When term time is over, many students look forward to heading home to see their family and friends over the holidays. For whatever period of time you’re going to be away, it’s important to take the necessary steps to keep your home away from home secure whilst you enjoy taking a break from the pressures of university.
There are a few different types of accommodation that students live in whilst they’re at university. Whether it’s a privately rented flat, halls, or a student house, there are things that you can do to protect the property from theft, fire, and other health hazards.
No matter what time of year you’re heading home, we want to make sure your visit is as stress-free as possible by taking some simple measures to keep your student accommodation secure while you’re away. Let’s get into our top tips!
Pretend Someone’s Home
One of the biggest issues that people face when they’re away from their property is the potential for someone to break in.
One of the oldest tricks in the book to deter people from breaking into your house when you’re not home is to make it look like you’re in. So, for our first tip, we would suggest you take these ideas into consideration:
- Use timers that will turn your lights on in different rooms throughout the evening – Much like the old “keep the landing light on” trick but with a modern twist. Plugging lamps into sockets with timers and getting them to come on intermittently throughout the evening will give the illusion that people are in and moving around the house. That way, it won’t look like you’re all huddled on the landing all night, as this could give away that you’re not actually in. This will also save money over the alternative, as you won’t have to keep the light on all day.
- Ask your neighbours to put your bins out and put them back – This one is something that people forget. But if your bins don’t go out on bin day, or you leave them out, it’s a huge giveaway that you’re not home. Asking someone to put them out and take them back in can help to make it seem like you are home.
- Make sure you cancel any regular deliveries – If you have any regular deliveries or any post coming while you’re away, it might be an idea to cancel them or get your neighbours to check for anything outside your house. A lonely box on your doorstep for a few hours, or even days, is another telltale sign you’re not in.
These are just a few ways to give the illusion that someone’s home. Now we’ve got that covered, let’s look at some other ways you can keep your property safe.
Protect Your Property from Fire Hazards
On top of making sure your property is protected from burglaries, you want to take the correct measures to prevent any fires. You might remember before you went on holiday, your parents would go around and unplug everything and switch it off at the wall. Not only will this protect your house from the risk of fire, but it will also save some money on your energy bills.
If you want to know more about your energy costs, be sure to check out our guide to student energy bills.
Just remember not to switch off the fridge if you have anything in there, you don’t want to return to any rotten food, which can attract insects and other nasties.
Take The Correct Security Measures
It might seem self-explanatory, but one of the ways to keep your house secure is to make sure that all your doors and windows are closed and locked. In one out of seven break-ins, the burglar walked straight through an unlocked door, so this is a simple measure you want to make sure you get right.
If you live in a house with housemates, it’s important that you know when each person is leaving. This way the last person to leave the property can make sure that every point of entry is secure. If someone is committed to getting into your property, even the smallest window could be an opportunity, so before the last person leaves, double check nothing is left ajar.
On top of the obvious, if you do have any additional security systems like CCTV cameras, doorbell cameras, or motion detection lights, it’s worth checking that these are all in good working order before you leave. These are all great options for keeping your property secure, so if you don’t have them and you’re concerned about potential issues, it could be worth having a chat with your landlord about getting them installed.
Your safety should always be your top priority, so for more tips, check out this blog – How to Stay Safe at University.
Be Careful What You Post
We might want to show off what we’re doing over the holidays and post that we’re with family and friends from home, however, posting on social media when you’re away from your student house for prolonged periods of time, can alert people that you’re away. This can be particularly problematic if people are aware that you have expensive equipment, instruments, or clothes in your house.
One in four cases of robberies are committed by a person the victims know. As morbid as it is, it’s better to stay safe and keep your location a secret and post your pictures when you’ve returned home.
Protect Your Expensive Possessions
Speaking of expensive possessions, it’s always worth making sure anything that might be worth stealing is tucked away or taken with you. Things like laptops, printers, instruments, hard drives etc, are all targets for thieves. If you can take them with you, we would suggest you do. If not, always keep them out of view of a window so people can’t see them from outside and find a decent hiding place, preferably not just under your bed.
It’s also worth noting, that if you’re leaving things like laptops and hard drives in your student accommodation, make sure your work is backed up. The last thing you want is to return from the holidays and find all your hard work is wasted because your laptop has gone missing!
Cover Your Items with Student Insurance
One of the best ways to keep your things protected in the case of them getting stolen is to make sure you have them covered with the appropriate insurance. There are many times throughout your time being a student when you could see the benefits of opting for student insurance, but making sure your possessions are covered will give you the peace of mind you need, so you can focus on the important stuff.
Here at The Insurance Emporium, you have the option to tailor your student insurance to your specific needs. Get a quote today!
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