If you’re a student, you’ve no doubt heard the horror stories of student homes getting broken into and having items stolen. Sadly, it does happen sometimes and student accommodation can be a prime target for burglars.

While it may be unlikely to happen to you, it’s something you need to take action against. There are lots of things you and your flatmates can do to protect your home and keep it safe from break-ins.

Read on to learn about the best action you can take to keep your student accommodation safe.

1. Get Contents Insurance

The first thing you should do when moving into student accommodation is get some contents insurance. You and your flatmates can all chip in to keep costs low, or if you live in private student halls, it comes as part of the rent.
 
This will ensure that if in the event of a burglary, it will cover the cost of your valuable items and will reimburse you for their value. It’s something you might never need, but if you don’t have it and something happens, it will leave you out of pocket.

2. Make It Look Like You Are Home

 
Burglars like to strike when nobody is home and will target houses that look empty. An easy way to combat this is to make it look like somebody is home when you’re not.
 
Get a light timer and set it to turn on when you’re out of the house to make it look like you’re in. It’s especially useful for when you go back home as they are much more cost/energy efficient than just leaving the lights on.

3. Lock Up!

It seems so obvious, but it’s surprising how many people leave their student homes unlocked when they leave. They may assume that another flatmate is home and don’t need to lock up, but it’s always good practice to do so.
 
When you come in from a night out or leave for university, make sure to lock up every single time. It’s not worth the risk of a burglar slipping in and stealing everything, so just do it.

4. Keep Valuables Away From Windows

Don’t leave your valuable items like laptops, smartphones or anything else expensive near the windows. If you do, you’re essentially helping burglars to window shop.
 
When a burglar knows that expensive items are up for grabs at your house, they will target it. Keep them away from plain sight and put them somewhere secure when you aren’t using them. Also, when you leave for Christmas or the summer, make sure to take all valuables with you and don’t leave them in the empty house for weeks.

5. Be Careful With People You Let Into the Building

If you live in student halls, you may have experienced people holding the door for others behind you. You don’t think much about it and you assume they just can’t find their keys.
 
But this is a tactic some burglars use to gain access to the secure building and see what they can take. Some students in the building may leave their doors unlocked and these burglars can get in.
 
Just be wary of who you let in the building and if you don’t recognise them or get a weird vibe from them, close the door on them. It might seem rude, but it’s better to be safe than sorry.

These Tips Will Help You Keep Your Student Accommodation Safe

If you’re worried about falling victim to a burglary as a student, you need to take extra care. These are simple but effective tips that will go a long way to keep your student accommodation safe and secure.

Looking for secure student accommodation? We have a range of private student halls across the UK which prioritise your safety, so get in touch to find one.

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