Renting a House? Steps to Take to Get Your Deposit Back at the End of the Tenancy

Renting a house can be a really convenient option for families. Having the flexibility to move without needing to go through the expense and hassle of selling a home and trying to buy a new one means that relocating to a new property is a much more straightforward process. This flexibility can allow parents to quickly move to new areas in better school catchments, or to easily move to a larger house as their family grows.

There are certainly many reasons why renting can be a useful choice for families. However, one issue that is often faced when renting a property is the return of the deposit. Gathering a deposit as well as the first month’s rent before even moving into a new rental can be hard enough. But if you don’t receive your deposit back at the end of your tenancy, this can cause a host of issues. There are certainly many reasons why renting can be a useful choice for families. However, one issue that is often faced when renting a property is the return of the deposit. Gathering a deposit as well as the first month’s rent before even moving into a new rental can be hard enough. But if you don’t receive your deposit back at the end of your tenancy, this can cause a host of issues. If you’re the landlord of a property, and you’ve had to go as far as using the help of tenant eviction solicitors to get your tenants to move on, deposits could be the least of your worries. When you’re a renter, that’s one of the ONLY worries because it seems to be pretty common that tenants don’t often get their deposit back.

Having all or part of your deposit withheld leaves you out of pocket and potentially unable to raise the money needed to pay a deposit on your next rental property. This is a situation that no one wants to find themselves in, so understanding the steps you can take to give you the best chance of having your deposit returned is really helpful. With this in mind, here’s how you can get your deposit back at the end of your tenancy:

Examine the Inventory Carefully

Whether you’re dealing directly with a landlord or renting the property through a letting agent, an inventory should always be carried out. The inventory is a list of items, such as fixtures and fittings inside the rental property. On the inventory, the condition of all of these items will also be noted. The condition of fixtures, fittings, and everything that comes with the property is super important. 

Many deposit disputes are caused by landlord and letting agents arguing that the tenant has caused damaged to the property or that items within it haven’t been properly looked after during the tenancy period. So, examining the inventory carefully to ensure the descriptions contained within it, and the condition of the items listed is accurate is a must. You certainly don’t want to find yourself being held responsible for damage that you haven’t caused, or accused of taking something that was never there in the first place. This can be avoided by checking the inventory in detail and ensuring that you are given a copy of it to keep in case any issues crop up in the future. 

Report any Issues Right Away

All homes have issues every now and then. Things break, pipes leak, and problems can crop up when you least expect them to do so. It’s often hard to avoid these kinds of issues arising. However, it’s vital that you report it when you do spot a problem. Trying to fix the issue yourself will not only leave you out of pocket, but could result in complaints from your landlord further down the line. They may question why you have made changes to the property without their knowledge or consent. So, when a problem crops up, reporting these issues as soon as possible is the best thing to do to avoid issues when it comes to having your deposit refunded.

Keep it Clean and Tidy

When you don’t actually own the property, it can be tempting to be less vigilant about keeping it clean and tidy. However, it’s essential to keep up with the cleaning to ensure that the house stays tidy, rather than just quickly clearing up whenever an inspection is due. 

When you keep up with cleaning and tidying the house, it will be far easier for you to keep it in the best condition and to help avoid any unnecessary wear and tear that could cost you your deposit.

Prepare Properly When Moving Out

When the time comes for you to move out of your rental, preparation should be a priority. Preparing thoroughly for your move will play a role in helping you to get your deposit back. You see, leaving it until the last minute to pack up your stuff often means you have no time left over to complete the tasks that will help you to receive your deposit returned in full. 

Giving yourself lots of time in the run up to moving out will mean that you can thoroughly check through the inventory to ensure that everything’s as it should be, and to deal with anything that’s amiss. Crucially, allowing yourself lots of time to get sorted out before moving out day means that you can arrange an end-of-tenancy cleaning service to come in and get the property looking pristine. You can find out more here about how rental cleaning services work and how they can help tenants.

Follow Your Rental Agreement

Reading the small print in your rental contract is essential to ensure you thoroughly understand what you’re agreeing to. Being in breach of your rental agreement can immediately set you up to lose your deposit. Ignoring conditions of the agreement, such as no pets or no smoking, can be particularly problematic. 

The smell of cigarette smoke clings to furnishings in the property and can cause ceilings and walls to become discoloured. Likewise, having pets at the property without permission can lead to damage that may be tricky to explain to your landlord and cause you to lose your deposit.

Final Thoughts

Renting a property has many potential benefits. However, the idea of losing your deposit at the end of your rental agreement is a very real concern for many people. Having to argue to get your deposit back can be a stressful and draining process, and there’s no sure-fire way to know that you will be able to claim back your money.

The points mentioned above can help you to avoid losing your deposit and help you to protect it without needing to negotiate and fight for your money when your rental agreement comes to an end. 

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Becky

Meet the award-nominated UK lifestyle blogger behind Spirited Puddle Jumper – a mum of three living in South East London! Becky shares the real ups and downs of family life, parenting tips, and lifestyle inspiration, proving that being a mum doesn’t mean you stop being fun or having other interests! Follow along for honest insights into UK family life and opinions on a whole range of topics, from travel and food, to beauty reviews, home and DIY, business and health and wellness.