Thursday 12-12-2024 - 15:04

Many students choose to go home for the winter break, leaving their term-time accommodation for a period of time. Below, we've provided some tips and advice for how to prepare to go home. You can find tips for how how to keep your property safe, clean, and just some general tips!

 

 

 

 

 

• Check Landlord/Estate Agent Availability: Ensure you know how to contact your landlord or estate agent over the Christmas period should any emergencies come up whilst you aren’t at the property. 

 

• Inform Your Landlord/Estate Agent: Let your landlord know you're going away. This helps with security and maintenance, allowing them to check for potential issues like leaks or burst pipes. If you don’t inform them and something goes wrong, repair costs could be deducted from your deposit. 

 

• Clear Out Perishable Food: Make sure no perishable food is left in fridges or cupboards, you don’t want these going off over Christmas to attract pests and vermin. 
• Follow Waste Disposal Rules: Ensure all rubbish is removed from the property.  

 

• Check your local waste disposal rules, some rubbish such as glass and bottles may need special handling and shouldn't be put in regular bins. Make sure all bins are also taken out.

 

• Secure Your Home: Shut and lock all windows and doors, locking your bedroom door too if you can. 

 

• Tidy Up and Clean Thoroughly: Wash your kitchen utensils and put them away. Leave everything tidy, and maybe even do a deep clean! 

 

• Turn Off Sockets: Turn off sockets and unplug everything to save energy (but not important items like fridges or freezers!). 

 

• Turn Off Water: This can prevent leaks, which could cause damage and cost money. 

 

• Manage Heating: Turning off the heating completely can lead to frozen pipes, which may burst. Ask your landlord for suggestions, but setting a two-hour-a-day timer could work. 

 

• Lighting: Turn off all lights to save energy but consider using a light timer to create the illusion that someone is home. 

 

• Brief the Last Person Leaving: Organize a group chat and plan in advance. Make sure the last person leaving knows what to do. 

 

• Secure Valuables: Any valuables that you cannot bring home with you should be stored away out of sight and away from windows. 

 

• Take Care of Plants: If you’ve got them and cannot bring them with you - make arrangements for your plants! 

 

• Don't Advertise Your Absence: Avoid letting people know your property is empty, dont post on social media that your property will be empty. You could even create the illusion of occupancy through the use of light timers. 

 

• Take Down Christmas Decorations: This may seem strange to do before January, but it can be good to remove any Christmas decorations before you leave to save you doing this when you return. 

​​​​​​​

• Final Checks: Before you leave, ensure everything is turned off, we’ve collated the previous points into a checklist you can use to do your final checks, here.