What should I do with my belongings if there are gaps between my tenancies?
It's pretty likely there will be a gap between your old tenancy's end date and your new start date. This means you will have to move your stuff out with nowhere new to move it into. Although this will depend on your situation to see what works, there are a few ways you can work around this.
Being aware of your tenancy dates is so important, as you may need to arrange for your belongings to be placed somewhere in the meantime.
Keeping your stuff safe is obviously the most important thing, so what are the options to make that happen:
One option to consider is to use a storage facility. There are loads of storage places in the UK that can provide secure storage solutions for your stuff. With some, you can rent a whole unit for however long you need, depending on the amount of stuff you have.
Moving day can be a sweaty and tiring day, so keep a lookout for things that could help you make it easier. Some storage facilities even offer help moving everything, so keep an eye out for that!
Storage unit costs add up quickly and the more stuff you have, the more space you will need to hire. So if you are already dreading how much you have to move around, maybe have a think about selling or donating items that you don't need. This will make the cost of storage a lot cheaper and make your move easier.
Storage units are still an extra cost so this may not be an option that works for you, so here is another option! Possibly the most obvious option is to ask someone you know if they can store your belongings for you.
This could be a family member, family friend or even another student who has a tenancy starting before you. The last is always good as their accommodation is likely to be close, if not at least in the same city as yours!
This is a good option if you have someone you trust who has the space to store your belongings and is cost-free (although maybe buy them a box of chocolates to say "thank you for filling your house with my stuff!")
Having a new property is great, but wouldn't be so good if you had none of your stuff to put in it! Whether you go with a friend or rent somewhere out, just remember to plan ahead so you aren't stuck with all your boxes with nowhere to go!
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