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

The End of the Tenancy

If your landlord / agent provides any guidance on how they want the property left take the time to follow it. It can help to have left the property to the standard they are expecting.

Cleaning

Even if you’ve kept on top of the cleaning during the tenancy, the property will still need a thorough clean at the end. If you’re in a shared house, work out between yourselves how you’re going to do this; don’t leave it all to the last person. The kitchen and bathroom in particular take a long time to clean, so try and work out how to do this between you fairly.

Moving Out

Make sure you arrange for return of keys according to your landlord / agent’s procedures. Some landlords will meet you at the property to receive keys, and will do the final inspection at the same time; many agents will ask you to return the keys to their office, and will inspect the property in the following few days. If you make it easy for the landlord, bunching the keys neatly into sets, they will appreciate the effort and are more likely to lean in your favour if there are any borderline decisions.

If you make an appointment to meet the landlord at the property, make sure you are on time, and that the property is empty when they arrive; they will not want to have to wait around while you finish packing your stuff into your car.

Leave the property secure on your departure, checking all windows and doors. You could be responsible for damage caused by intruders if it is down to your negligence (e.g. leaving a window open or a door unlocked).

Rent Arrears

Note that you cannot deduct your deposit from your last month’s rent – this would constitute a breach of your tenancy agreement. As a general principle, remember that deposits and rent are separate, and should be kept so.

Making Arrangements

The landlord or agent will need forwarding details, not least to send your deposit back; make sure you provide them clearly in writing. Agents may well have a specific form for this – use their form to be sure you’re providing all the information they require.

Utility companies should be advised of final meter readings; some landlords will insist on seeing proof that final bills have been paid before they will return deposits.

Checklist

With so much to remember, it can be handy to have a checklist to make sure you don't forget anything. If your landlord or agent provides one, we recommend you follow it where there requirements are reasonable. If they don't provide any guidance, following our checklist should help you.

Download our Property Vacation Checklist (PDF).

Summary

Where reasonable, follow landlord’s procedures for return of keys, final inspections, etc. Be on time and ready for any appointments that are arranged.
Make arrangements regarding utility bills.
Leave the property clean and secure.
Pay your last month’s rent in full.

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.