Moving into student accommodation is an exciting milestone, and at Fresh, we want it to feel like home from day one. Part of that means keeping your building secure, and one of the most important things every resident can help prevent is tailgating.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n It might sound like a small thing, but tailgating is one of the most common security risks in shared accommodation. Understanding what it is and how to handle it can make a real difference to everyone's safety in your building<\/a>.<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Tailgating student accommodation (sometimes called piggybacking) is when someone follows an authorised resident through a secure door without using their own access credentials. Put simply, it's when a person who shouldn't have access to your building slips in behind someone who does.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n It often happens quickly and can look completely innocent, which is exactly why it's worth knowing about.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Student accommodation buildings typically use key fobs, access cards, or pin codes to control who can enter. These systems are there to protect you and your fellow residents. When someone tailgates their way in, that security layer is bypassed entirely.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Once inside, an unauthorised person could:<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n It's worth remembering that not every tailgating incident is intentional. But even accidental tailgating carries the same risks, so it's important to be aware of it regardless.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n If you notice someone tailgating, or suspect that an unauthorised person has entered your building, here's what to do:<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Building security works best when everyone plays their part. That means being mindful every time you enter or exit through a secure door, whether it's the main entrance, a car park barrier, or a floor-level fire door.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n A few habits that can make a big difference when it comes to preventing someone from tailgating student accommodation:<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Your safety is our priority. Fresh properties are designed with security in mind, from controlled access points to on-site teams who are available to support residents. You can find out more about how we approach safety at Fresh on our <\/a>student wellbeing page<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n If you ever have questions about how security works in your building, don't hesitate to speak to a member of the Fresh team<\/a><\/a>. We'd always rather you ask than feel unsure.<\/span><\/p>\n Useful resources<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n For broader guidance on personal safety and crime prevention, the Suzy Lamplugh Trust<\/a> <\/a>offers practical advice for people living away from home. The National Union of Students <\/a>(NUS)<\/a> also has resources on student wellbeing and staying safe at university.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ready to find your Fresh property? Explore our student accommodation<\/a> <\/a>and take the next step towards your new home.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Moving into student accommodation is an exciting milestone, and at Fresh, we want it to feel like home from day one. Part of that means keeping your building secure, and one of the most important things every resident can help prevent is tailgating. It might sound like a small thing, but tailgating is one […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":22,"featured_media":8267,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[7],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-8268","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-health-wellbeing"],"metadata":{"_pingme":["1"],"_thumbnail_id":["8267"],"_yoast_wpseo_title":["What Students Need to Know About Tailgating | Fresh"],"_yoast_wpseo_metadesc":["Tailgating is one of the most common security risks in student accommodation. Find out what it is, why it matters, and how you can help keep your building safe."],"_yoast_wpseo_metakeywords":[""]},"yoast_head":"\nWhat is tailgating?<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/h2>\n
Why does it matter in student accommodation?<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/h2>\n
\n
How to spot tailgating<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/h2>\n
Tailgating in student accommodation can be hard to identify in the moment, especially when you're rushing to get somewhere. Here are a few situations to be aware of:<\/span><\/h2>\n
\n
What should you do if it happens?<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/h2>\n
\n
Your role in keeping Fresh safe<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/h2>\n
\n
<\/h2>\n
How Fresh supports your security<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/h2>\n
A safe home is a happy home<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/h2>\n
Living in student accommodation is about making the most of your university years, and feeling secure in your space is a big part of that. By understanding the risks of tailgating and knowing how to respond, you're helping to keep Fresh a safe and welcoming home for everyone.<\/span><\/h2>\n
{"id":8268,"date":"2026-05-22T14:54:00","date_gmt":"2026-05-22T14:54:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.thisisfresh.com\/blog\/2026\/05\/22\/what-students-need-to-know-about-tailgating-student-accommodation\/"},"modified":"2026-05-22T15:09:04","modified_gmt":"2026-05-22T15:09:04","slug":"what-students-need-to-know-about-tailgating-student-accommodation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.thisisfresh.com\/blog\/2026\/05\/22\/what-students-need-to-know-about-tailgating-student-accommodation\/","title":{"rendered":"What Students Need to Know About Tailgating Student Accommodation"},"content":{"rendered":"