====== Committees for admissions, extensions & participation ======

Several bodies take part in admissions, hardship cases and extensions. The official policy in force since **22 September 2025** describes the membership and decision route for the Residence Admissions Committee and Central Admissions Committee. ((Studierendenwerk Hamburg: admission and extension policy, in force since 22 September 2025, https://www.stwhh.de/fileadmin/user_upload/Wohnen/Bewerbungsinformationen/Konditionen/Aufnahme-_und_Verl%C3%A4ngerungslinien.pdf))

===== Four similar-sounding levels =====

^ Level ^ Its role ^ What it does not replace ^
| **Student self-government (SV)** | Represents residents locally, organises participation and shapes community life under the local constitution. | It is not residence management and does not decide on your tenancy agreement. |
| **House Committee (HA)** | Under the still-published statute, advises on the local constitution, occupancy and transfer rules, structural matters and conflicts. | It is not the Residence Admissions Committee. |
| **Residence Admissions Committee (HAA)** | Under the 2025 policy, makes recommendations on hardship cases and extensions and takes part in internal occupancy and transfers. | Its recommendation is not yet an official decision. |
| **Central Admissions Committee (ZA)** | Makes policy decisions across the residences and considers special cases, objections and differing assessments. | It is not a general advice service for ordinary tenancy or repair questions. |

The distinction matters: **HA** and **HAA** are two different committees. Your personal application must still reach Studierendenwerk through the official route, even where student representatives take part in the procedure.

===== Residence Admissions Committee (HAA) =====

Each residence forms a **Residence Admissions Committee**, known by the German abbreviation HAA. Under the policy, its members are:

  * the residence adviser (Protektor:in) as chair,
  * two student self-government representatives,
  * one employed Studierendenwerk representative, normally residence management.

If there is no residence adviser, student self-government takes the chair. HAA makes recommendations on hardship cases and extensions. It also deals with occupancy within the residence and recommends internal transfers under the approved occupancy and transfer rules.

===== Central Admissions Committee (ZA) =====

The **Central Admissions Committee**, known by the German abbreviation ZA, works across the residences. Under the policy, it consists of a residence adviser as chair, two employed Studierendenwerk representatives, two self-government representatives and one person appointed by Hamburg's ASten who does not live in a residence.

ZA makes policy decisions for admissions and extensions and considers, among other things, special cases not clearly covered by the rules, objections, hardship cases and extension applications assessed differently by HAA and Studierendenwerk.

The policy also governs the procedure: ZA normally meets once a month in private. It has a quorum with three members present, decides by majority and sends its minutes to the Residence Admissions Committees. The two self-government representatives are elected for one year; each residence's self-government can nominate up to two voters and up to two candidates.

===== How an extension application is handled =====

  - The written application must reach Studierendenwerk no later than three months before the permitted stay ends. This is an exclusion deadline.
  - The Accommodation Department assesses the application under the policy and ZA's general decisions.
  - The relevant HAA makes a recommendation.
  - If HAA and Studierendenwerk agree, the decision is communicated.
  - If their assessments differ, ZA decides.

<WRAP ww-note ww-note-official>
**A recommendation is not automatically the decision**

The written notice from Studierendenwerk is what counts for your application. Submit your grounds and evidence completely and on time through the official route.
</WRAP>

===== House Committee (HA) & Housing Advisory Board =====

The **House Committee (HA)** is not the same as HAA. The still-published **2008 statute** describes HA as dealing with matters including the local constitution, occupancy and transfer rules, structural matters and mediation. It also describes a Housing Advisory Board. Because this source is older, the wiki does not claim that changing membership and current practice remain unchanged. ((Studierendenwerk Hamburg: statute for self-government in residences, 16 April 2008, https://www.stwhh.de/fileadmin/user_upload/Wohnen/Bewerbungsinformationen/Hausordnung/Statut04-2008.pdf))

Under this statute, HA consists of a residence adviser as chair, two employed Studierendenwerk representatives and two residents nominated by student self-government. Its named responsibilities include approving the local self-government constitution, statements on housing conditions and rent calculations, supplementary rules for internal occupancy and transfers, structural matters and mediation. The statute provides for at least one meeting open to all residents each semester. Whether and how this procedure currently operates at your residence should be confirmed locally.

===== How residents can participate =====

  * Attend the residents' meeting and student self-government election at least once each semester.
  * Stand for student self-government or propose a project there.
  * Serve on HAA as a person nominated by student self-government.
  * Take part through student self-government in electing the cross-residence representatives on ZA.
  * For your own application, still use the official written route and meet every deadline.

<WRAP ww-note ww-note-local>
**Separate the formal basis from current practice**

The 2025 policy is the current basis for HAA and ZA. Information about HA, the Housing Advisory Board and local self-government structures comes from the still-published 2008 statute. Current dates, people and local procedures therefore belong in a local notice or dated message.
</WRAP>

<WRAP ww-related>
===== Related pages =====

  * [[en:einzug:2_4_wohnzeit|Extend your stay or move out]]
  * [[en:mitbestimmung:studentische_selbstverwaltung|Student self-government]]
  * [[en:mitbestimmung:protektoren|Residence advisers]]
</WRAP>