Retainers do not give you the right to live or store your belongings in the house during the period covered by the retainer (unless the retainer document specifies that it does give you this right). This means that the Landlord would usually be within his/her rights to let the house to someone else over this time provided they are out of the house by the date on which your tenancy begins.
However, don’t feel a retainer’s an awful deal that automatically means you have a bad landlord: if they didn’t charge these, they might well just charge higher rents instead.
Now we've made you look at the general stuff, choose what type of contract you want to find out about (if you're renting from a private landlord, the most common type is the Assured Shorthold)...
Assured Shorthold Tenancies ("ASTs")
Assured Tenancies
University Accommodation (Licensees)
Unprotected Tenancies
Extra Information for Everyone
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