Moving out this semester?
Here’s how to declutter sustainably, dispose of unwanted items and do your bit for charity.
Moving Out Checklist
To ensure your move out goes as smoothly as possible, read through our handy checklist of things to organise in advance.
Moving out of halls? Take a moment to read the guidance on departing your halls of residence.
Free collections from your doorstep
If you live in private-rented accommodation it’s now even easier for you to donate unwanted items and do your bit for charity. We’ve partnered with Anglo Doorstep Collections, who provide free collections of a range of items directly from your doorstep, including clothing, shoes, books, towels, kitchenware, and small electrical items.
Booking a collection couldn’t be simpler:
- Click here or the link below,
- Book your collection slot,
- Select the charity you’d like to support,
- Pack your donations into bags or boxes
- Leave them outside your front door, no need to be at home when the collection is made.
The full list of items accepted can be found on their website. Please ensure all items are clean and in good condition. Anglo Doorstep Collections sort the donations and rehome items in the UK and in countries where they are needed most. After costs, they donate up to 60% of the proceeds to partner charities.
Additional Waste Collection – Saturday 05 July
On Saturday 05 July, there will be an extra general waste collection from the following roads in Portswood and Highfield. If you live in private-rented accommodation, all you need to do is leave your general waste bin out on Friday 04 July ready for collection on the Saturday.
Find a complete list of streets receiving an additional general waste collection below.
- Alma Road (2-74 Evens, Odds 1-89)
- Avenue Road (Evens 52 – 150, Odds 45 – 147)
- Burgess Road (Evens 18 – 136, Odds 19-355)
- Cedar Road (Evens 90-114, Odds 53-73)
- Earls Road (Evens 116 – 152, Odds 117-151)
- Gordon Avenue (All 1-136)
- Granby Grove (All 1-64)
- Harefield Road (All 1-106)
- Highcliffe Avenue (houses only 1-13)
- Livingstone Road (all 2-107)
- Shakespeare Avenue (All 1-68)
- Sirdar Road (All 1-89b)
- Tennyson Road (All 1-112a)
Donate to Charity
There are collection points at all University halls sites for clean, good quality clothes, shoes, household items, kitchenware and small appliances, as well as many charity shops locally. Halls donations are rehomed through charity partners BHF, SCRATCH, New Life Domestic and Two Saints.
Here are just some of the charity shops close to our campuses. Be sure to visit their websites to check if they accept the items you would like to donate before you set off!
Give it to charity
Here are just some of the charity shops in Portswood and the city – be sure to visit their websites to check if they are currently accepting the items you would like to donate.
Age UK
261 Portswood Road, Southampton, SO17 2NG
Monday – Saturday, 09:00 – 17:00; Sunday, 10:00 – 16:00
Salvation Army
215 Portswood Road, Southampton, SO17 2NF
Monday – Saturday, 09:00 – 17:00; Closed on Sunday
Scope
213 Portswood Road, Southampton, SO17 2NF
Monday – Saturday, 09:00 – 17:00; Sunday, 10:00 – 16:00
Cancer Research UK
Unit 1, The Portswood Centre, Portswood Road, Southampton, SO17 2NH
75 Parchment Street, Winchester, SO23 8AJ
Monday – Saturday 09:00 – 17:30; Sunday 10:00 – 16:00
British Heart Foundation
221 Portswood Road, Southampton, SO17 2NF
93 Above Bar Street, Southampton SO14 7FG
151 High Street, Winchester, SO23 9AY
Monday – Saturday, 09:30 – 17:00; Sunday, 10:00 – 16:00
BHF Clothing Banks and Boxes at all UoS Halls sites
Naomi House & Jacksplace
201A Portswood Road, SO17 2NF
8 St George’s Street, Winchester, SO23 8BG
Monday – Saturday, 09:30 – 17:00; Closed on Sunday
Food Donations
Please consider donating in-date and unopened food to the Advice Centre in B40, the Food Donations box in the SUSU Shop, and at the donation points at halls. Items include in-date and unopened cereal, soup, tinned items, tea and coffee, lentils, beans, pulses, rice, pasta, biscuits, cartons of long-life milk, as well as toiletries and household items.
You can also drop off food items at supermarkets and food banks across Southampton. Find out more about these locations here:
British Heart Foundation Pack For Good
Support the British Heart Foundation’s Pack for Good Campaign by donating items including clothing, shoes, books and bags at British Heart Foundation collection points (clothing banks, donation boxes, and book banks) at halls sites across Southampton and Winchester.
Recycling and Household Waste
Recycle Right
If you live in private-rented accommodation in the city, you can recycle paper and cardboard, drinks cans, food tins and plastic bottles in the blue-lidded recycling bin. Find a full list of what you can put in your recycling bin, general waste bin and glass recycling box on the Southampton City Council website.
Recycling Banks
You can also recycle clothing and shoes, and glass at designated recycling banks across Southampton. Visit the Southampton City Council website below to find a recycling bank near you.
Household Waste
Any items that do not fit in your household general waste bin or cannot be recycled in blue-lidded bin should be taken to the Household Waste Recycling Centre (HWRC) at City Depot Millbrook, First Avenue, SO15 0LJ. The HWRC is open seven days a week, 09:00 - 18:00.
Moving Out Checklist
As well as removing your possessions, unwanted items and rubbish, make sure to read through our checklist below of things to organise before you move out of our accommodation.
Cancel utility bills
At least 2 days before moving out you should contact your energy and broadband providers to let them know that you are leaving. On the day you move, take a final meter reading and if you can, take a photo of this for your records. You should also give these details to your landlord and leave a forwarding address for any final bills to be sent to. If you’re in credit (you have paid too much) with your utility company when you leave, your utility company will arrange for you to receive a refund either by cheque or direct debit. If you’re in debit (you have underpaid your utilities), you will need to arrange to make the final payment.
Create a thorough moving out inventory, incuding detailed photos
If you and your landlord dispute any damage or disrepair and your dispute goes to an independent adjudicator for review, your photos and inventory will be crucial. Try to make sure one of the tenants is available for a final check out with the landlord.
Clear your gardens and driveways
If your property has a garden, there’s likely to be a clause in your contract which requires you to maintain that garden. It may ask you to keep the garden tidy, remove weeds and trim back hedges and bushes. Be sure to take photos of your work to include in your inventory so if any dispute with your landlord should occur, you have evidence.
Ensure ovens, fridges and freezers are cleaned
It’s easy to forget to clean the insides of appliances, but it could mean you lose money from your deposit if they’re not to the same standard as when you moved in. Give them a good clean and take photos. Dispose of any food that you don’t plan to take with you, and if it’s in date you could donate it to a local food bank.
Lead tenants and deposits
There may be an agreement in your contract for one of your housemates to be the lead tenant. If this is the case, your landlord may pay all the deposit due to be returned to that housemate, and they will need to split the payment between the housemates. Keep in contact with your housemates to ensure any payments owing to you are paid promptly.
Redirect your post and/or notify everyone else of your change of address
Make sure to leave your landlord your new address in case any mail continues to be delivered to your old address. Your landlord will be able to re-direct any bills or other post to your new address.
Check your contract
Our advice listed above gives you an overview of the most common things a person will need to do when leaving their rented accommodation. Check your contract to see if there are any specific arrangements that you have previously agreed to before you leave.