Id think you'd be foolish not to go into halls in the first year. Fair enough theyre small, but they get cleaned and they are usually cheaper than renting a house (atleast in aber they are) - if I could go back to halls and re-live my first year id do it tomorrow, probably the best year of my life.
As for the bike thing, stay friendly/jokey with the authorities and you shouldnt have a problem (as tart says, make cleaners cups of tea :-)