Top Tips To Ensure Getting Your Deposit Back From A Landlord Is Easy!

 

When you move into a new home, you are usually required to pay a deposit. Often the cost of this deposit is the same amount as one month’s rent and it basically acts as security for the letting agent or landlord. If you decide to move, you will then be given this deposit back. However, as many tenants have found out, getting the deposit back isn’t always easy. Unless you know your rights, it is difficult to know whether you are entitled to the deposit at the end of the tenancy. Here you will discover everything you need to know about how to ensure getting your deposit back from your landlord is as easy as can be.

Ensure your deposit is protected

As soon as you give your deposit to the letting agent or landlord, they are legally required to keep it in a tenancy deposit protection scheme run by the government. The deposit must be placed into one of these schemes within 30 days. At the end of the tenancy, once you have agreed an amount that you will get back, the deposit needs to be paid to you within 10 days. If there is any kind of dispute, the money will be kept safe in the deposit protection scheme until it has been resolved. It is also a good idea to get a receipt when you pay the deposit.

Look after the property

The sure-fire way to ensure you get your full deposit back is to properly maintain the property. Light wear and tear is to be expected, but things such as scratches on the wall, stains on carpets and broken furniture (if furnished), will result in a loss on your deposit.

Take photographic evidence

If you are leaving the property in good condition, take photographs before you leave. This photographic evidence can be used if a dispute arises. Be sure to photograph every room and focus in on as many details as you can. It is also a good idea to take pictures when you move in; especially if there are any existing faults. Time the photos so you can prove when they were taken and send them to the landlord or letting agent along with the inventory list.

Invite the landlord/letting agent around

Around a month before you move, invite the landlord or letting agent around to carry out a preliminary inspection. This gives them the opportunity to state whether there is anything they aren’t happy with. You then have plenty of time to resolve the problems to ensure you get the full deposit back. Ideally you should have somebody else present at this inspection so they can be a witness if needed. Overall it can be hard work getting the deposit back at the end of the tenancy. No matter what you do, sometimes you are faced with a picky landlord who has unrealistic views of what light wear and tear actually means. Following the tips above will increase your chances of getting the deposit, as well as ensure you have proof if you need to go through a dispute. If you have come to the end of your tenancy and are looking to hire a moving company, Love Removals is a removals company in Brighton which operates UK wide and offers outstanding customer service. Check out our Checkatrade page to find out why our customers rate us so highly.