Leeds City Council is working with universities, students and landlords to help manage the summer accommodation changeover period as the academic year comes to an end.
With many student tenancies ending this month, support is being made available across Leeds to help ensure the moving-out process runs as smoothly as possible. The council is encouraging students and landlords to plan ahead, dispose of waste responsibly and be considerate of neighbours and local communities during what is traditionally a busy period for student areas. The coordinated approach aims to reduce disruption, protect the local environment and make the end-of-year transition easier for everyone involved.
Leeds City Council is working closely with the city’s universities and housing partners to support students during the busy summer moving period. The council is coordinating efforts with the University of Leeds, Leeds Beckett University, Leeds Arts University, Leeds Trinity University and Unipol to help students, landlords and letting agents manage the challenge of moving between properties, often on the same day.
The partnership is also encouraging people to keep noise to a minimum and dispose of unwanted items responsibly, helping to reduce disruption for local residents and protect the environment. Those involved are aiming to build on the success of last year’s campaign, when more than 45 tonnes of reusable items were collected from street clothing banks and redistributed either free of charge or at low cost through local charities Revive and Slate. A significant amount of dry food was also donated to the Rainbow Junktion food bank, supporting people in need across the city.
Information about the summer changeover period has been shared widely with students through social media, outdoor advertising, direct university communications and WhatsApp messages from landlords to tenants. Unipol has also relaunched its dedicated ‘Moving Out’ webpage, which provides detailed guidance on how students can donate, recycle or dispose of unwanted items responsibly and in good time.
The webpage includes maps showing the locations of donation banks, along with key information to help students plan their move and reduce waste during the busy end-of-tenancy period www.unipol.org.uk
Leeds City Council Deputy Leader and executive member for communities and community safety Councillor Mary Harland and executive member for environment Councillor James Gibson said:
“Leeds is very proud to be one of the biggest and most popular student cities in the country, and we are pleased to again be working with all the Leeds universities, landlords and agents to help support students leaving or changing their accommodation this summer.
“We want students to enjoy their final days in their current accommodation, and we’d just ask that they remain respectful of their neighbours and the wider community. We’re encouraging everyone to celebrate safely and responsibly, with no behaviour that causes disturbance or inconvenience to others.
“We are also offering extra facilities and support to students, landlords, agents and all parties to ensure waste is disposed of appropriately, so there can be no excuse for waste being dumped on the street or in public spaces. Moving on in a responsible and positive way is the key message for all.”
Lucy Hart, Incoming Union Affairs & Community Officer at Leeds University Union said:
“Changeover is a challenging period for students, particularly when there is no crossover period from one property to the other. Students find creative solutions such as storing boxes in friends’ houses, booking storage for one night or even taking all their boxes back home before bringing it back to Leeds.
“Students’ financial challenges exacerbate this as they try to find the most affordable way to move. More support during this period is what students need. It is great to see the collaboration between Leeds City Council, universities, charities and Unipol coming together to support students this year. Allowing crossover periods, providing storage spaces and expanding charity collection points in student areas is what we need to expand. Hopefully the next few years we can strive to make changeover a time for cross collaboration between students, residents and other stakeholders.”
A spokesperson from Leeds Arts University’s Students’ Union said:
“As the academic year ends, we encourage all Leeds students to act responsibly when leaving their accommodation for the final time. Removal of unwanted items to recycling facilities and appropriate disposal of excess rubbish is an essential part of the moving out process, whilst leaving behind waste places unnecessary strain on local services and is disrespectful to neighbours and the wider community.
“Leeds Arts Union is happy to be working collaboratively once again with the other Leeds universities and Leeds City Council to ensure our students move out responsibly and end the year sustainably.”
Leeds City Council has contacted landlords and letting agents to remind them of their responsibilities during the summer student changeover period. Landlords and agents have been urged to ensure tenants dispose of waste legally, either by placing it securely in bins or using designated recycling and donation banks.
Council street wardens will be available during the changeover period to offer practical advice, while additional refuse collection and street cleansing vehicles will be deployed to tackle any areas where waste becomes an issue. Household waste and recycling centres at Kirkstall and Meanwood are open daily from 8am to 6pm. Landlords accredited through the Leeds Rental Standard can access discounted tipping for certain types of waste at Kirkstall recycling centre, where the public weighbridge is open every day from 8am to 4pm. Students can also access Kirkstall recycling centre on foot to donate items to the reuse shop or dispose of bulky waste responsibly.
Two additional caged vehicles will once again be in operation during the student changeover period, with support from Leeds Property Association and Unipol. Council enforcement officers will also be patrolling student areas to make sure waste is being disposed of properly. Those who fail to comply could face fines. The council’s serious environmental crime team will also be monitoring key areas to deter and identify unlicensed waste carriers, as well as anyone found rummaging through bins in search of valuables.
Students looking for guidance on leaving or changing accommodation can find further information on Unipol’s dedicated moving out webpage at www.unipol.org.uk
