Damage Billing & Fire Safety

• Hazardous electrical items - Hotplates, toaster ovens, toasters, electric heaters (unless provided by the University), any item with a heating coil (i.e. sandwich and grill makers and non-UL approved appliances) are all strictly prohibited. These items have heated exposed surfaces which have caused fires in the past. Appliances which can be used in individual rooms, but cannot be left plugged in unattended include curling irons, coffee makers, irons, and hot pots. A violation for these items occurs when an appliance is left plugged in and unattended.
• Overloaded electrical receptacles or extension cords - An individual room having multiple plugs leading to the same outlet causing more than 15 amps of power to be drawn is dangerous and should be avoided. This situation is usually caused by too many plugs in one outlet. Power strips, splitters, or cube taps are acceptable, but only if they have a fuse or circuit breaker. Power strips may not be plugged into a normal extension cord. The power strip cord must be of construction-grade quality, and it must have a ground plug (a third prong). A power strip may not be plugged into another power strip or splitting device. Extension cords may not be connected in a manner that allows too many appliances to be plugged into the same outlet causing more than 15 amps of power to be drawn. No electrical cords of any sort, other than phone cords, speaker wires, and cable wires, are to be run underneath a rug. 
• Microwaves and refrigerators - Microwaves and refrigerators require a construction-grade extension cord (generally the same size or larger than the units own cord) or needs to be plugged directly into an outlet or a fused power strip; they cannot be plugged into a splitter unless the splitter has a fuse. If an adaptor is used for a power strip or extension cord, the ground lead must be connected. Refrigerators no larger than 4.5 cubic feet in height are allowed. Microwaves with a power consumption of 800 watts or less are allowed.
• Flammable materials - Flammable items such as the following are not allowed in the halls: stain, flammable cleaning solvents, butane, propane torches, gasoline, camping or cooking fuels, oil lamps, oil candles, and kerosene lamps. Candles, wax tarts, incense, and incense paraphernalia are not allowed for any reason. Lit candles, tarts, and incense have caused serious room fires in the past. No exceptions will be made for cut wicks or removed wicks.  
• Excessive combustible materials on wall or door - No more than 50% of a single wall surface can be covered. If you use wall posters or hangings, they should be used sparingly, covering no more than one-half of the surface on each wall (this does not include furniture against the wall). This precaution eliminates excess combustible material which could cause fires to spread. 
• Bed too close to ceiling - A clearance of 30 inches from the ceiling to the top of the mattress is required to allow adequate breathing space in case of fire or smoke that may enter the room. Any loft or stilt bed that does not comply must be fixed immediately and lowered to meet clearance guidelines. 
• Items overhead - The room overhead area must be kept clean and clear at all times. Items cannot be hung from wall to wall or suspended from the ceiling, ceiling pipes running horizontally, electrical conduit, lights, smoke detectors, etc. This includes Christmas lights on pipes and anything hanging overhead. All wall hangings and decorations must completely touch the wall. This precaution prevents the possibility of materials falling down on a person during a fire. 
• Heater clearance, 6 inches - A 6 inch-8inch air space between the electric heater unit and furniture is required. While it seems unlikely, a number of room fires have started due to items placed too close to the heater unit. Halls with electric heat are Stoke, Hubbard, Babcock, Christensen, and Williamson.
• Smoke detector tampered with - Do not touch the smoke detector under any circumstance. If you suspect it to be malfunctioning, talk to your R.A. immediately. There is a $100 fine for covering, defacing, or tampering in any way with this device.
• Egress (exit) obstruction - All pathways to room doors and windows must be kept clear. This policy is most often in violation when a resident has to push an item to the side in order to exit a room door or window. Examples of this would be furniture preventing the room door from opening a full 90 degrees, items hanging down to enclose a sleeping space, etc.
• Halogen-type bulbs - Any style lamp with a halogen-type bulb cannot be used in the residence halls. The intense heat generated by such lamps can and have caused fires.
• Other - Other violations can range from lounge furniture in rooms to pets. For exact policy explanations in this situation, please see your Hall Director or call Housing at (603) 862-2120.

Safety inspections of students’ rooms for fire hazards and violations will be conducted several times per semester. If any violations are found an inspection report form will be issued and you will be expected to comply with its findings.

Each residence hall is protected by an automatic fire detection system that is connected directly to the Durham Fire Department. Upon receipt of alarm activation, the Fire Department immediately responds to your residence hall. The fire protection system is comprised of smoke and heat detectors, sprinklers and hallway manual pull stations. All rooms have a sprinkler and a local-sounding smoke detector. A charge of $100 is assessed to the occupant(s) of a room for tampering with a smoke detector. If you suspect a smoke detector is malfunctioning contact your RA immediately.

