I never was really one for playing by the rules...
University halls seem to want to ban all the best things in life. Mini fridges, hamsters, goldfish, candles, incense, fairy lights, posters, bean bags and inflatable chairs are among the things I've heard of being banned. Such madness...
Breaking these rules in often punishable by a hefty fine, so this is the most important part - don't get caught. Some things, like candles are a total fire hazard, so only have them lit if you're alone, and can keep a close eye on them. It's not worth the risk to have them lit with friends over that might get rowdy and knock them over. Fires are hot y'know! But others aren't that much of a big deal.
Step One
Don't get caught bringing them into your room. The wardens can't fine you on the spot for catching you carrying a candle but they certainly will remember you and try to catch you out so that they can fine you! After midnight is a good time to move in the dodgier items, or else conceal them in a Tesco shopping bag with a few bananas on top. Simple, sorted.
Step Two
Read your tenancy contract, and then re-read it. Twice. Make sure you know what you can and can't have in halls off the top of your head - ignorance is not a valid excuse these days and will certainly be an expensive mistake to make. As you move the 'naughty' items into your room - make a list of them. Keep it somewhere viable like on your pinboard so you know exactly what you have that needs hiding.
Step Three
Know when you're due a room inspection. If a warden turns up out of the blue demanding to search your room, you can tell them to shove off. Seriously. They have to give you 24hrs notice usually, seeing as you pay good rent for your room they are required to respect your privacy. Use the time coming up to your room inspection getting rid of everything on your list. Being caught unaware and unprepared is the easiest way to get yourself fined.
Don't forget things like socks over the fire alarm. Add all these things to your list.
Step Four
Know your hiding places. Ideally, you'll have a friend that lives off campus who can look after your things for the afternoon, or even a car with an empty boot for a few hours. If however you have no choice but to keep your things in your room, there are ways and means my friend.
They aren't actually allowed to go through your things, but they can open wardrobe doors, drawers and ask you to lift the rug/bed sheets in front of them to make sure you're not hiding anything. Baring this in mind, hide things underneath clothes, hang them underneath coats or in boxes, where they top half is filled with dvds or books.
It's all a game of hide and seek...
I have heard of some properly brilliant ways to deceive room inspectors before now, including:
- A hamster cage wrapped up as a Christmas present and left under the flat's tree.
- Mini fridge hidden inside an empty hoover box.
- Cardboard box half filled with fairy lights, candles,*ahem* weed then covered with a single piece of cardboard and filled to the top with Tampax and Always packets and placed in the bottom of her wardrobe. Her warden was a bloke...
The moral of the story? Do what you like, just don't burn the place down or get caught... For those of you who are done and dusted with University life, how did you get away with such things in University halls?
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