Moving Into Your Student House: The Essential September Checklist
Starting a new academic year is exciting, but moving into a student house can also come with a surprisingly long list of things to remember.
Whether you’re moving into student accommodation in Bognor Regis or Chichester for the first time, or returning for your second or third year, getting a few important things sorted early can make the transition much easier.
From checking your room and understanding your bills to getting organised with your housemates, here’s our essential student moving-in checklist for September.
1. Read Through Your Tenancy Information
Before moving in, make sure you understand the important details surrounding your tenancy.
Check how much rent you’ll be paying, when payments are due, what your deposit arrangements are and exactly what is included within your rent.
If anything isn't clear, ask your landlord or letting agent rather than making assumptions.
For most private renters in England, deposits must be protected in a government-approved tenancy deposit protection scheme, and the landlord or agent generally has 30 days after receiving the deposit to protect it and provide the required information.
Keep copies of your tenancy information and other important documents somewhere you can easily access them throughout the year.
2. Check What's Already Provided
Before arriving with a car full of kitchen equipment, lamps and other household essentials, find out what's already in the property.
Student houses may already contain many of the larger items you'll need.
It can also be worth speaking to your new housemates before moving in. There probably isn't much benefit in five people arriving with five kettles!
Coordinate shared items such as:
Pots, pans and cooking utensils
Cleaning supplies
Crockery and glasses
Small kitchen appliances
Shared household essentials
You can then concentrate on bringing the things you'll actually need.
3. Check Your Room and the Property When You Arrive
Don't simply drop your bags and head out.
Spend a few minutes checking your bedroom and the communal areas when you first move in.
If you've been given an inventory, go through it carefully and make sure it accurately reflects the condition of the property.
It is also sensible to take dated photographs of your room and any existing marks or damage. If something doesn't look right, report it promptly rather than waiting until later in the tenancy.
An accurate inventory can help avoid disagreements over the property's condition when you eventually move out. Government guidance specifically recommends agreeing an inventory at the beginning of a tenancy.
4. Know What's Included in Your Rent
One of the easiest sources of confusion in a student house is bills.
Find out whether your rent includes things such as:
Gas | Electricity | Water | Broadband
If bills aren't included, establish who will be responsible for setting up accounts and how the cost will be divided between housemates.
If necessary, take meter readings when you move in so you have a record of where your usage began.
At Bright Future Lettings, we aim to make property costs as clear as possible so students understand what's included before moving in.
5. Make Sure You Know Who to Contact
Save your landlord or property manager's contact details in your phone.
If you discover a maintenance problem — whether that's a leak, heating issue or faulty appliance — knowing who to contact immediately makes life much easier.
Don't ignore small problems in the hope they'll disappear. Reporting them early can often prevent them from becoming larger issues.
You should also familiarise yourself with the property's safety features. Private landlords have responsibilities relating to gas, electrical and fire safety, including smoke alarms and, where required, carbon monoxide alarms.
If something appears unsafe, report it.
6. Agree Some Basics With Your Housemates
You don't need a 20-page house rulebook.
But five minutes spent agreeing on a few basics can prevent a lot of arguments later.
Talk about things like cleaning communal areas, taking the bins out, buying shared household products and respecting noise when someone has an early lecture or deadline.
A simple cleaning rota can work surprisingly well.
And decide early whether food is being shared or kept separate — because discovering someone has eaten the meal you've been thinking about all day isn't the ideal way to build housemate relations!
7. Get to Know Your New Area
Once you've unpacked, spend some time getting familiar with your surroundings.
If you're new to Bognor Regis or Chichester, find your nearest:
Supermarket • Bus stop • Pharmacy • GP • Campus route • Train station
Work out your journey to university before your first 9am lecture rather than discovering on the morning that it takes longer than you expected.
The University of Chichester recommends students living privately stay within a reasonable commuting distance of their main campus, particularly so that lectures, seminars and university support remain easily accessible.
8. Check Whether Your Accommodation Is Accredited
This is particularly relevant for students renting privately around Bognor Regis and Chichester.
The University of Chichester operates an accreditation scheme for the off-campus properties it advertises. Accredited landlords agree to a code of conduct covering the management of their properties and relevant health and safety standards.
Chichester and Arun District Councils also operate a landlord accreditation scheme, and the University says only accredited properties are advertised through its accommodation service.
It's worth checking this when you're choosing somewhere to live.
9. Make Your Room Feel Like Home
Once all the practical jobs are finished, this is the enjoyable part.
You're potentially going to spend most of the academic year here, so make your room somewhere you're comfortable studying, relaxing and sleeping.
A few photographs, bedding, plants, lighting and personal touches can completely change how a student room feels.
Just check your tenancy information before attaching or changing anything that could damage walls or furnishings.
Starting the Academic Year Right
Moving into a new student house doesn't need to be stressful.
Getting organised during your first few days — checking the property, understanding your rent, knowing who to contact and agreeing a few basics with your housemates — can make the rest of the academic year much smoother.
And if you're studying at the University of Chichester and already starting to think ahead to your accommodation for the next academic year, it never hurts to begin your research early.
Bright Future Lettings provides quality student accommodation in Bognor Regis and Chichester, with a focus on comfortable, well-managed homes for students.
Looking for your next student home?
Keep an eye on our available properties or get in touch to register your interest.