Accommodation departures

Student departures

Find out when you need to move out of your university accommodation and what steps to take before you leave.

When do I need to leave my accommodation?

Not all accommodation contracts include the vacation breaks. You can see when you’ll need to move in or move out below, and double-check everything anytime in your MyAccommodation Portal.  

Most students who live in accommodation with a meal plan will need to move out during the winter and spring vacations. 

Becket Court and Keynes College (Blocks F, G, H and I): Your accommodation contract covers the following periods, but does not extend over the vacation periods.

Contract startContract end (10am)
27 September 202513 December 2025
10 January 202621 March 2026
11 April 202620 June 2026

Your 38-week contract means there is no need for you to move out for the spring or winter vacation periods. 

Contract startContract end (10am)
27 September 202520 June 2026

With your 44 or 52-week contract, there is no need to move out over winter, spring, or most of summer break.  

Contract lengthContract start  Contract  end (10am)
44-weeks27 September 20251 August 2026
52-weeks27 September 202523 September 2026

Your 52-week contract runs from September 2025 to September 2026, so you do not need to move out during any of the vacation periods. 

Contract startContract end (10am)
27 September 202523 September 2026

KMMS accommodation is offered on a different contract length to match your academic term dates, so there's no need for you to move out for the spring or winter vacation periods. 

Contract start  Contract  (10am)
13 September 202518 July 2026

If you are studying a short course at Kent, you will have been offered an accommodation contract to match your course dates. Please log in to the MyAccommodation Portal to check these.    

If you are undertaking a placement or a Year in Industry in Canterbury or Medway and staying in University of Kent allocated accommodation, your contract dates will be flexible to match the duration of your placement. These arrangements will be managed by the University’s Conference and Events team via email. Find out more below.

Darwin College bedroom

Vacation accommodation
Students sweeping the kitchen floor

Departure checklist
Students speak with a Customer Services Assistance at Tyler Court reception

Facilities and services

Storage and removals

What you need to do before end of year departures

Before you head off, take a look at our checklist to help you keep your accommodation in tip-top condition - and to the same standard as when you moved in.    

box

Pack up


Start packing up your belongings to take home. If you’re coming back in September, you might want to put some things into storage over the summer. And don’t forget to keep any important items with you!

shirt

Recycle what you don't want

Donate unwanted items, including clothes, electrical items and books, to Kent Students' Union Freecycle or place items in the British Heart Foundation big red bins located across campus – see our bins and recycling map for your nearest location

bottle2

Donate to a food bank

Any dried or tinned food that you don't need can be donated to the Kent Students' Union Campus Pantry, located at the Mandela Student Centre. 

trash3

Bin your rubbish

Put the rubbish out and clear any perishable food from the fridge - no one wants to find that mouldy lettuce you left behind! Remember to use the correct recycling and food waste bins.  

lampshade

Switch it off

Before you leave, make sure you switch off and unplug any electrical items (except the fridge).

border-all

Secure it

Make sure all windows are properly closed, but leave the vents open to keep air circulating. Double-check that all doors are locked before you leave.  

envelope

Collect your post

Collect any mail or parcels from your letterbox or reception before you leave.

At the end of your agreement, update your address or arrange mail forwarding. The University can’t forward post or accept responsibility for lost or damaged items.

key

Return your fob

Make sure you hand your fob or key back to reception so it can be reactivated for the new academic year - it’s an easy one to forget, but really important!  

Take it with you

  • Please make sure you remove, recycle or dispose of anything you do not want to keep before you leave. Any items left in your accommodation will be disposed of, and additional cleaning charges may be applied where extra cleaning is required.
  • If a left item appears to be valuable, we may arrange for it to be packed, transported and stored by an external company. Any associated costs will be charged to you, along with an additional charge per night until the process has been completed.


The University cannot accept responsibility for lost or forgotten belongings.  

Tips for cleaning your space before you leave

Blog: Accommodation Waste and Recycling Advice
Female student using the vacuum

Campus facilities and services during the vacations

Planning to stay on campus over the vacation? Here’s what’s available, how to get help, and what you need to know to make your break smooth and stress-free.  

College Receptions

Check online for opening times before visiting.

Campus Security

Available 24/7 during the vacation:

  • Urgent maintenance and non-emergencies (e.g., lockouts): +44 (0)1227 723300
  • Emergencies (fire, police, ambulance): Call 999 first, then +44 (0)1227 823333

Note: Security does not provide housekeeping items (toilet rolls, bin bags, light bulbs), so make sure to stock up before the break.

Maintenance and Defect Reporting

Essential maintenance may happen over the break, which could cause temporary water or electricity outages, or fire alarm tests. Check your university email for notices from the Estates team.

  • Urgent defects: Contact Campus Security (response times may vary from term time)
  • Non-urgent defects: Report via your college reception.

Bin Collections

Refuse will continue to be collected. Please use the nearest bin store for waste disposal.

Laundry

Campus launderettes remain open during the vacation.

Amazon Deliveries

Use one of the three Amazon lockers on campus for 24/7 access:

  • Keynes T Block
  • Darwin Houses
  • Woody’s in Park Wood

Catering

Most outlets close after term ends. For vacation hours, check the catering homepage.

  • Open with reduced hours: Park Wood and Plaza Co-Op

More Information

For updates on other services available over the winter break, keep an eye on this page - it will be refreshed closer to the vacation.

Storage and shipping

Whether you need to store your belongings over a vacation or want to ship extra cases home before leaving campus, there are plenty of external services that can help. You can also authorise a friend or company to pack and collect your items for you - just follow the steps below.

Authorising someone to pack and remove your belongings

If you’ve left campus and can’t collect your belongings yourself, you can authorise another University of Kent student or a third-party company to do it for you. To arrange this, email the Accommodation Office at least 3 working days in advance with the following information:

  1. Your full name 
  2. Student number
  3. Campus address
  4. Contact number
  5. Name of the person or company collecting your belongings
  6. Their student number (if applicable)
  7. Their contact number
  8. Scheduled date of collection

Important: The University does not accept liability for services provided by these companies.

For the most up-to-date information, contact the storage or shipping companies directly or check their official websites.

Local and international storage companies

Armadillo Self-Storage
  • location-sign Location: Canterbury

Self-storage units, CCTV monitored, from £6.50 per week.

Student Move and Store
  • location-sign Location: Canterbury

Easter and Summer holiday services for your belongings.

One Stop Worldwide
  • location-sign Location: International

Moving and relocation services, including collection and delivery, with no hidden fees.

Seven Seas Worldwide
  • location-sign Location: International

Flexible solutions for transporting personal belongings, including boxes, bags, and luggage, to and from universities worldwide.

Vacation Accommodation

If your accommodation contract doesn’t include the vacation periods, you can book a room in alternative blocks to stay on campus over the spring, summer, or winter breaks.

Please note: Some of our accommodation is used by the Conferences team over the vacation period, so we won’t be able to confirm which blocks are available until nearer the break. If you do book vacation accommodation, you’ll likely need to move to a different room with your belongings during this period.  

Find out more