Housing deposits represent a huge chunk of cash for the average student looking for accommodation and not surprisingly, most students are counting on getting the money back at the end of their tenancy.
But according to our research, nearly 20% of students lose all or part of their deposit, with 51% of those affected feeling that their deposit had been withheld unfairly.
Tenancy deposit schemes offer protection against unscrupulous landlords but they offer no guarantee that you will get your deposit back if the property has been left in an unfit state.
Furthermore, only 64% of the students we spoke to said their deposits were held in a tenancy deposit scheme, leaving 36 per cent of them at the mercy of their landlords.
The best way to ensure the return of your deposit is to keep the property clean, tidy and in the state you found it in. To avoid disagreements regarding exactly what that state was, it’s worth taking photographs throughout the property before you move in and again when you move out.
Ask the landlord to provide an inventory of furniture and other household items so that you can be sure it’s all there when you move in, you don’t want to be charged upon leaving for something taken or misplaced by a previous tenant.
Finally, try to maintain a good relationship with your landlord. They are more likely to be understanding about a minor accidental breakage if you have been good tenants.