How can I stop my food being taken?

If you are experiencing issues with food going missing we can suggest some steps that you may find useful to try and resolve the issue. 

• You could try to prevent food disappearing by agreeing as a flat where you will all store your food

• Label your food items as some of you may buy similar products.

• You could leave a polite note asking for your missing items to be returned or replaced. It could well be that somebody has taken your food by mistake or assumes you don't mind things being borrowed. If you discuss the issue openly, everyone is likely to be more careful about items they are using

• Always put items back in your cupboard after use

• You could buy a lockbox for your fridge or cupboard

Some flats like to take it in turns to cook whole-flat meals, buying more expensive items together, in bulk, or having communal items that you can share (such as oil, utensils, milk) to reduce costs.

If you continue to have problems, we suggest that you try and hold a flat meeting - they are a great way to get everyone on the same page and agree on how you would like to live together. Not holding meetings can lead to miscommunication and tension amongst flatmates.

You can also get in touch with our Communities team by raising an enquiry with the MySurrey Hive team on Surrey Support. They can provide you with additional advice and support.