Accommodation for Students with Additional Requirements
We do all we can to support students with specific requirements in our University accommodation. This includes students who:
- are deaf or hard of hearing
- are blind or partially-sighted
- have a physical or mobility impairment For example, Cerebral Palsy or Achondraplasia
- have a specific learning difficulty (for example, dyslexia or dyspraxia)
- have a developmental learning or behavioural condition (for example, AD(H)D)
- have an autism spectrum condition (for example, Asperger Syndrome)
- have a mental health difficulty
- have a long-term medical condition (for example, Diabetes or Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.).
- have an as yet undiagnosed condition.
- have a combination of these.
You may also want to consider if you currently have any equipment or adaptations in your home that may assist you during your time in university accommodation.
Letting us know of any condition that may impact on your time in University accommodation will help us to make your stay here a positive experience.
Giving us this information in advance won’t adversely affect you coming to the University of Leeds, rather it will allow us to make the best possible provision for you and make the most of your time in University accommodation.
All the information you give to us will be used on a need to know basis only and in line with the Data Protection Act.
At the University of Leeds we believe that disabled students should have access to accommodation that meets their specific needs, and that disabled students should not be financially disadvantaged due to limited accommodation options.
If you are a disabled student, based on the Equality Act 2010 definition of disability*, whose accommodation options are limited due to your disability related needs, you may be eligible for help from the University in the form of a rent discount. If you think that this applies to you, you will need to provide us with further details about your requirements using the Additional Requirements Form, and ask your doctor to complete a Disability Evidence form for Accommodation Allocation. Please note that without the Disability Evidence form, we cannot consider requests for rent reductions.
Information on both these forms will be used to help the accommodation team allocate you appropriate accommodation. We will do all we can to meet your disability related requirements, however, as with all accommodation requests, this does not mean you are guaranteed you preferred residence.
If you require any assistance or further information regarding this please contact the Accommodation team.
*To be considered disabled under the Equality Act 2010 definition, you must have a physical, sensory or mental disability which has a substantial (more than minor or trivial) and long term adverse effect on your ability to carry out normal day-to-day activities (including education). To be considered long term, the effect of the disability must have lasted or be likely to last at least 12 months or for the rest of your life.
University Adapted Accommodation
A number of our halls of residence, both on and off campus, have adapted accommodation which is accessible to disabled students with a range of requirements. This includes catered and self-catering accommodation.
We also have larger rooms for students who need extra space for equipment, as well as rooms for personal assistants/support workers.
There is a high demand for this accommodation and limited availability especially in our halls on campus, so we also adapt accommodation where needed.
Once you have applied for accommodation and where you have stated that you have specific requirements, such as lowered worktops in the kitchen or self closing doors, you will be invited to come to the University for a visit to look round potential accommodation and to discuss your requirements in detail. This is your opportunity to tell us what it is you need.
Depending on the level of support required, we may recommend that you bring with you an Occupational Therapist or Physiotherapist or anyone who has been involved in recommending specialist equipment or adaptations for you already. If you are unable to bring someone with you or if you are unable to visit us, please let us know and we will advise you.
We do all we can to adapt accommodation to suit your needs, but if you decide not to visit in advance orengage in fuller discussion with Accommodation Services, we cannot guarantee that your requirements will be met by the time you begin your course.
Your requirements
So that we can allocate or adapt suitable accommodation for you we ask you to:
- Fill in and return the attached forms as soon as possible telling us what we need to take into consideration when allocating you a room, and any emergency evacuation issues you may have
- Provide us with supporting medical evidence of your disability (e.g. a Doctor’s note or Disability Evidence form for Accommodation Allocation if applying for a rent reduction)
Please provide this information before no later than 1st July so that we can suitably adapt the accommodation before you arrive.
If you require any assistance in completing this form or need it in an alternative format, or if you would like to talk to someone in more detail about your accommodation requirements, please telephone us on 0113 343 7777 or email
Adapted Accommodation Requirements
Applicant’s Name......
UCAS Personal ID/Leeds student ID number......
1st Choice Residence ......
2nd Choice Residence ......
(Your 1st choice should match the choice you have made in your accommodation application at accommodation.leeds.ac.uk/apply)
Please briefly outline the nature of your disability/medical condition
......
Please give details of the specific adaptations to, or the particular type of, accommodation that you require, e.g. lowered worktops, automatic doors, hoists, clos-o-mat toilet. Please give as much detail as possible to enable the accommodation team to respond effectively to your needs when allocating a residence.
......
The information provided on this form will be used on a need to know basis only, according to the University of Leeds data protection policy.We may need to pass information on to staff in relevant parts of the University (accommodation, residential and estate services and Equality Services) to allocate appropriate accommodation and, where necessary, to make adaptations. Information will be shared on a need to know basis and in line with the data protection act. Please also note that information will be shared with staff at privately managed halls who are not University of Leeds employees.
Please use the table below to indicate which facilities you requirein the accommodation you are allocated. This is not an exhaustive list. If you need something which is not mentioned here, please tell us.
Facilities Required – Please tick Yes or No / Please add as much information as you can about specific requirements (use another sheet if you need to).En-suite facility
Yes No
Large room
Yes No
Separate room required for Support Worker
Yes No
Catered Residence
Yes No
Self-catering Residence
Yes No
Vibrating pillow
Yes No
Flashing light fire alarms
Yes No
Flashing light door bell
Yes No
Induction loop
Yes No
High/Low brightness lighting
Yes No
Facilities Required – Please tick Yes or No / Please add as much information as you can about specific requirements (use another sheet if you need to).
Signage (bolder/bigger/brighter/Braille?)
Yes No
Facilities for Assistance Animal (e.g. Guide Dog/Hearing Dog)
Yes No
Altered kitchen facilities, e.g. low surfaces/ equipment
Yes No
Motorised door opening device
Yes No
Manual/Tracking Hoist
Yes No
4 section profiling height adjustable bed
Yes No
Personal fridge required (for storing medicines)
Yes No
Level access bathroom
Yes No
Shower chair
Yes No
Clos-o-mat toilet
Yes No
Grab rails
Yes No
Are you able to evacuate a building safely and without support in the event of an emergency?
Yes No
Facilities Required – Please tick Yes or No / Please add as much information as you can about specific requirements (use another sheet if you need to).
Do you have any difficulty using stairs?
Yes No
If Yes, please indicate how many flights of stairs (if any) you can manage.
Do you have an Autistic Spectrum condition such as Asperger Syndrome that could cause you to become confused on hearing the fire alarm in the event of an emergency?
Yes No
Is a cleaning service required?
Yes No
More information
Please use this section to include any more information about any accommodation needs you may have, such as equipment or adaptations not listed above.
Once you have completed this form, please return it, together with some supporting medical evidence of your condition (for example, a doctor’s note and/or a copy of a report from an assessment of your housing needs) by post to: Elizabeth Hird, Accommodation Services, Student Services Centre, Marjorie & Arnold Ziff Building, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, by e-mail to or by fax to 0113 3436077.