3 ways to maintain your mess and stress

Between lectures and studying (and partying), cleaning is probably the last thing on your mind. However, time flies and before you know it, you have a flat inspection tomorrow. As scary as that sounds, their main purpose is just to monitor maintenance (make sure everything is working how it should), cleanliness and health & safety, which are all things that benefit you. Here are some tips to prepare you for that inevitable inspection:

1. Tidying/cleaning

Tidying your own space is all good until you realise that a rectangle of dust will appear if you lift up anything in your living areas. Make sure you:

• Wipe down surfaces/appliances in communal areas
• Dispose of waste on a regular basis
• Vacuum and mop floors (only mop on a hard surface)
• Store things away where appropriate to keep communal areas free of clutter

It's not just up to you to prepare for the inspection, so work out a cleaning rota with your flatmates to make sure the jobs are shared out fairly.

2. Damages

Always report any maintenance issues or damages ASAP, and most importantly, take pictures. This will prevent any charges or disputes whilst you're living there/moving out. It's easy to cover your own back (it's just hard to remember to do it in the first place).

3. Fire safety

If you live on campus, the University will typically test the fire alarms every month. However, it's very important that you also contribute to maintaining the fire safety rules within your accommodation. You can help by making sure fire exits aren't blocked, pathways are clear, fire safety equipment is in working order (e.g. smoke detectors are still functioning), and any potential fire safety risks are reported so your accommodation team can sort it.

When you break it down, preparing for flat inspections isn't rocket science - a little bit of effort goes a long way to making sure you pass your inspection with flying colours.