Help future-you avoid any moving nightmares

You made it through your first year... lectures, late nights, dodgy ovens and all. But before you ride off into the summer sunset, there’s one last hurdle to cross: moving out of halls.

Don’t panic. Here's everything you need to know to pack up, clear out, and move on without the stress (or a cleaning fine).

First things first, clean up

Nobody loves cleaning, but it’s part of the deal when you move out. Make sure your room, bathroom and kitchen area are left in a decent state.

Top cleaning tips:

• Empty all bins
• Wipe surfaces
• Clear out the fridge and cupboards
• Don’t leave dishes “soaking” for someone else to deal with
• Vacuum your room
• Do it together, everyone needs to pull their weight!

Why it matters: If you leave a mess, you will risk charges being taken from your deposit. Think of it as money you could be spending on pizza this summer.

What to do with your leftover stuff

It’s easy to underestimate just how much random stuff you’ve gathered over the year. Clothes you never wore, cutlery you somehow collected, and that rice you swore you were going to cook.

Donate it instead

There are donation points near all main accommodation sites, so you don’t need to throw good stuff away. Look for collection bins for:

• Clothes and shoes
• Bedding and kitchenware
• Small appliances and electronics

Just make sure everything’s clean and usable.

Some halls run special ReLove campaigns to collect and re-home unwanted bedding and household goods too. You can easily find donation points through the British Heart Foundation as well.

Got spare food?

Don’t bin it, donate it!

Lots of Leicester halls have on-site food donation stations during move-out season, and they pass it on to local food banks and charities.

✔ Unopened pasta, rice, tins, sauces, snacks?

✔ Long-life milk, tea, cereal? Yes please.

🚫 Opened jars or out-of-date stuff? Not so much.

Planning the move itself

• Don’t leave packing until the night before. (It always takes longer than you think)
• Label your boxes so unpacking later doesn’t feel like a cryptic puzzle.
• Check your contract for your exact move-out date and don’t miss it.
• Ask your site team if you need help arranging a taxi or van. They’re used to this and can give advice.

Final check before you go

• Keys returned? 
• Room cleaned? 
• Fridge cleared? 
• Bins emptied? 
• All your stuff packed (or donated)? 
• Deposit info sorted? 

Give your flat one last sweep, say goodbye to the fridge magnets, and don’t forget your chargers.

Need help?

If you're unsure about anything, ask your reception team – they’ve seen it all before and are happy to help. Moving out doesn’t have to mean throwing everything away. Small donations = big difference for someone else.

Good luck with the move, and enjoy a well-earned summer break! ☀️