Collecting things from uni

[iabvvu]

Hi everyone, apologies if this isn't the right topic or if it's been done before but I thought this would be a good place to get some advice.

I'm a final year student at a uni 200 miles from home. I packed a case in a rush a couple of weeks ago to come home when things started to get serious. Now we're on lockdown, all of my belongings are in my student house and my tenancy expires in just under 3 months. I could probably cope without them but there's a couple of issues - I'm one of the final year medical students graduating early to start working ASAP, probably in the next couple of weeks. It sounds silly but all of my work clothes are at uni and there's a couple of certificates I'll probably need in order to start working. I know it's not technically an essential trip and I'm not saying the rules don't apply to me, I'm just wondering if there's any way I can feasibly get it. I drive so could get myself there and back without coming into contact with anyone and I've got enough petrol for the round trip. Sorry this might seem like a ridiculous non-problem but everything is a bit overwhelming at the moment so I'm struggling with basic decision making! If anyone has any advice I'd really appreciate it

If you need the certificates to work as a medic, then it’s an essential trip, I’d say. I would go, and get all your stuff, so you don’t have to go back at the end of the tenancy.

It certainly is an essential trip in your circumstances, with being a final year medic needing certificates/ work kit etc. If anyone stops you just explain and I'm absolutely sure you'll be winged through. I wouldn't hesitate telling my DC to do exactly that in the same circumstances. This isn't law anyhow, just guidance and the medical angle will supersede everything else.

Just go and get them, take your university id and your letter with your work start date if possible in case someone stops you but to be honest they aren't stopping cars except in a few places like beauty spots

It comes under the 'moving house' guidance.
You can go and collect all of your belongings and bring them to where they need to be.

Yes you should be fine to do this. It's an essential journey as you would have had to do it before your tenancy expires. Safe journey.

Here are some suggestions:
1- a link to guidance inc quote from gov
www.homesandproperty.co.uk/property-news/renting/moving-house-coronavirus-lockdown-renting-a137681.html

2- As your tenancy is ending it suggests it's maybe essential travel to clear a property you will have no further legal right to be in as long as you adhere to social distancing ( If so talk to your flatmates so you go on different dates, and sort out the cleaning so you don't loose the deposit).

3- Several universities and letting agents have put advice for students in this situation online- worth checking your Uni site.

4- Have you rung the letting agent for advice?
5- Do you have a local friend who could clear it for you and send a box of the most vital contents on to you by post?

Hope some of the above is useful...

@iabvvu Thank you. Thank you for stepping up and starting early. Everyone appreciates this is not how you intended to start being a doctor. Keep safe.

You may find that you are required to start work at one of the hospitals linked to your medical school (rather than in the Deanery you have been allocated) so would have to return anyway. This is what is happening at Leeds I believe.

Regarding the cleaning. Get a quote from the agency and ask what it would cost for you all to walk away. I am an end of tenancy cleaner and I have already been asked to give quotes. I obviously can't do the work yet.
Do it well in advance so that you can clean yourselves if its too high.
Its working out approx 40 to 50 pound per tenant on the properties I have quoted for but you all have to agree in writing for a deduction to be made.

Thank you so much everyone for the advice, it's been really helpful and I'm so glad I posted!
I think what I'll do is wait to find out my start date- with all of the admin etc it'll take a couple of weeks at least as I only graduated yesterday (I'm now officially a doctor!). Once I know that I can find out if I definitely need my certificates and make a decision based on that - if I don't then I can just buy some smart clothes online and make do for the time being and get my things in a couple of months when the rules are hopefully relaxed a bit.

Regarding the cleaning, it's not too much of a concern because most of my housemates are in the year below and staying on next year so we don't need to do an end of tenancy clean as such. Obviously I'll deep clean my room and do a general clean of the house so it's fair on the others but there's no stress.

Thanks again - I really appreciate all of your help!