Why Wellesley Student Apartment sucks

If haven't already, you should read these posts to understand why I am saying that Wellesley Student Apartments suck. 

Wellesley Student Apartments, Auckland: A review

Laundry Nightmare at WSA in Auckland

Now there are more troubles. Guess what? Despite cleaning our apartments to the best of our abilities, the cleanliness inspector failed our apartments. And I can assure you that the apartment was as clean as it could be. She failed us for not wiping off the skirting boards. Really? They are there for a reason: to collect dust, silly. And similar other stupid stuffs. For instance, our windows were clean but she complained it was not clean enough. We wiped all those windows but there was no way we could have wiped outside of the windows. The windows don't open completely.

So, all of us have to pay a fine of 50 dollars each. I'm not kidding. That means our apartment pays 250 bucks. Ridiculous! There's no way any of us are paying that. So we wrote a formal protest letter. Here's how it reads. We're all waiting for their response. I would never ever live in Wellesley Student Apartments again. Even backpacker hostels like XBase hostels have lesser rules.

Formal Protest against Unreasonable Standards used during Inspections

Dear WSA Management,

We are writing to you in a formal protest against unreasonable standards used during inspections.

The contract clearly specifies that:

3.9.1 Residents are expected to keep their bedrooms and apartment common areas tidy and free of safety hazards.

3.9.2 Residents are expected to maintain reasonable hygiene standards and keep bedrooms and apartment common areas clean.

Since our bedrooms and apartment common areas are tidy, free of safety hazards and reasonably hygienic, we do not understand why it failed inspection. We assure you that we spent an entire day cleaning the entirety of our apartment and it undoubtedly meets the outlined sanitary standards in the accommodation contract. In no way is our apartment in breach of rule number 3.9.1 since our apartment was very tidy and there certainly was nothing that posed a threat to anyone’s safety. Our apartment was also not in breach of rule number 3.9.2 since it was certainly in a reasonable hygienic state at the time of the inspection. The state of our apartment at the time of inspection was unquestionably cleaner than its state when we arrived in the beginning of the semester.

This is a formal protest against the seemingly biased and unreasonable standards utilized while conducting these so-called cleanliness inspections. These inspections seem to be more of a way to impose the management’s power and favouritism rather than impartially inspect the rooms for serious infractions that may deem the apartments hygienically unliveable to the next residents.  

Lastly if your intention is to deliberately fail residents in order to collect fines, these intentions will be met with fierce resistance.

If this matter is not resolved soon, we are prepared to appeal to higher authorities as suggested in the contract.

Sincerely,

WSA Residents

RESIDENTIAL RULES – WELLESELEY STUDENT APARTMENTS 2010

3.9 Tidiness and cleanliness

3.9.1 Residents are expected to keep their bedrooms and apartment common areas tidy and free of safety hazards.

3.9.2 Residents are expected to maintain reasonable hygiene standards and keep bedrooms and apartment common areas clean.

3.9.3 Residents are expected to participate in the University accommodation recycling scheme for waste materials.

3.9.4 Residents may not bring additional furniture into University accommodation without the express permission of Accommodation Services management. Any found will be removed and may be reclaimed at the end of the Accommodation Contract.

3.9.5 Communal areas are to be kept tidy and free of unattended Resident personal belongings.

3.9.6 Residents are not permitted to keep bicycles or other large equipment in bedrooms, apartment common areas, corridors or communal areas. Bicycles left in bicycle sheds or racks are left at the owners’ risk.

UNIVERSITY ACCOMMODATION REGULATIONS

3. ROOM INSPECTIONS

The Residential Manager or other authorised staff may enter the Accommodation for the purposes of routine inspection at all reasonable hours of the daytime. Where possible, 24 hours notice of any inspection will be given. In addition, the Residential Manager, delegated staff or other duly authorised persons (including contractors) may enter the Accommodation at any time for any of the following reasons:

1. There is reason to believe a resident is in clear or imminent danger.

2. There have been 2 or more breaches of the Regulations by the Resident.

3. There is a requirement for maintenance on the facilities.

6 COMPLAINTS

6.1 Residents who have complaints should raise them in the first instance with Accommodation Services management. Complaints of a serious nature should be made in writing to Accommodation Services management.

6.2 If the complaint relates to an alleged breach of a regulation by another resident, Accommodation Services management will deal with this in accordance with the Discipline Procedures above.

6.3 If the complaint relates to alleged actions of a resident which do not involve any breach of regulations or any other University policies or procedures Accommodation Services management may refer the matter back to the complainant. In such cases there is an expectation by the University that the two parties work together to resolve their differences and Accommodation Services management may, if requested, act as a mediator.

6.4 If the complaint relates to University accommodation or alleged actions of University accommodation staff, Accommodation Services management will consider the complaint and respond to the complainant.  Accommodation Services management may at any time request that the complaint is detailed in writing.

6.5 If a written complaint is not resolved to the satisfaction of the complainant, they may contact the senior manager responsible for Accommodation Services. This manager will consider the issue and report back in writing to the complainant with their decision.

6.6 If a complaint under 6.5 above is not resolved to the satisfaction of the complainant, they may then contact the University Complaints Officer to seek a resolution