End-of-tenancy student storage in Durham is a door-to-door collection and storage service that removes your belongings from your rented Durham property when your tenancy ends and returns them to a new address when you are ready. UniMove has run this service since 2014, covering all Durham student postcodes including DH1 and DH7, collecting from houses and flats in the Bailey, Gilesgate, Crossgate Moor, Claypath, and Neville’s Cross. You book a collection date that matches your tenancy end date and UniMove handles the rest.
The tenancy gap problem in Durham
Durham University operates on a collegiate model. Most students live in college accommodation in their first year, then move into private rented housing in Gilesgate, Claypath, Crossgate Moor, or Neville’s Cross from their second year. The standard private tenancy in Durham typically runs from 1 July to 30 June, or from 1 September to 31 August.
When a June tenancy ends, students face a gap of eight to fourteen weeks before they need their belongings at a new address. Transporting everything home in a hired van and then driving it back to Durham in September is expensive, particularly for students whose home address is in London, Bristol, Edinburgh, or further away. Hiring a commercial self-storage unit on the outskirts of Durham requires access to a vehicle and a separate trip to the unit each time you need anything.
UniMove solves both problems. The company collects directly from your Durham property, stores everything at its depot at Plover Barn, Kings Lane, Longcot, SN7 7SS, and delivers to wherever you need it when you are ready. Most Durham students find the eight to twelve week summer period covers the gap between tenancy end and the start of their next accommodation.
Durham student areas where UniMove collects
The Bailey and the city centre peninsula
The Bailey is the historic peninsula below Durham Cathedral and Castle, home to several university colleges including University College (Durham Castle), St Chad’s College, and St John’s College. Students renting privately near the Bailey often face narrow medieval streets and restricted parking, which makes a large moving van impractical. UniMove sends trained collection staff familiar with central Durham’s layout. They carry your belongings from the property to the vehicle without you needing to arrange parking permits or obstruct the road.
Gilesgate
Gilesgate is the largest private rented student area in Durham, stretching east from the city centre towards the university hospital. It is a popular choice for second and third year students from colleges including John Snow, Stephenson, and Collingwood, whose campuses sit on the eastern edge of the city. Streets throughout Gilesgate, including Hallgarth Street, Potters Bank, and Church Street Head, are all within UniMove’s standard Durham collection zone.
Crossgate Moor and Neville’s Cross
The western side of Durham, including Crossgate Moor and Neville’s Cross, is popular with students from Van Mildert, Grey, and St Aidan’s colleges who move into private rented houses in second and third year. These are quieter residential streets with a mix of terraced and semi-detached housing. UniMove collects from all streets in this area on a standard collection booking.
Claypath and the city centre fringe
Claypath connects Durham’s market place to Gilesgate and has a mix of student flats above shops and smaller terraced houses. It is convenient for students from St Cuthbert’s Society, which is based in the city centre. UniMove collects from Claypath and surrounding streets including Saddler Street and Framwellgate Peth. Students renting in newer purpose-built blocks near the bus station are also within the standard collection area.
What UniMove stores and how end-of-tenancy collection works
UniMove stores boxes, bags, suitcases, and smaller items of furniture. Most students pack their belongings into cardboard boxes and bags before the collection date. The process has five steps:
- Get a quote online at studentsummerstorage.com/get-a-quote/ by entering the number of boxes, bags, and any bulky items.
- Book a collection date and time that matches your tenancy end date.
- A UniMove team arrives at your Durham property and loads your belongings.
- Your items are stored at the UniMove depot in Longcot, Oxfordshire.
- When you are ready, book a delivery date and choose your destination address anywhere on GB mainland or in Belfast.
You can store for as few as four weeks or as many as six months. If you want information on options tied specifically to the June to August window, the summer student storage in Durham page covers that in more detail.
UniMove compared to other options at the end of your Durham tenancy
| Option | Cost basis | Effort required | Practical in Durham? |
|---|---|---|---|
| UniMove door-to-door | Per item, plus weekly storage rate | Pack your belongings; UniMove handles collection, storage, and delivery | Yes. Collects from all Durham student postcodes including the Bailey and Gilesgate |
| Commercial self-storage unit | Monthly unit rental plus van hire | Hire a van, load it, drive to the unit, unload, and reverse the process later | Difficult. Durham has limited city-centre options; most units are on the outskirts and require a vehicle |
| Leave with friends or family | Travel cost and a favour owed | Coordinate logistics across multiple people and addresses over several months | Unreliable for 10 or 12 weeks; puts strain on relationships and risks damage to belongings |
| Transport everything home | Van hire or multiple rail journeys with excess baggage | Move everything north to south or across the country, then back again in September | Expensive and time-consuming, especially for students from London, the South West, or Scotland |
To get a price for collecting from your Durham property, go to studentsummerstorage.com/get-a-quote/. Quotes are immediate and include collection and delivery in the price shown.
Frequently asked questions
When can UniMove collect from my Durham property?
UniMove collects throughout the year, including the busy June tenancy-end period. You choose the collection date when you book. Most Durham students book a date between 28 June and 5 July to align with the standard 30 June tenancy end date. Booking in advance is recommended during this window as dates fill quickly.
What items can I store with UniMove?
UniMove stores boxes, bags, suitcases, bedding, and smaller pieces of furniture such as lamps, small shelving units, and folded clothes rails. The service does not accept liquids, perishables, plants, or high-value electronics above a stated threshold. Check the quote page for the current permitted items list before booking.
How is the price calculated for end-of-tenancy storage in Durham?
Pricing is based on the number of items stored and the length of the storage period. You enter your items when getting a quote online and receive an immediate price. Collection in Durham and delivery to your chosen destination are included in the quote price. There are no access fees or hidden surcharges during the storage period.
Can UniMove deliver my belongings to a different city in September?
Yes. UniMove delivers to any address on the GB mainland or to Belfast in Northern Ireland. Students who spend summer at home in London, Birmingham, or Edinburgh can have their belongings delivered directly to their new Durham address in September, or to a different university city if they are moving on after graduating.
Is there a minimum storage period?
The minimum storage period with UniMove is four weeks. This covers students who need a short gap between their old and new tenancy, for example if one tenancy ends on 30 June and the new one begins in late July. Most Durham end-of-tenancy customers store for eight to twelve weeks, spanning the full summer break.
What happens if my new tenancy starts later than I expected?
You can extend your storage period at any time by contacting UniMove at smile@unimove.org. Extensions are charged at the standard weekly rate. There is no penalty for extending, and you are not required to give advance notice by any set deadline. UniMove stores your belongings until you are ready, not until an arbitrary cut-off date.