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Don’t leave moving until the last minute. Remember that you’ll need enough time (and support) for admin, packing, cleaning, and the move itself.

Ask yourself:

• Where’s the paperwork? Are there any rules I need to follow when moving out (closed windows, key drop-off points)?
• Do I have enough boxes? Is there a local shop where I could collect a free box?
• What do I need to clean? Do I need any products to ensure my home is left spotless?
• Where am I moving to? Do I need a ride? Do I know someone with a car, or do I need to book one? How big of a car do I need to fit everything?
• Do I need a space to store my things before I move in? What are my best storage options?

Don’t forget to leave your spaces clean! You might need to do more than just wipe down your kitchen counter.

Here’s some things you should be thinking about:

• Cleaning the oven
• Emptying and defrosting the fridge and freezer
• Cleaning out the drains in your kitchen and bathroom
• Wiping inside the cupboards
• Dusting everything

If you have housemates, put together a cleaning schedule to ensure that everyone gets involved. Or, perhaps it’s worth booking a professional cleaner?

Moving is a great opportunity to take a look at the stuff you don’t use much – such as those clothes collecting dust in your wardrobe. Head over to your local charity shop to donate what you won’t wear again (just make sure to follow their donation guidelines).

There are organisations that will collect your unwanted items, including clothing, furniture, electronics and books, from your doorstep! It’s a great way to reduce the clutter, reduce your waste, and contribute to your local community.

Organisations to check out: Emmaus Leeds, St Gemma’s Hospice, and St Lukes Cares.

Of course, you can sell your items on places like Vinted – free your space and get some money back!

You might also have some leftover food on your moving day. Use Olio if it’s fresh and perishable, or head over to a local food bank to drop off your non-perishable items, like rice and beans.

Find your local food bank!

Moving out, but your new tenancy isn’t starting yet? Heading back home or travelling before moving into your new home?

If you have friends or family nearby, ask to keep your belongings in their place. If not, look for storage options to keep your belongings safely until returning to Leeds.

Check out Kit Keeper!

If you’ve been in Leeds a while, you might have seen the piles of rubbish that accumulate in student areas around this time. It’s terrible for the environment, you’re likely to get a fine from the council, and it is disrespectful to people living and working in the area –  so don’t leave any rubbish out on the street.

Take the steps above to sort out your things, recycle, and (responsibly!) dispose of anything that you don’t want to keep, donate or sell.

In the moving chaos, you might find yourself surrounded by boxes and bags, which may or may not be labelled, making it difficult to suddenly find that one random thing you’ve already packed.

Make sure your basics – toothbrush, a set of cutlery, phone charger – and your essentials – ID, wallet, keys – are set aside in a place where you can see them. And don’t forget to have a spare bag or box for those items too!

As soon as you have your new address confirmed, start changing your contact details – and there’s probably a long list of organisations, platforms and products that have your address saved. A good place to start is your student portal, bank account, phone contract provider, and doctors, followed by all your subscriptions.

If you’re worried about missing anything, you can also redirect your mail. This might be a good option for the first month or two after moving.