This is one of my nightmares as a tenant. If there is one thing that university taught me, it’s the struggle to get back the full deposit after living in a place. Here are some tips and tricks that I have learnt, especially from when I moved out of my nightmare place.
Don’t trust or assume the inventory is thorough
An inventory is a record of how you received the place when you move in. It helps with comparing any damages that might have incurred during the tenancy. And can also save you from losing the deposit from any previous tenants, mishaps.
Normally when you move into a new place, an inventory has to be made. Sometimes the landlord or lettings agent will do it with you, or will provide you with one. Don’t trust it and don’t assume that it will cover everything. Leave no stone unturned, when it comes to the property. Check for any wobbly fittings/furniture. Take pictures of any mark present on arrival. These images should stay in your library until you move out.
Landlords and lettings agents can forget how they gave you a place, and if there is no reliable inventory (with images), then you could lose your deposit, or go through a long process of trying to get it back. Do not trust or assume that they have done everything to the highest quality for you. Do your own inventory and write everything down (with dates).
However, make sure you complete the inventory in the stated time. It normally is 7 days but check your contract to make sure. If your images are taken after the deadline, then you lose a foot to stand on, if you need to dispute anything.
My experience
When I moved into the nightmare house, there were a lot of issues. So, I documented everything on a pdf, and had a friend witness it just in case. They said I didn’t need to do an inventory because they had done one, but I couldn’t access the images. This was suspicious. I raised the issue with accessing the inventory, and they said “That’s fine, we can access it when we need it”.
I couldn’t trust that shady behaviour, and neither should you. Do your own checks.
My current place, had it all together. They had a whole pdf of their current issues, and I took my images too. Safe to say, I feel a lot better about my current place.
Keep a tangible record, in case the deposit is disputed
Always have a record of interactions with your landlord or lettings agent. Sometimes they can say something, but then act a different way. If there is no documentation to prove their word, then that makes it harder for you. Always, interact with them via email. If you can’t, then you need to inform them of you recording the conversation. That tends to stop people from doing anything shady, but if not, then at least you have a record of the interaction in case of any funny business.
My experience
I contacted the nightmare place agent via email, always. This meant if they didn’t do anything, I could reference the email stating they had said they would address something. Sometimes they still don’t do anything, but that’s further evidence. I had an issue with my boiler, a part wasn’t sitting properly which meant it was clicking for periods of time. In my entire 7 months, this never got addressed, but I have the email receipts showing I asked and reminded them to address it. Now it’s no longer my problem. Haha.
Another example, my 1 months’ notice for the nightmare place was rejected because of a misunderstanding. I had to call them up and ask why they rejected it. I recorded that whole phone call and caught the person making an absolute fool of themselves. They then had the audacity to say, “Oh we both misunderstood that”. No. I knew the terms of my contract, and I knew exactly what I was doing. They didn’t.
Think of the deposit, before making any changes
Some landlords are known to let you make more “homey” touches to their properties. This is because they know, they didn’t decorate the place that nicely. However, check with them first that it’s ok to make specific changes. If you make changes without their permission, and it’s obvious, that makes it virtually impossible to get the deposit back. However, if you ask, via email or recorded conversation, then you have your answer and evidence.
Secondly, before you start channelling your inner DIY-er, really think about how you want to do it. Landlords normally grant permission, with the stipulation that you move out with the property looking identical to when you moved in. This means, your method of making your place more cozy, needs to be reversible. Or you need to know how you’re going to reverse it, before you even start making changes
My experience
In the nightmare house there were no curtains or rails, and I was told if/when I move out, the rails need to go. This meant when I got them inserted, I had to know how to take them out with minimal damage (to keep the deposit). Nothing a little WikiHow couldn’t solve.
When I moved out, I knew what I needed to do, to reset the place to it’s original state. My handy skills have definitely improved. If you would prefer to avoid installing curtains, there are these (not affiliated) as a less permanent options.
Bonus
When I moved to my nightmare place, I knew I wasn’t staying there for too long. If you’re in similar case, here are steps I took to make it easier to move out, ensuring I get my full deposit back.
- Every 3 months do a deep clean of the kitchen
- Once a week, deep clean the bathroom
- Only have the bare minimum stuff necessary to live
So far, I have managed to get back my full deposit from each place I have lived in. Hopefully these tips will help you do the same.
Moral of my story:
- Leave no stone unturned- Protect yourself with your own in depth inventory
- Watch out for deadlines- Read your contract over to ensur your inventory, falls within the timeline, in case of any dispute
- Keep a record- Having tangible evidence, reduces the uncertainty over hearsay. And inform anyone if you intend to record anything
- Plan your changes- Knowing how you will remove something is just as important as its installation
