Students '“ seven things you can do to make sure you keep hold of your tenancy deposit

For thousands of students, this September may be the first time they go to live away from home. It can be a daunting time, with many packing their bags to take up rented accommodation in university towns and cities across the UK.

Renting for the first time is a significant step and one which requires a great deal of independence and responsibility. It also involves plenty of paperwork and – of course – the dreaded ‘tenancy deposit’.

The tenancy or security deposit - usually a significant amount of money – is the lump sum paid at the beginning of your rental period by way of assurance that the property will be looked after and returned to the landlord in the same condition. Equally, it protects the landlord against tenants ‘doing a runner’ without paying some or all of the due rent.

However, regardless of how careful or house proud a student tenant might be, when summer comes around, many find themselves struggling to get their deposit back.

So what can be done to prevent you from being left severely out of pocket at the end of academic year?

Joanne Ellis, head of housing law at national law firm Stephensons, provides expert advice.

Before moving in

Hindsight might be 20/20, but when dealing with rented properties, a bit of forward planning goes a long way.

Joanne recommends taking the time to examine the property carefully from the moment the rent begins

“A major cause of disputes over deposits come down to the condition of the property. Quite often, the landlord will claim that the tenant was responsible for damage, whereas the tenant will say that the damage had already occurred before they moved in.

“With modern smartphones, there really is no excuse for not having strong evidence to prove your case. When you first move in, take the time to do a thorough sweep of the property, taking photos of the condition of all rooms – particularly where there is existing damage or wear.

“Save these photos, digitally, in a safe place, and make sure that they are time stamped so that the time they were taken cannot be disputed.”

Do your reading

The last thing a student needs is yet more required reading, but in the case of your tenancy agreement, it is vital.

Joanne says: “We are used to being faced with legal agreements that very few people bother to read – particularly for things like technology, software updates and so on. However, the tenancy agreement, although a rather dreary document, is very important.

“It contains all the terms and conditions between you and the landlord and can differ wildly from one property to the next.

“It might contain strict instructions on what you will need to do when you move out. This might include completing a check-list on the condition of certain fixtures and appliances, or even hiring a professional cleaner.

“It is definitely not a case of ‘just sign here’.”

Protect your pocket

Another piece of sage advice for students is to make sure their deposit is protected. Since April 2007, it has been a legal requirement that landlords hand over any deposit they receive to the government-run ‘Tenancy Deposit Protection Scheme’.

“TDP schemes are a legal requirement, but that doesn’t necessarily mean your deposit is protected”, says Joanne.

“You should always ask your landlord for proof that your deposit is protected and – if you are still unsure – you can use the three online checkers for the Dispute Service (TDS), Deposit Protection Service (DPS) and mydeposits.