Time to take stock so you don’t end up paying unnecessary fees and penalties……
How to ensure you get your deposit back
- Ensure all refuse has been removed from the property (including any gardens/yards)
- Wash walls and skirting boards to remove any marks and grime
- Repair/replace anything which has been broken
- Vacuum carpets and mop floors
- Air the property and much as you can
- Defrost the freezer and clean the fridge (as well as emptying them), when empty leave the door open
- Take pictures of the house once you’ve cleaned and removed your possessions, just in case there are any disputes over the condition the house has been left in.
You should have made a record of the contents and condition of the property at the beginning of your tenancy, it is now important that you also have a record at the end, and take meter readings. Even if gas and electricity is included in your rent, in case of a dispute.
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Get the Landlord on board
You should, ideally, make sure the property is properly cleaned at least two weeks before the end of the tenancy and then arrange a visit by the landlord or agent. Doing this will give the landlord or agent the opportunity to discuss any matters that need attention you may not have noticed, for example:
- certain paint chips
- cleanliness of the oven
- marks on the carpet
You will then have the time to attend to these without professional cleaners being brought in, for which you will be charged.
On Move Out Day
On the last day of the tenancy, arrange for the landlord or agent to visit and inspect the property and go through the inventory and agree the condition of the proerty. Once you have agreed any differences between the moving in inventory and condition and the moving out one, get the landord or agent to confirm in writing the agreed differences. The landlord or agent should sign and date the inventory.
If the landlord or agent is not cooperative and does not visit the property either two weeks before the end of the tenancy or does not carry out the inventory check out, you should make your own rcord of the conditiion of the property on the last day, take photographs or a video and make sure that there is something in the photograph showing the date, such as a newspaer.
Regardless of the issues with deposits, you should return the keys. Thoretically, if you don’t return the keys the landlord or agent can argue that you have not given up possession of the property, and you could be charged rent until the next tenants move in.
Having attended to all of these, your moving out should prove stress free.
Tenancy Deposits
The landlord must return your deposit within 10 days of the tenancy ending. If your landlord wishes to make deduction from your deposit, they must inform you of what they are deducting and why the believe you are liable for that amount. If you do not agree with the deductions or believe the amount to be excessive, then you must contact the deposit scheme administrators and explain the situation to them. It is your landlord’s duty to prove that you owe them money.
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Where to start
Your tenancy agreement will provide you with all the details regarding when your lease comes to an end, along with anything else you are required to do. Some landlords/agents may insist that you have the property professionally cleaned before you move out. If you are unsure about anything, speak to your landlord/letting agent or LUSU Advice and Support
Preparation
If you think there could be a lot of rubbish to dispose of on moving day, try to stagger the amount of waste you put out for collection over a few weeks. Lancaster City Council limit the amount of waste that will be taken per household; organising private disposal of rubbish can be very costly.
In the weeks building up to moving day gather as many boxes as possible along with any other items you feel may be useful for transporting your possessions.
- Supermarkets and shops are usually a good place to find unwanted cardboard boxes that can be reused for free
- Try to eat as much of your leftover food (probably a lot of baked beans!) as possible before you move to save cash and space.
LUSU Advice and Support can help you with dealing with your landlord or the tenancy deposit scheme, contact us for advice
email: advice@lusu.co.uk
Tel: (01524) 593765
