We know that many of you will be looking forward to heading home for the Christmas break and we want to make sure your trip is as relaxing and stress-free at possible.
That’s why we’re sharing some tips for making sure you keep your possessions safe and leave your student accommodation secure before you leave.
Here is some advice which should help:
- Empty properties make Christmas a popular time of year for burglaries and, unfortunately, student homes can often be a target. Where possible, take high-value items with you, or arrange to leave them with friends or family until you return. If you do need to leave them behind, make sure they’re out of sight of windows, so they can’t be spotted by anyone looking in.
- Leave a light on! It sounds simple we know, but it helps to create the illusion that someone is at home. Even better, use a light timer so it only comes on as it goes dark, to save power. There are other ways to make it look like someone’s at home, such as leaving coats hanging in the hallway or having a radio playing in the background.
- Don’t just shut doors and windows but make sure they’re locked if you have locks fitted. If there is access at the back of the property, always make sure that gates are locked. If you have a house alarm, use it! Just make sure you leave yours or your landlord’s number with a trusted neighbour, in case it’s activated.
- Leave your heating on while you’re away, just on a low temperature and short timer if you can. That way you should avoid pipes freezing if temperatures plummet, which could lead to bursts and flooding when temperatures rise again. If you’re unsure how to set a timer on your central heating, speak to your accommodation provider in advance.
- Empty your fridge of fresh food but don’t switch off the electricity supply as this will turn off your central heating boiler, defrost your freezer, and prevent any wired fire and intruder alarms from working. Just turn off any electrical equipment at the plug if it isn’t needed while you’re away.
- And finally, make sure that all rubbish has been put out (in the correct bins, to ensure it gets collected). Your student accommodation will smell much better when you return!
Follow these tips and you’ll have peace of minding while your away, knowing that your student accommodation should be safe and secure.
Further information
For more information and advice about protecting your personal belongings and property, contact our friendly Campus Support team on 0151 794 3252 or visit the Liverpool Student Homes website. The University also has a dedicated Police Officer who works alongside our Campus Support Services team and can offer practical safety advice and support regarding any potential crime related issues. Further details can be found on the Campus Support webpages.