Safety Issues

Southampton is in general a safe place but nevertheless is a big city. As with any major urban centre, it attracts a wide variety of people at the same time that provides a high mobility of individuals. This creates a very exciting and culturally rich environment, but the high population density also makes certain types of crime more common. When moving to any major city, you must take a few precautions to make sure that you are less vulnerable.

When looking for accommodation:

  • Ensure a complete viewing.
  • Make several appointments, and keep notes on each visit you make.
  • Take someone with you.
  • Let a friend know where you are going, and when you expect to get back.

On this page, we provide a basic checklist to safeguard your personal security when choosing an accommodation. However, you will also find information in the "How to: open the door to... Private Rented Housing" guide. The guide has a few more tips, including information on Health and Safety.

Personal Safety Checklist

  • Look at the property both during the day and at night. Also, try making visits on different days of the week.
  • Make sure that all the surroundings are well lit during the night, especially the front door of the property you will be renting.
  • Check that any alleyways and staircases are well lit and clean of litter and graffiti.
  • Check that all or most properties in the neighbourhood are well kept, including the gardens. Well kept gardens is a sign of a well established community, with some of the residents living there for a long time or willing to live there for many years to come. Therefore they are more likely to be keeping an eye for any disturbances.
  • Check that all locks of the property are of good quality.
  • Check any other areas that could give easy access to the property, such as windows, balconies and fire escapes. Note that while such areas should be secured against people getting easy access from the outside, they should also provide an easy escape in case of fire or any other emergency.
  • Check that there are no groups of people hanging around in underpasses, corners, alleyways or stairwells at odd hours, such as the time that you would expect them to be studying or working.
  • Check for signs of vandalism, such as broken furniture widespread on the pavement, smashed cars, broken telephone boxes, etc.
  • Check that any lifts are clean and in good working condition.
  • Use your "gut feeling".