Burglary prevention

With multiple occupants having laptops, tablets, mobile phones and games consoles, student residences often contain many more possessions than an average family home and are extremely desirable for burglars.

Over half of burglaries are through unlocked doors or open and insecure windows. Don’t become a victim of crime by making it is easy for burglars.

It's also worth letting your landlord know the dates your house will be vacant and making sure you don't advertise leaving on social media - you never know who will see your posts! 

Top tip: put a lamp on a timer to give the impression that someone is in.

Read our top burglary prevention tips

House maintenance

Follow these tips to look after your property while you're away!

• Temperatures can dip below freezing in December and January, so leave a reduced heating schedule running whilst you are away to prevent pipes freezing and bursting.
• Make sure you put your bins out for the last collection before you leave and ensure someone is there to take them in again. Empty bins sat outside your property for long periods draw attention to the fact that no one is home and can also be used as a step to access upper windows. Plus, you could be fined for not putting your bins away!
• Clear out your fridge to prevent perishable items going off and smelling. If you are emptying your cupboards you can also take unwanted food items to a food bank collection point in any Tesco store and unwanted clothes can be donated to the British Heart Foundation donation.
• Unplug non-essential electrical items to keep bills down. Make sure you don't unplug your fridge and freezer!
• Take valuables with you and make sure that anything left behind is out of sight and secured away.
• If you’re the last person to leave your property, double check that you have locked all doors and windows securely.

Finally, if you're planning to travel home by train, make sure you familiarise yourself with upcoming strike dates.