Moving out at university
Hi, I’m Lucy! I work in the Student Communications team and have previously been a part of the Residence Life team right here at the University.
From helping students in halls through move-ins to move-outs each year, I’ve picked up plenty of tips and tricks along the way, so here’s my advice for making your move a little smoother and less stressful.
Start early
Planning your move and packing everything up is a huge task, and it’s easy to underestimate how much stuff you’ve accumulated. It’s best to start packing at least a week in advance to avoid last-minute panic and give yourself plenty of time to get everything together.
Coordinate with friends or family
The end of term is a busy time for everyone. If you’ll need help transporting your belongings, make sure you book lifts or transport early. If you’re moving with a group, hiring a van with friends can be cheaper and quicker than multiple trips in cars or taxis.
Check your contract dates
Sometimes the end of one contract and the start of another won’t overlap. It’s always worth checking this to make sure you have a plan b should you need to store your belongings somewhere between tenancies. You might be able to leave a few bags with friends or wherever you are staying in the meantime, but if the gap between tenancies is long or you have a lot of stuff to transport, it could be worth looking into short term storage solutions.
Leave your essentials until last
Box up the things you’re least likely to need first, like room decorations or out of season clothes, and leave your everyday items until last so you’re not routing through already packed boxes for your essentials later.
Don’t forget anything you’ve been keeping in common areas such as kitchens or living rooms, and make sure any important documents like tenancy agreements, academic work, and ID are kept somewhere safe so they don’t get lost in the chaos.
Declutter as you go
You don’t have to take everything to wherever you’re moving to next, but you do have to clear your room before you leave. If you come across things you haven’t used in the last year, it might be worth sending them off to a new home. Get rid of things you no longer use by donating, recycling, or binning them instead of dragging them into your next place.
Label everything clearly
Whether you’re sharing a house with your current flatmates or living with new people, labelled boxes or bags make unpacking much easier and avoid confusion over ownership. For each bag or box, label them with your name, which room each one needs to go to and a summary of what’s inside (eg. clothes, books, stationary.)
This makes unloading your stuff to the right place a lot easier and avoids any confusion about which box belongs to who.
Clean up after yourself
Most halls and students houses expect rooms to be left clean and empty. While they’ll likely be cleaned properly after you’ve left, it’s always a good idea to try and leave the room in the same state you found it. Wipe down surfaces, vacuum the floors and make sure you’ve taken care of any mess you might have made in the shared spaces too.
Take photos before you leave
When you’ve cleared all your belongings out and cleaned up, snap some photos of your room and the shared spaces just to be on the safe side.
While you might leave your everywhere spotless, if there are others moving out after you, there could be additional mess or damage that occurs when you’re already out. It’s always best to document what the space looked like when you handed in your keys, just in case there are any disputes later on.
Moving out at university might never feel completely easy, but it doesn’t have to be chaotic. With a bit of planning and organisation, you can turn each move into a smoother, and even slightly satisfying experience.
