Moving Out: Don’t Ditch It – Donate It!
Moving out this semester? Here’s how to declutter sustainably, dispose of unwanted items and do your bit for charity. Click below for your handy checklist.
Additional Waste Collection
On Saturday 29 June, the University has arranged for an additional collection of the general waste bins from roads in Portswood and Highfield. If you live in private-rented accommodation, all you need to do is leave your general waste bin out on the night of Friday 28 June for collection.
Find a complete list of streets receiving an additional general waste collection here.
Donate to Charity
There are collection points at Halls and at SUSU, and lots of charity shops in Southampton where you can donate your unwanted good quality clothes, household items and unopened food. Be sure to check each charity shop’s donation days and what items they will accept before you set off!
RAG Summer Clothes Throw
If you’re having a clothing clear-out, then you can also donate good quality garments to RAG’s Summer Clothes Throw throughout June. The donation points are the located on the SUSU Concourse in B42 and at WSA Cafe. Donated items will be sold to new owners with all proceeds going to No Limits, RAG’s core charity for 2024/25.
Donation Point in Portswood
Between Monday 03 June and Monday 01 July, you can drop off the following items at October Books in Portswood:
Kitchenware (crockery, cutlery, pans, utensils, kettles, toasters)
Electronics and IT (laptops, tablets, printers, cartridges, mobile phones, cables, chargers)
Clothes (especially men’s joggers, jeans, hoodies, coats, t-shirts, sliders)
Items must be clean and in good condition. Please hand over items to a member of bookshop staff. These items will then be collected by SUSU and donated to SCRATCH, Jamie’s Computers, and Southampton Action.
189 Portswood Rd, SO17 2NF
Monday-Saturday, 10:00-17:30; Closed on Sunday
Food Banks
If you have food items that are in-date and unopened you can donate them to the SUSU Food for All bank. Located in The Advice Centre (B40) on Highfield Campus, the food bank provides tinned, dry and long-lasting food, as well as hygiene products. Items which can be donated are: cereal, soup, tinned items, tea and coffee, lentils, beans and pulses, rice, pasta, biscuits, boxed milk, toiletries and household items . Visit the Southampton City Council website below to find more food banks accepting donations. You can also drop off food items at various supermarkets across Southampton.
Donating Food in Halls
The following Halls sites take donations for food items that are in-date and unopened: Archers Road Gateley and Romero, Glen Eyre (Brunei, Old Terrace, Hartley Grove, Beechmount, Chamberlain, South Hill, Gower), Mayflower, City Gateway, Wessex Lane, Highfield and Erasmus Park (Winchester). You can find more information about the locations of these collection points here: Halls Charity Donations.
British Heart Foundation Pack For Good
Support the British Heart Foundation’s Pack for Good Campaign by dropping off items at British Heart Foundation collection points (clothing banks, donation boxes, and book banks) at the following halls of residence across Southampton and Winchester:
Archers Road, Gateley and Romero Halls, Glen Eyre Halls (Brunei, Old Terrace, Hartley Grove, Beechmount, Chamberlain, South Hill, Gower), Mayflower Halls, City Gateway Halls, Wessex Lane Halls, Highfield Halls and Erasmus Park Halls, Winchester.
These halls sites also take donations for food items that are in-date and unopened such as pasta, baked beans, cereal, biscuits, etc. Visit the Halls Information SharePoint below to find more information about the locations of these collection points. If you live in halls, you can find further guidance about leaving halls below.
Give it to charity
You can also drop off unwanted clothes, books, electrical or kitchen items, which are in good condition, to local charities. Here are just some of the charity shops in Portswood and the city – be sure to visit their websites to check if they are currently accepting the items you would like to donate.
