Moving to a new area
Your first few weeks
​Starting university or college can be a brilliant and exciting experience, but it can also bring its own challenges.
It's completely natural to feel nervous during your first few weeks, but our main advice is to take care of yourself.
If you are living away from home, it’s a good idea to take steps that will help keep you safe while on campus and out and about in the nearby towns.
Below are some practical steps to help you settle in and adjust to student life:
- Familiarise yourself with the local area as soon as you can
- Build relationships with your flatmates and swap phone numbers
- Find out where your local police station and hospital are
- Look into what buses, taxis, and trains run in your area
Moving into a new home
If you are moving out of student accommodation or moving to a new flat, check its security before moving in.
When living with a group of friends there will always have to be compromises; just make sure it’s not on the security of the property.
- Get to know the area you are moving to. Speak to other students and check the crime statistics
- Check the security of the property. Are the doors and windows secure? Does the property have an alarm? How many different people have keys?
- Find out if the property is registered with an approved scheme or code of practice. This will make sure it has the appropriate safety and security certifications such as fire precautions, gas appliance safety and appropriate locks
- Don’t sign a contract until you are absolutely sure that the property is right for you
Visit our home security pages for further advice and guidance.