The UMD faculty flats are compact two-bedroom flats, furnished with all of the basic necessities for a comfortable 4 month stay (See flat # 39 and flat #43). They are located in a pleasant residential area within approximately 30 minutes walking distance from the campus. They are located about 3 miles from the center of Birmingham. There is convenient bus transportation.

Flats are available to semester faculty from (roughly) September 1 to January 1 and from January 1 to June 1. There needs to be at least a week between semesters between the Fall and Spring faculty members, for cleaning and routine maintenance work.

The Programme pays the basic utilities and TV license fee. The Programme pays the base rate and local charges for the telephone in the flat. However, faculty members are reminded that all telephone calls are charged by the minute, even local calls, and extended calls should be avoided. All long distance calls should be made using a telephone calling card.

There are no computers in the flats. If you bring your laptop, you can connect to the Internet at off-peak hours at reasonable rates. It is very expensive to connect to the Internet during peak hours. Faculty members will also be responsible for any charges associated with using a computer from the flat.

Many laptops need only a plug converter, not a power converter. If you are bringing your own laptop, check the specifications to see if this will work for you. To connect to the Internet, you may need a simple cable (£9.99, readily available in UK) which has the U.S. telephone plug at one end and the U.K. telephone plug at the other.

The program provides the essential furnishing in the flats. Various other items accumulate as faculty members leave things behind.

BASIC INVENTORY--FLATS 39 AND 43 SEYMOUR CLOSE
The program will provide and maintain the following items:

Living Room 10' x 18'
42"round dining table with 4 chairs in #43, oval dining table with leaf in #39
sofa bed in #43, sofa in #39
2 easy chairs
TV/VCR
Floor lamp bookshelves
3 nesting side tables in #43, 1 coffee table in #39
boombox w/CD player in #43, boombox w/tape player in #39

Master bedroom 9' x 14'
1 double bed
2 chests of drawers
1 desk/vanity w/mirror, stool
wardrobe w/hangers
2 table lamps
side chair
waste basket
clockradio

Second bedroom 7' x 12'
bunkbeds in #43, 2 single beds in #39
chest of drawers
wardrobe
1 table lamp
1 side chair
Low table
Small desk

Bathroom
toilet, sink, tub and shower
bathroom scales (kilos and stones), waste basket, linen closet

Kitchen 7' x 11'
4 burner gas range with oven
apartment-sized washer & dryer
small fridge w/freezer inside
microwave
fire extinguisher
electric teakettle, electric coffee pot, toaster
breadbox, set of canisters, waste basket
set of 8 plates. cups and saucers, small plates, knives, forks, spoons
soup/cereal bowls, assorted glasses, creamer and sugar bowl
kitchen knives and spatula, salt and pepper shaker, vase, teapot, glass pitcher
butter dish, 2 bowls cutting board, grater, colander
strainer, scissors (somewhere in flat) measuring cup, spoons
cookie sheet, 9x13 baking dish 3 sauce pans w/lids, varying sizes,
2 skillets, varying sizes cookbook, flashlight, miscellaneous other utensils

Linens:
1 tablecloth, 4 sets single bed linen, 2 sets double bed linen, 2 single duvets w/covers, 2 double duvets w/covers, 8 pillows 4 bath towels, 4 smaller towels, 4 wash cloths 2 kitchen towels, 2 pot holders

Hall closets:
shopping trolley, vacuum cleaner, sponge mop and bucket, push broom, brush & dustpan drying rack, iron and ironing board

Other items:
You may expect to find a variety of additional items left by previous residents. These will vary from time to time and are not maintained by the program. These might include: transformers, office supplies, travel books, novels, toiletries, games, various kitchen utensils, etc.