This is part of a series of guidance about deposits provided for students.

During the Tenancy

Properties being left dirty at the end of the property is one of the main reasons landlords state for retaining part of a deposit, so keep the property clean throughout the tenancy. It’s much easier to do this as you’re going along, than having a whole year’s cleaning to do at the end, and your house will be a nicer place to live too.

If you Damage the Property

If the property is damaged by your actions or your guests’ actions, it will probably be your responsibility to get it repaired, and this must be done to an appropriate standard. However, by getting the work sorted out during the tenancy you will often be able to get quotes from various tradesmen (unless the work is of an urgent nature). This may be cheaper than the cost of the landlord’s tradesmen having to attend to the property as an emergency later on if there is a short turn-around between tenancies. Do remember that any repairs must return the damaged item to the standard it was in before the damage – a ‘bodge’ will not do! If you’re not confident about arranging the works yourself, speak to your landlord or agent – they will probably have tradesmen they trust to do various works, and may be able to put you in touch with them.

Other Damage to the Property

If there is any damage to the property that isn’t your fault, you must still report it to the landlord as soon as possible; failure to promptly report damage could be considered negligence on your part if it led to the problem getting worse. For example, if a pipe burst through natural wear and tear it would not normally be the tenants’ fault; however, if they left it leaking for a month before reporting it and the carpets were damaged as a result, they could be charged for the damage to the carpets.

Rent Arrears

As well as damage to the property, another thing deposits can be held against is arrears of rent, so make sure your rent is paid in full. If rent is received late, agents may charge a reasonable administration fee for chasing it, so make sure you pay it on time too, if you want to protect your deposit.

Note that although a landlord can deduct rent arrears from the deposit, the tenant should not use the deposit as rent. Do not deduct your deposit from your rent, since this would constitute a breach of your tenancy.

Summary

Keep the property clean throughout the tenancy.
If you cause any damage, look into your options for having it repaired.
Report any faults promptly.
Pay your rent in full and on time.

Pages in this Guide

This information is provided for general guidance only, and should not be considered to be definitive or legally binding in respect of any specific situation. If you have a specific query, you should contact your Student Advice Centre, or a Citizens’ Advice Bureau.

This guide is copyright LetsUni, and may not be reproduced without prior written permission.