UO Winter Break Housing Tips: How to Protect Your Apartment While Away at College

Every year, college students return from break to issues like:

• Frozen pipes
• Stolen packages
• Water leaks
• Unlocked doors or windows
• Dead batteries in smoke detectors
• Maintenance emergencies that could have been prevented

The good news: most of these problems are avoidable with a quick pre-break checklist.

Keep Your Heat On

Even if you’ll be gone for weeks, don’t turn your heat completely off.

Cold temperatures can freeze pipes and lead to serious water damage.

Before leaving:

• Set your thermostat to at least 60°F
• Open cabinets under sinks so warm air can circulate around pipes

This is especially important during Eugene winter weather and colder overnight temperatures.

Lock Everything Before You Leave

This sounds obvious, but it’s one of the most common issues during school breaks.

Before heading out:

• Lock all windows
• Lock doors and deadbolts
• Close blinds if valuables are visible
• Secure bikes and electronics

If possible, leave a light on or use a timer so your home doesn’t appear vacant.

Pause Deliveries & Mail

Overflowing mail and packages make it obvious nobody is home.

Before leaving town:

• Pause USPS mail delivery
• Stop newspaper subscriptions
• Hold package deliveries if possible

If you’re ordering gifts online during break, consider shipping them to your family home instead.

Ask Someone to Check In Occasionally

If you have a trusted:

• Friend
• Roommate
• Neighbor

... ask them to occasionally check on your place while you’re away.

Even a quick visit can help catch issues early if something unexpected happens.

Don’t Forget About Rent

Winter break doesn’t pause your lease agreement.

If you’ll be traveling:

• Schedule online payments ahead of time
• Or submit rent before leaving town

At Mallard Properties, residents can also submit online maintenance requests and access their tenant portal remotely during break periods.

Submit Any Required Vacation Notices

Some property management companies (including Mallard Properties) require notice if all residents will be away at the same time.

Submitting a vacation notice helps management:

• Monitor vacant units
• Respond faster during emergencies
• Protect properties during extended breaks

Check your lease or resident resources before leaving campus.

Looking for Off-Campus Housing Near UO?

At Mallard Properties, we provide off-campus housing just blocks from the University of Oregon. Our townhouse-style properties are designed for students and young professionals looking for a quieter, more residential living experience.

Check out our available rentals to see current pricing, availability, video walkthrough tours, and more.