Fire Extinguishers

Fire extinguishers are located in every residence hall. These are your first line of defense in case of a fire and could save your life or the lives of your friends. Do not tamper with fire extinguishers. Eviction from the residence hall is a possible consequence for tampering with a fire extinguisher. There is a $100 charge for resetting a fire extinguisher that has been misused.

The Department of Housing does not collect nor require a damage deposit when a resident accepts on-campus housing; instead we bill for each incident that occurs. It is our belief this encourages a sense of ownership in the building by the residents and improves everyone's ability to control costs.

Any destruction, theft, and vandalism to University property including furniture, walls, floors, and windows in student rooms and in common areas (stairwells, lounges, bathrooms, hallways). Extra cleaning above and beyond normal housekeeping services is also considered billable damage.

Extra Cleaning

Charge: $25 minimum -or- billed by the hour . Charges will be applied if staff has to:

• Remove food from carpets, walls, ceilings, stair, etc.
• Remove sputum from walls, bathroom stalls, etc.
• Clean food, tobacco chew, excessive tooth paste, etc. out of sinks/water fountains.
• Clean excessive graffiti off walls.
• Clean excessive shaving cream off sinks, stalls, floors, etc.
• Clean hair that was left behind from a haircut done in the bathroom.
• Any other similar cleaning.

Trash

Minimum charge is $25 per bag. Trash can leak on the carpets and create unsanitary conditions, and it has the potential to be a fire hazard. Students are responsible for disposing their own trash. Charges will be applied for:

• Emptying room trash into a bathroom trashcan.
• Leaving room trash in the hallways or stairwells.
• Leaving room trash in the lounges.
• Emptying room trash into a lounge trashcan.
• Pizza boxes not properly disposed.

Biohazardous Matter

Minimum of $100 per instance.

The following are chargeable: 

Urine, feces, condoms or vomit

• Any matter found in the UNH housing facilities. (depending on the situation, may become a criminal investigation with the UNH Police Department)

Blood

• Any blood clean up in bathrooms, hallways, walls, carpet, lounges, etc. If the incident was accidental and an attempt was made to clean up, no charge will occur. Situations that are accidental will be looked upon differently than ones that are purposeful. For example, a person who had a nose bleed and bled in the bathroom will be treated differently than an injury, resulting in blood loss, due to drunkenness or violence.

Lock & Combinations Changes

• Lock Change & Cut Keys (Residence Halls) $65
• Lock Change & Cut Keys (On-Campus Apartments) $65
• Combination Change $25
• Lost loaner ID card $25
• Damaged Swipe Card Reader $400-$800

Room Cleaning

$50 minimum -for students leaving for the year and did not clean their rooms

Other charges

• Spring-loaded door hinge tampering - $40
• Screen Removal or Screen Damage - $50 - $175 (depending on location)
• Life Safety Equipment (fire extinguisher, smoke detectors, etc) tampering - $100

The individual(s) who is/are responsible for the damage is/are accountable for the damage. Every effort is made to identify the responsible party.

Through floor meetings and monthly postings of damages that have occurred in the building. Residents can also read a copy of the Room and Board Agreement. Reminders are also given in periodic residence hall newsletters.

The University does not provide insurance coverage for the loss or damage of residents' personal belongings. It is highly recommended that students protect their valuables by making sure their personal property is covered by an insurance plan that includes damage and loss. Insurance agencies providing this type of insurance can be located online. 

Good news! UNH has partnered with GradGuard, which offers a unique renter’s insurance program that has protected over 500,000 students nationwide. Here are a few scenarios in which renter’s insurance can help:    

• You leave your laptop in the library unattended as you grab lunch, to later find that it was stolen.    
• You lock your bike up, head to class and when you return, your bike is gone.
• You return to the residence halls after the gym, to find that someone accidentally caused a fire on your floor and the smoke ruined all of your clothes, books and bedding. 
• You accidentally hang your clothes on the sprinkler head. Water damage destroys your stuff and the belongings of other residents on your floor.  

Get GradGuard on your Housing Portal when you apply for on-campus housing!

Go your UNH Webcat account on my.unh.edu. Login to Webcat and select "Bill/Account Summary/View your student account." Click the actual damage charge to view a detailed breakdown. Only students viewing their own account have access to the detail breakdown. The bill for fall semester damages will be posted in early February and the bill for spring semester damages will be posted in mid-June.

You can also find it in your housing portal. 

• Students
• Hall Councils
• Resident Assistants
• Community Assistants
• Hall Directors
• Property Managers
• UNH Facilities
• University Police and/or Durham Police Department
• Department of Housing