A Student’s Guide to End-of-Tenancy Moves
Posted on 26th March 2025 at 15:50
So, the end is nigh. Exams are over (hopefully), summer is calling, and your landlord has already started dropping hints about "professional cleaning." Whether you’re heading back home, moving into new digs, or finally upgrading to a flat with a functioning oven, it’s time to tackle the big one: moving out.
For many, moving home for the first time can be both exciting and terrifying. On one hand, freedom! On the other, how did your fridge accumulate so much unidentifiable goo? Don’t worry – Wilkinsons Removals in Bristol has your back. Here’s our ultimate student-friendly guide to get your deposit back, keep stress levels low, and even avoid an awkward conversation with your landlord.
1. Start Early – Future You Will Be Grateful
You might be tempted to leave everything until the night before, but trust us: this is a bad idea. Packing is a bit like revision – it always takes longer than you think. Make a checklist, tackle one room at a time, and start boxing up things you don’t use daily, like that fondue set your aunt gave you. It helps enormously to label your boxes. Yes, it feels boring. Yes, you will thank yourself later when you're not rifling through five boxes marked "stuff."
2. Cleaning: The Battle for the Deposit
Landlords are notorious for finding that one dusty corner behind the radiator. If you want your full deposit back, cleaning is key. Make sure to clear out the fridge, scrub the oven or at least make an attempt, and wipe down the kitchen cupboards. In the bathroom, tackle limescale, scrub the toilet and sink, and attend to any mouldy corners. Living areas should be vacuumed and dusted, with windows cleaned to let in as much light as possible. Bedrooms need to be emptied of wardrobe contents, cleaned under the bed, and have all posters removed without peeling off half the wall paint. If your housemates start disappearing one by one, make a cleaning rota. There’s nothing worse than being the last one left with a toilet brush and a mountain of resentment.
3. Utilities and Admin (AKA Boring but Necessary)
Remember to take final meter readings and send them to your utility providers. Cancel your broadband and redirect your post if needed. These things are boring, yes, but future-you (and your overdraft) will be grateful. Also, take photos of everything before you leave. Your cleaned oven, your sparkling bathroom, your empty rooms. If your landlord raises a fuss, you’ll have proof that you didn't, in fact, host a mud-wrestling match in the lounge.
4. Packing Like a Pro
Don’t just throw everything into bin bags. That might have worked when you were moving out for the first time, but now you're a seasoned tenant. Invest in some decent boxes (Wilkinsons Removals can help, wink wink), bubble wrap your fragile items, and make sure heavy stuff goes at the bottom. Use clothes and towels as padding to save space and feel vaguely clever. Also, declutter as you go. Be ruthless. That broken chair you promised to fix? Bin it. That stack of Fresher's Week flyers? Recycle. The fewer things you move, the easier your life will be.
5. Getting Help (Because You Deserve It)
You might think you can carry your double mattress down three flights of stairs alone. You are wrong. Moving day is the perfect time to call in favours from housemates, friends, and especially professionals. At Wilkinsons Removals, we’re used to helping students who are moving out for the first time – and even those who swore they'd never move again after last year. We handle the heavy lifting, the awkward sofa angles, and the inevitable last-minute box labelled "misc." Just tell us where it’s going.
6. Transport: Think Ahead
Click on this text toGot a friend with a car? Great. But does it fit a wardrobe? Probably not. Booking a removals van or man-and-van service can make all the difference. No last-minute Tetris in the back of a Fiat Punto. Plus, with us, you get local experts who know the parking rules and one-way streets of Bristol better than anyone. edit it.
7. Food, Glorious Food
Moving is hard work. Keep snacks and drinks on hand, and reward yourself with a good meal at the end of the day. You earned it. Bonus points if your fridge is already cleared out and you don’t find three-month-old hummus.
8. Saying Goodbye
Your student home might not have been perfect, but it was yours. Take a few snaps, say goodbye, and maybe even leave a note for the next tenants. Something helpful, like "the radiator in the lounge works best if you hit it with a shoe." For those moving out for the first time, it’s the end of an era and the start of a new one. Be proud of yourself – you did it.
9. The Final Sweep
Once everything is packed and cleaned, do a final walk-through. Check behind doors, under beds, and inside cupboards. Make sure nothing (and no one) is left behind. Drop the keys back on time and double-check your landlord has your forwarding address for the deposit.
10. Reflect, Recharge, Repeat
Whether you’re off to new accommodation, travelling, or heading home for mum's cooking, give yourself a moment to breathe. Moving out for the first time is a learning curve – but it’s also a massive achievement. And next time? You'll be even better at it. Especially with Wilkinsons Removals on your side.
In Summary: Your End-of-Tenancy Checklist
Start by packing early to avoid panic. Clean the entire place thoroughly, from fridge to toilet. Take photos of everything to protect your deposit. Notify your utility providers of final readings. Return your keys on time. Consider hiring a removals company like Wilkinsons Removals to handle the heavy lifting. Keep yourself fed and hydrated during the process. And lastly, take a moment to celebrate making it through your tenancy.
If you're in Bristol and moving out for the first time (or the fifth), get in touch with Wilkinsons Removals. We make moving simple, stress-free, and maybe even a little bit fun.
Cheers to clean cupboards, full deposits, and fresh starts!
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