Housekeeping
You and your flatmates are responsible for keeping your accommodation clean, but each college has its housekeeping team who are here to offer you advice and support.
Housekeeping will clean your kitchen and any communal areas regularly throughout the year and will visit your accommodation throughout your time on campus to check in on you as part of their inspections.
You'll need to buy your own cleaning products (or share the cost with your housemates) except for a vacuum cleaner and bin liners as these are provided for you. Please do not use any products containing bleach as bleach is not permitted in accommodation.
If you need a little extra support we also have professional cleaning slots you can book.
Housekeeping Top Tips
Download our cleaning rota
Agree on a cleaning rota between yourselves so that everybody does their fair share and tasks are fairly divided.
Find your nearest bin store
Recycle responsibly. There are labels on each bin in the bin store to tell you what can be recycled.
Cleaning advice blogs
Maintaining a clean space can also help create a clear state of mind. See what advice a fellow student had to share.
Keep your bathroom clean
Bathroom maintenance tips and tricks from a student who worked as a cleaner before coming to uni!
Room inspections
The Housekeeping Team will regularly visit your accommodation to support you with the cleaning of your kitchen. Visual checks of your en-suites, shared bathroom or bedroom will take place on a regular basis.
Alongside visual checks, Housekeeping will conduct more formal inspections where a member of the Housekeeping Team will visit your accommodation to assess the condition of the bathroom and bedrooms and identify any problems or concerns. During these inspections, you will be assessed against our traffic light system:
- Red: Your accommodation needs urgent attention and could pose a risk/hazard or is likely to attract pests. For example rubbish or food on the floor, toilet left in an unsanitary state or build-up of grime/limescale throughout the en-suite.
- Amber: You need to do more to keep your accommodation tidy. For example, rubbish is not in the bin, lots of items on the floor causing a trip hazard, en-suite is not cleaned to a basic hygienic standard.
- Green: You're amazing, keep it up.
You'll receive a printed notification to let you know your rating. If your area is rated red you will be given one week to improve the condition of the area before another inspection will take place. If the area is still found to present concerns the Housekeeping Team will inform you and arrange for a deep clean of the area for which you/your flatmates will be charged.
Bookable Housekeeping Cleaning Service
Sometimes you may want a little bit of extra help. Our Housekeeping Team also offer a bookable cleaning service, prices are calculated depending on the time it will take to clean an area. Currently, we have three options: a bedroom clean, a bedroom and en-suite clean, and a studio clean.
Please use the booking form to book a timeslot and pay for your chosen service.
Recycling and waste on campus
Help us to do our bit for the environment by recycling responsibly.
What waste goes where?
- Recyclable items: green bags.
- General waste (items that can't be recycled or donated): black bags.
- Bin store locations
What can I donate?
- Duvets, pillows: Kent Union's FreeCycle or another local charity (e.g. Catching Lives). If you can't donate, these items are classed as general waste.
- Unopened, non-perishable food (e.g. tins): Kent Union's Stuff.
- Clothes, books: British Heart Foundation points located across campus, or Kent Union's FreeCycle.
- Pots, crockery, unused hygiene products: Kent Union's FreeCycle
Electrical appliances
We include a number of appliances in our accommodation on the Canterbury campus. You can find Housekeeping's instructions for using these items and the user manuals (which go into more detail) for each item to help you troubleshoot any issues you have.
Laundry Facilities
Each college has its own self-service laundry (PDF 24KB) which is typically open daily 7am - 10pm.
You'll need to pay for each cycle at the machine via the Circuit Laundry App or Top Up Card ( from vending machines in Nickle Court laundry or outside Keynes College Reception). The cost for a wash cycle is £2.70 and £1.30 for a dry cycle.
A handy trick is use Circuit View to see which machines are available or how long you have left on your cycle without leaving your room!
The facilities are not managed by the University you'll need to contact Circuit Laundry online or phone (01422 820040) for any queries, card or app issues, faults or breakdowns.
Housekeeping Office Locations
Our housekeepers are on hand to inspect and support. Don’t be afraid to pop along your local housekeeping office listed below for any help and advice.
Darwin College
The housekeeping office can be found on the second floor in room B3:20.
Email: darwinhousekeeping@kent.ac.uk
Eliot College and Becket Court
The housekeeping office can be found in room W4:W14.
Email: eliothousekeeping@kent.ac.uk
Keynes College (blocks F, G, H and I)
The housekeeping office can be found opposite Keynes College Reception, room MG:05.
Email: keyneshousekeeping@kent.ac.uk
Keynes Flats and Houses (blocks P, Q, R, S and T)
The housekeeping office can be found in Keynes Hub (outside S block).
Email: keyneshubhousekeeping@kent.ac.uk
Park Wood Houses
Ask at Park Wood Reception in the Park Wood Administration Building for housekeeping.
Email: parkwoodhousekeeping@kent.ac.uk
Park Wood Flats
Park Wood Flats Housekeeping offices can be found next to the laundry room in Bossenden Court.
Email: parkwoodhousekeeping@kent.ac.uk
Turing College
Ask at Turing Reception in Turing Hub for housekeeping.
Tyler Court
The housekeeping office can be found downstairs in Tyler Court A in room 1 (just off the study area).
Email: tylercourthousekeeping@kent.ac.uk
Looking for a part-time or summer job?
Every summer (and throughout the academic year) we have a number of part-time and casual housekeeping job vacancies available.
No previous experience is required, and casual roles start from a zero hour contract meaning you can work the hours or days that suit your needs.
All training, equipment and uniform will be provided and you'll be able to take advantage of staff discounts and other benefits.
Visit your local Housekeeping Office if you would like to find out more about working for our housekeeping team this summer or beyond.