Frequently asked questions

What issues does RoomOnline address?

What benefits does RoomOnline give your students?

What benefits does RoomOnline give your staff?

Can RoomOnline be customised?

How easy is it to maintain?

Does RoomOnline meet Disability Discrimination Act requirements?

To view a full demonstration of RoomOnline please view our demo presentation.

What issues does RoomOnline address?

Managing the student accommodation application process is a complex and time-sensitive task and is set to become more so if the government proposals for a Post-Qualification Application system are implemented.

Current paper-based application processes can be cumbersome:

• paper application forms are expensive and time consuming to print and post. Students do not always correctly complete them and return them on time
• received paper forms require manual processing, sorting and data entry
• eligibility rules can be complex, and checking the course offer status of students can be difficult
• manual allocation of rooms to students is time-consuming and prone to error
• posted contracts can get delayed or lost
• payments must be tracked separately
• all chasing of overdue information must be done manually
• it is difficult for management to get an overview of progress.

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What benefits does RoomOnline give your students?

Today’s students have increasingly high expectations, both for the accommodation in which they will live and the process by which they apply for it:

• students are used to and expect online application systems
• they resent having to enter their basic details more than once
• they expect quick feedback.

RoomOnline allows students to:

• apply for accommodation online, ensuring key information is provided.
• complete a simplified application form, as basic information can be retrieved from your student information system
• view the progress of their application
• view accommodation offers and accept/reject leases
• pay deposit/rent online (with link to a third-party payment provider)
• notify you of arrival arrangements.

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What benefits does RoomOnline give your staff?

RoomOnline allows your staff to:

• allocate spaces to applicants based on criteria, preferences and availability using a simple on-screen process
• generate leases for each type of accommodation and issue the lease online to the student for acceptance
• automatically remind students to respond to offers, pay deposits, submit visas etc
• send emails to individuals or groups of registered students to keep them informed
• report on all aspects of the application/allocation/payment process
• view an individual's accommodation history including audit trail of application, offer process and emails
• enter paper applications manually for those who are unable to apply online
• easily update accommodation details, lease information, text of automatic emails, dates when students can apply etc.

RoomOnline does much of the time consuming work automatically:

• The system performs eligibility checks on students before they apply. This ensures that they meet any distance and course offer status critera.
• Different criteria (including quotas) can be applied for new undergraduate/postgraduate/international student applicants, as well as continuing students.
• Emails are sent out automatically to remind students to accept their lease, pay a deposit, submit a visa, etc.
• The system keeps track of allocated students and available spaces at all times and can produce up-to-date reports.

A major benefit for both you and your students, particularly international students and late applicants, is removal of the requirement to post applications and leases.

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Can RoomOnline be customised?

No two student accommodation services work in exactly the same way.

As part of the installation process, Horisk will customise RoomOnline to your requirements.

This includes:

• specifying your eligibility criteria for different types of student
• configuring the application form to capture exactly the information you need
• applying your branding to match the rest of your website
• setting up the system with your initial accommodation and lease details.

Further options are available to adapt RoomOnline to your specific requirements.

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How easy is it to maintain?

RoomOnline is developed using industry-standard technologies and techniques to ease future maintenance and upgrades. Horisk offers a range of maintenance and support options for RoomOnline, but it is possible for an in-house IT department to maintain the system.

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Does RoomOnline meet Disability Discrimination Act requirements?

Yes. RoomOnline meets Disability Discrimination Act requirements by matching Web Accessibility Initiative requirements AA standard.

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