Age UK
261 Portswood Road, SO17 2NG
Monday-Saturday, 09:00–17:00; Sunday, 10:00–16:00
Salvation Army
215 Portswood Road, SO17 2NF
Monday-Saturday, 9:00-17:00; Closed on Sunday
Scope
213 Portswood Road, So17 2NF
Monday-Saturday, 09:00-17:00; Sunday, 10:00–16:00
British Heart Foundation
221 Portswood Road, SO17 2NF
Monday-Saturday, 09:30-17:00; Sunday, 11:00–17:00
93 Above Bar Street, Southampton SO14 7FG
Monday-Saturday, 09:30-17:00; Sunday, 11:00–17:00
Naomi House & Jacksplace
201A Portswood Road, SO17 2NF
Monday-Saturday, 09:30-17:00; Closed on Sunday
Age UK
261 Portswood Road, SO17 2NG
Monday-Saturday, 09:00–17:00; Sunday, 10:00–16:00
Salvation Army
215 Portswood Road, SO17 2NF
Monday-Saturday, 9:00-17:00; Closed on Sunday
Scope
213 Portswood Road, So17 2NF
Monday-Saturday, 09:00-17:00; Sunday, 10:00–16:00
Naomi House & Jacksplace
201A Portswood Road, SO17 2NF
Monday-Saturday, 09:30-17:00; Closed on Sunday
British Heart Foundation
221 Portswood Road, SO17 2NF
Monday-Saturday, 09:30-17:00; Sunday, 11:00–17:00
93 Above Bar Street, Southampton SO14 7FG
Recycling and Household Waste
Recycle Right
If you live in private-rented accommodation in the city, you can recycle paper and cardboard, drinks cans, food tins and plastic bottles in the blue-lidded recycling bin. Find a full list of what you can put in your recycling bin, general waste bin and glass recycling box on the Southampton City Council website.
Recycling Banks
Recycling banks are located across Southampton and are split into ones to recycle glass bottles and jars, and ones to recycle textiles (household and clothing). Visit the Southampton City Council website below to find a recycling bank near you.
Household Waste
Any items that do not fit in your household general waste bin should be taken to the Household Waste Recycling Centre (HWRC) at City Depot Millbrook, First Avenue, SO15 0LJ. The HWRC is open seven days a week, 09:00 - 18:00.
Moving Out Checklist
As well as removing your possessions, unwanted items and rubbish, make sure to read through our checklist below of things to organise before you move out of our accommodation.
Cancel utility bills
At least 2 days before moving out you should contact your energy and broadband providers to let them know that you are leaving. On the day you move, take a final meter reading and if you can, take a photo of this for your records. You should also give these details to your landlord and leave a forwarding address for any final bills to be sent to. If you’re in credit (you have paid too much) with your utility company when you leave, your utility company will arrange for you to receive a refund either by cheque or direct debit. If you’re in debit (you have underpaid your utilities), you will need to arrange to make the final payment.
Create a thorough moving out inventory, incuding detailed photos
If you and your landlord dispute any damage or disrepair and your dispute goes to an independent adjudicator for review, your photos and inventory will be crucial. Try to make sure one of the tenants is available for a final check out with the landlord.
Clear your gardens and driveways
If your property has a garden, there’s likely to be a clause in your contract which requires you to maintain that garden. It may ask you to keep the garden tidy, remove weeds and trim back hedges and bushes. Be sure to take photos of your work to include in your inventory so if any dispute with your landlord should occur, you have evidence.
Ensure ovens, fridges and freezers are cleaned
It’s easy to forget to clean the insides of appliances, but it could mean you lose money from your deposit if they’re not to the same standard as when you moved in. Give them a good clean and take photos. Dispose of any food that you don’t plan to take with you, and if it’s in date you could donate it to a local food bank.
Lead tenants and deposits
There may be an agreement in your contract for one of your housemates to be the lead tenant. If this is the case, your landlord may pay all the deposit due to be returned to that housemate, and they will need to split the payment between the housemates. Keep in contact with your housemates to ensure any payments owing to you are paid promptly.
Redirect your post and/or notify everyone else of your change of address
Make sure to leave your landlord your new address in case any mail continues to be delivered to your old address. Your landlord will be able to re-direct any bills or other post to your new address.
Check your contract
Our advice listed above gives you an overview of the most common things a person will need to do when leaving their rented accommodation. Check your contract to see if there are any specific arrangements that you have previously agreed to before you leave.