5 security tips for students

You’ve just got your results, you’re starting university and you’re moving to a new home. There’s a lot going on and your mind is probably all over the place. You’ll be thinking about meeting new friends, finding your way around the city and making sure you have everything you need for when lectures begin. One of the last things on your mind might be to question how secure your belongings are.

Of course, if you’re living in student accommodation such as that provided by Host, you’ll find an on-site management team including maintenance staff who are available to help keep the site safe and secure. And combined with electronic door entry systems, intercoms and CCTV, we aim to ensure that everyone who lives with us enjoys a high standard of security and the safest possible environment 24/7.

However, our security is only as good as the residents who live with us, so we’ve pulled together some simple safety steps for you to follow to help improve the level of security at our accommodation:

1. Burglaries can happen because doors or windows are left open. So, when you’re leaving your accommodation always make sure you close windows and lock doors behind you as you head out – don’t make it easy for someone to get in!
2. When you’re not in your room or flat, don’t leave any money or valuable items such as phones or laptops on display. Keep them hidden and out of sight so anyone looking to break in will struggle to find anything of value.
3. Keep your keys and fob into the building and your room on your person at all times and don’t lend them to anyone else. If you lose your keys and/or fob, you should report it to reception immediately so that the access can be cancelled, and replacement ones can be issued.
4. If you’re accessing the building or flat, it’s only natural to hold the door open for the person coming in behind you. But you shouldn’t allow for anyone you don’t know to follow you into the building/flat/room.
5. If you’re bringing a bike to university with you, be sure to secure it in the designated bicycle storage area at your accommodation. Even if it is kept in the bicycle storage area, you should still keep it locked up with a quality lock to minimise the chances of it being stolen.

We wish you the best of luck for starting university and settling into student life. If you have any questions about our student accommodation or living with Host, contact us and our friendly team will be happy to help.