So you’re moving out? Make sure you do everything in your power to get your FULL deposit back!
Make sure you get your full deposit back!
As many students move out from their rented accommodation across the summer the landlord/agent will be scheduling a ‘exit inspection.’ Usually these involve either the Landlord or their agent visiting the property on the final day of the tenancy to assess the condition of the property & conduct a full inventory check. This is done in order to determine if there will be any works required in order to return the property to a suitable condition for new tenants. The property is expected to be in good, clean, tidy condition with no damages or dilapidations outwith the accepted levels of fair wear & tear.
It is usually the level of cleanliness that causes the most contention at the end of a tenancy. You should consult your lease agreement to ascertain if there are requirements specific to your tenancy however, generally you will be expected to have cleaned the property thoroughly throughout. Although not exhaustive, the checklist below should give you a pretty good idea of the sort of things you need to do – & remember to allow plenty of time to get everything done as tasks like this usually end up taking longer that you think!
Cleaning Checklist
- Clean all rooms thoroughly, including woodwork, skirting board and floors etc
- Remove all personal items & food
- Clean all flooring (Hoover/Shampoo Carpet, Mop bathroom kitchen etc.)
- Wipe down all worktops
- Clean interior & exterior of cupboards, nobody wants to see bits of food everywhere!
- Wash all pots, pans, cutlery and utensils (if provided)
- Clean & defrost fridge/freezer
- Clean oven and hob. (Doing this regularly will make life so much easier when you move out!)
- Sanitise your bathroom
- Clean all furniture & curtains as necessary
- Wash windows internally and externally (if applicable, read your contract)
Once your house is clean there are a few other tips which can help reduce the likelihood of any deductions being made from your deposit, decrease the time it takes for the deposit to be returned to you & generally ease the transition from one home to the next.
Recommendations
- Be present at the inspection so you can discuss any issues & agree deductions
- Check inventory thoroughly and replace anything that you have damaged/misplaced & return all items to their original positions
- Replace all light bulbs/batteries as required throughout
- Make sure all rent is paid & CANCEL any standing orders/direct debits as you don’t want to be over paying and having to try and claw back the overpayment!
- Pay all bills (water, gas electricity etc.) & have copies available for your Landlord/Agent. (They won’t release your deposit if you don’t!)
- Arrange mail redirection – this may take up to 10 working days so make sure you set it up in plenty of time
- Provide your forwarding address details to allow your Landlord/Agent to get in contact if need be!
- If you are unsure about anything then get in contact with your Landlord/Agent to seek clarification
As Landlords letting property in England are required to have lodged any deposits with one of the three Government approved Tenancy Deposit Schemes you should already have received confirmation as to where yours is held.
Following the final inspection your Landlord/Agent will apply to the relevant scheme to ask for any deductions they believe to be appropriate. You then have a maximum of 30 days to either agree with or dispute the proposed deductions however, it is a good idea to respond as quick as you can in order to get your deposit back quickly!
Should there be any dispute both parties are offered free access to an independent dispute resolution service and once the deductions have been agreed the scheme administrator is obliged to return the deposit within five working days.