As we head into May we’re gearing up to see many students start packing up their belongings and depart the campus for the summer.
Yes, that’s right. As of the 15 June 24, most student accommodation contracts will come to an end for this academic year. We look forward to welcoming many of you back into campus accommodation in September, however there are some whose university journey has come to an end. So, before we say a big farewell to you all, there are just a few things we need to cover before you leave.
When does my accommodation contact end?
Most undergraduate (except KMMS) and short course accommodation contracts end at 10:00 on Saturday 15 June 2024, so this is when you’ll need to move out by. Postgraduate (52-week contracts) run from Saturday 16 September 2023 – Wednesday 11 September 2024, so you don’t need to move out over the summer vacation.
What if I want to stay on campus?
Well, you’re in luck! If you would like to stay on campus over the break you can book vacation accommodation online. Make sure you book by Thursday 6 June 2024 so we can arrange everything for you to have a smooth transition. Unfortunately you can’t remain in your current room as we allocated specific accommodation for students to stay in over the vacation period, so you’ll still need to follow the instruction below to move out of your contracted room by 15 June. This year we have vacation accommodation available in Turing College (extra large en-suite single) and Darwin College (shared facilities single), which can be booked for a minimum of 21 nights between Saturday 15 June – Saturday 1 September from just £23 per night. Students who are living on campus again in 2024/25 will be able to extend their stay until mid September, when they can move to their term-time accommodation.
Will my meal plan still work over the summer?
Our meal plans don’t include vacation times, but rest assured, if you choose to stay on campus you’ll have a self-catering kitchen in whichever accommodation you move to over the summer period. If you still fancy eating out, check the catering website for the updated outlet vacation opening times.
What do I need to do before I leave my accommodation?
Before you head off, look over our checklist to ensure your accommodation is in tip-top condition and ready for its next prospective occupant.
- Pack up your belongings and take all important items with you or arrange for them to be securely stored or donated by 10am on 15 June 24. You can donate unwanted items including clothes, electrical items and books by donating to Kent Union’s STUFF, placing items in the British Heart Foundation banks in various locations across campus – see our bins and recycling map for your nearest location
- Turn off and unplug all electrical items (except the fridge!)
- Put your bin waste out and remove all food from the fridge – housekeeping aren’t too keen on pouring away lumpy gone-off milk! Non-perishables, such as tinned or dried foods that you don’t need can be donated to help feed others. Permanent donation points are located at the Mandela building and Kent Union building (Woody’s) at Park Wood
- Update your postal address with any companies which send you regular mail or parcels. This is true even if you are returning to campus accommodation next year, as we cannot accept or forward on parcels for students not currently in residence
- Close any windows (leaving the vent open) and lock all doors
- Collect any mail/parcels from your letterbox/reception
- Wave your room goodbye and return your key or fob to reception before you leave. If reception is closed, use the key drop box.
Please note if you are planning to depart much earlier than the original contract end date you will need to complete an Application for an Early Termination of the Agreement including details to your circumstances.
And that’s all folks!
We wish you all a wonderful and relaxing summer break filled with fun, adventure, and joyful memories! For those returning to student accommodation in September, don’t forget to keep any eye on your emails for information on arrivals and moving in and for our graduates, good luck as you embark on the next chapter of your lives, we wish you all the best of luck in your future endeavours.
Take care!