If like most students you’ve just spent your first year living in halls then then you will probably be getting ready to transition into a house or flat for another year of UoL life. In this post I will be giving you my 5 tips to make your transition from halls to house as easy as possible.
1 – Get to know your housemates
A lot of students find that in first year they struggle to make friends or create strong connections with the people they are living with. Whether you know the people that you will be living with next year or not I advise that you meet up over the summer or have a a videocall. Getting to know these people a little bit better will hopefully allow you to have a good dynamic when you move in together but also help you to find each others interests so you can start planning things you can do together once you’ve moved in.
2- Start thinking about how you will decorate your new space and make it your own
For me one of my favourite things about moving into a house was having more space that I could make my own. If you have photos of what your room next year will look like why not start planning how you will decorate. What will you take that you already have ? More importantly what do you need to buy or look for over the summer to add those finishing touches? I found doing this prep work before moving in made my transition so much smoother as from the day I moved in I felt prepared and at home.
3 – Be prepared to do your bit
Often halls can have huge kitchens and living areas which are great but when you move to a house it can mean that everyone is use to having a tad more space. Smaller spaces can get cluttered and dirty very easily so be prepared to do your bit when it comes to cleaning and tidying.
Some people may find it helps to decide a cleaning rota before moving in but I think that if there is mutual understanding and respect you should get on fine. Just remember to hold each other to account around mess that has been made but to do so in a respectful way that will not cause conflict. If this is something that is worrying you about transitioning from halls to house then it might be a good idea to have an open conversation with your housemates about this before you move in.
4 – Don’t forget your home comforts
This could potentially be your first time living in a house away from your family. Whilst this sounds challenging it doesn’t have to be. Brining your home comforts with you when you move can help reduce homesickness and truly make your new house feel like a home away from home. For me this meant bringing a money box that was given to me by my grandparents when I was little, a ridiculous amount of photos with the people I love and some blankets from home too. This could even be something as as small as a teddy bear or a reed diffuser thats smell reminds you of home.
5 – Check your contract
You may think that your contract is the longest and most boring document you have ever read but it is important that you read it and understand it. I would say that reading it again before you move in is wise so that you know what you can and cannot do decorating wise as well as who has responsibility if something goes wrong.
Doing this made me feel a lot more comfortable about my transition from halls to a house as I had a greater understanding of what I was getting my self in for legally after signing the contract months before hand. If there is anything you do not understand ask your family to have a look or ask the letting agent directly.
6 – Get familiar with your new area
Moving out of halls means that it is likely that you will be relocating to a new area of Lincoln. Before I moved into a house my now housemates and I walked from the uni campus to our new house and explored the surrounding area. This gave us the opportunity to work out how long it would take us to get to campus each day as well as identifying the routes that we thought were the safest to travel back from late night shifts at work or nights out. This is also a perfect opportunity to explore local walks like liquorice park and the south and west commons.
Thank you for taking the time to read this post I hope that it helps you feel a little more confident with the transition between halls and house. Let us know how your move goes by tagging us @UoLstudentlife on all social media platforms.
“If we were meant to stay in one place, we’d have roots instead of feet”
Rachel Wolchin
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