General Information regarding deposits Deposit (know as bonds, holding or security deposits) for most of our houses is a standard amount of £200. This is payable with first months rent prior to moving in. If you change your mind about moving in, the landlord is by law able to to keep your deposit. Security deposits are refundable under English Law. The law, however, allows landlords to retain part or all of your deposit under certain circumstances. They include compensation for: • outstanding (unpaid) rent • cleaning the room after you moved out, if the room was not as clean as when you moved in • repairing damages caused by you or your guests, exclusive of normal wear and tear • replacing or restoring furniture, furnishings, keys, or other items belonging to your landlord, exclusive of ordinary wear and tear UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES CAN YOU USE YOUR DEPOSIT AS A WAY TO PAY YOUR LAST MONTHS RENT

Protecting your Deposit There are many justifiable reasons why deductions may be made from your deposit. Below are a few ways for you to  avoid problems. • Check what your responsibilities are for the garden - if you are responsible gardening equipment should be provided. • If you bring furniture from home make proper arrangements to store or remove the owner's furniture where it will not get damaged. • Always report any repairs in writing and keep a copy, so you can show that it is not damage caused by the household. • Maintain the house properly, cleaning/vacuuming from time to time. • Clean all cookers, fridges, toilets, showers and baths properly at the end of the tenancy using proper cleaning materials. • Respect the owner/agents fixtures and fittings. Burn marks on the carpet cigarette burns on the furniture could cost you your entire deposit and more. • If you do break/damage anything (deliberately or accidentally) then inform the owner/agent immediately. Do not leave it until the end of the tenancy. If you signed a joint contract your deposit can be used to cover outstanding rent and/or damage caused by your housemates.

The procedure When the tenancy agreement ends or you give notice to the landlord, the landlord may do a formal visit prior to you leaving, usually a few weeks before hand to see if items have been damaged or need replacing. Any work that need to be carried out is up to you or the landlord to decide the best way to proceed, the landlord may get two quotes and deduct this from you deposit.

Person living in a sharedhouse  Please check your portion of the water, gas and electricity has been paid  Telephone and any other media package has been paid The council tax has been paid You leave a forwarding address Please ensure that the keys have been returned back to the landlord

The person in charge of the bills will need to write a letter to the landlord stating that you have paid the appropriate amount of your bills. After this and everything is ok- it is about 14 days that you will receive your deposit back

As a group on a single tenancy agreement  Please check your portion of the water, gas and electricity has been paid   Telephone and any other media package has been paid The council tax has been paid You leave a forwarding address Please ensure that the keys have been returned back to the landlord If you came as a group share, evidence will need to be given to the landlord-usually supplied by the utility company and other companies showing a final statement that the bill have been paid for.

However, this method in the way landlords handle deposit will change by next year. The new system, which is called Tenancy Deposit Scheme (TDS), will be taken over by joint approved government agency with the aim to: to safeguard tenancy’s deposits to solve any disputes arising in connection with such deposits

Students   Students tenants at times will request a written guarantee from your parents that in the event of an unresolved dispute, the parents will stand as guarantor for non-payment of rent or damage to the property. If you are renting a shared house then you should leave the property in a fit state for the next set of tenants to move in. If you have signed a joint contract (as many students do) then you are jointly responsible for the whole house and it is important that the whole house is cleaned and left in a good condition. It is important that every occupant does their fair share of work. Avoid individual occupants leaving one by one over the last few weeks leaving cleaning to one or two remaining tenants. Work out who will clean what. Most students will clean their own bedroom, but make sure you divide the responsibilities between yourselves for living rooms, kitchens, bathrooms, corridors, cellars and gardens. Generally, cleaning and clearing the kitchen and bathroom in a house is 50% of the task of cleaning the whole house. Allow yourself plenty of time to clean the house at the end of the year. Never have an end of house party on the last day. Always leave at least three days after any social event to clean up and move out.