This isn’t the end to the term that any of us anticipated and to those of you concluding your studies, we appreciate that you're missing a sense of closure. However, we all need to observe national restrictions and maintain social distancing for the time being to help protect the most vulnerable in our community.

To those of you considering returning to private accommodation to collect your belongings, please remain at home and continue your studies online.

When it does come time to collect your belongings at the end of your contract, please consider your neighbours who may be working from home or self-isolating, and vulnerable people who will be shielding. This should not be considered an opportunity to meet with housemates and you should make every effort to avoid visiting your property at the same time as each other. Reports of students not adhering to the national restrictions currently in place could be subject to investigation under the Code of Discipline for Students.

Below you will find guidance on how to safely return to your off-campus, term-time address and move out while maintaining social distancing but please travel when restrictions allow and you feel that it is safe for you to do so.

Maintaining social distancing

• If you live in a shared house, liaise with your housemates before travelling to ensure you each arrive at a time that doesn’t clash – ideally there should only be one housemate in the property at a time.
• Where possible you should attend your accommodation with the minimum assistance and transport required (eg one other adult in one car).
• Where possible you should time your move to avoid an overnight stay.
• If returning keys, contact your landlord or letting agent in advance to confirm what the process for this is.
• Respect neighbours and others in the local area as you move out.

Waste management

• Ensure you are recycling properly, do not contaminate your bin, and check your local requirements.
  • Remember that in Nottingham City you cannot bag items for recycling – recycle bin contents must be clean, dry and loose
• Make sure general waste is in strong black bags.
• If you have excess waste that won’t fit in your wheelie bin, ask your landlord or letting agent about any service they might be able to provide.
• Check your bin days and only present waste for collection when appropriate.
• Speak to your housemates and consider waste collection in your schedule for collecting belongings from your term-time address – make sure you know who is responsible for putting the bins out.

For more information about waste management and disposal service, check your local council’s website.

Returning library books

• Check with your landlord or letting agent in the first instance to see if they can support you.
• Alternatively, you can post your books back through the letterbox at the front of Hallward Library on University Park, making sure you follow social distancing advice.
• Continuing students who wish to keep their books can do so – the loans will automatically renew and the books will only be due back if another student requests them when our libraries re-open.

Visit the Libraries website for further information.

If you have any additional queries about moving out of your accommodation, please check the Students’ Union’s Moving Out guide.

The safety of our students and the local community is of paramount importance to us and we kindly ask you to adhere to social distancing guidelines when collecting your belongings.