Find out how to keep yourself and your property safe while living in private sector accommodation.
Ways to stay safe
See:
Even before moving into private housing, ensure that:
- when going to view a house you take someone with you, if possible; leave full details of where you are going and who you are meeting with a friend, and arrange to contact them once you have finished
- the property is secure and that the area feels safe – it is a good idea to visit it at night as well as during the day
- you meet all your prospective house mates and trust your instincts when deciding whether or not to move in.
The University offers advice and support on any issue that may be affecting you. The Student Hub is your first point of information, including details of group sessions and workshops run by our Therapeutic Services
You can contact the Student Centre in person at the Welcome Desk, by phone (01273 075700), or online via the My Sussex portal, where you can book an appointment to visit our friendly advisors.
As part of the University's mental wellbeing support, all students also have 24/7 access to Togetherall, an online community where people share with and support one another anonymously. Sign up to access self-guided group and individual courses, a library of useful articles and resources, and one-on-one therapy delivered through web appointments.
Your welfare at home
To keep yourself and your property safe and secure there are a few simple steps you can take:
- when viewing a property, make sure your windows and doors close properly and lock – report any issues straight away, in writing, to the agent or landlord
- get contents insurance as cover for your personal belongings
- when you move in you may have bought new things, such as a laptop – make sure you don’t leave the empty boxes outside as this shows that you have lots of new and potentially expensive items in the house
- check that you have shut the windows and locked the door when leaving the house and no-one else is in the house
- keep valuable items out of sight of windows and doors
- be aware of ID theft – don’t throw your bank statements or other personal correspondence straight into the bin – use a shredder if you can
- when away, leave a light on in the house or invest in a light timer to make it look like the property is occupied.
Reasonable adjustments
If requested, landlords must make reasonable adjustments to enable a disabled person to live in a property. The Shelter website has more information on this.
Report antisocial behaviour or harassment
If you experience antisocial behaviour or harassment seek help as soon as possible.
There are a number of support services you can contact:
- Community Safety Team for help with anti-social behaviour and hate crimes
- Environmental Health for help with noise or health and safety issues.
You can also contact our Student Centre which offers student support services and confidential, pre-booked appointments (in-person or via Zoom).
You should keep a detailed record of any incidences. You should also contact your landlord or letting agent to inform them of any issues of anti-social behaviour or harrassment.
If you need urgent help, call the police on 999.
If you need to contact the police for non-emergency incidents call 101.
Important: This service does not replace the emergency services. In an emergency you must call 999. This is free.
Resolving issues with housemates
Before something becomes an issue, see advice about getting on with housemates.
If you need to resolve conflict or difficulties with housemates, you can contact the School of Law Mediation Clinic.