Research carried out by the UKs largest tenancy deposit schemes has revealed that 40% of students don’t get their deposit back when they leave their student accommodation at the end of an academic year. The mass exodus of students leaving their rental accommodation is about to begin. The university term finishes in June and most students won’t return until late September or early October. Many of them are hoping to have their deposits returned, but sadly this is not going to happen for a considerable number of them.
Cleanliness is an Issue
The biggest issue for landlords is cleanliness. Unfortunately, students are not known for their clean-living lifestyles and there are numerous shocking photos online of ghastly kitchens and mountains of empty pizza boxes next to several weeks’ worth of dirty dishes. It’s enough to make a landlord turn pale.
It’s also more than enough to persuade a landlord to hang on to a student’s deposit, as paying for professional cleaners to come in and deep clean a property is expensive.
Deep Clean
The TDS is advising students to do a deep clean before they move out of their property. They also advise them to tidy any garden at the property. Property damage is another bone of contention, so students are advised to report damage to their landlord, preferably in writing.
Landlords cannot make unfair or unjustified deductions from the deposit. They are also not allowed to withhold deposits at the end of a tenancy.
