It’s So Easy To Lose Your Deposit Renting

There are lots of advantages to buying a home compared to renting a place. Cheaper bills, no issue with maintenance cost because you’re not responsible for it and the list just goes on. You know, for instance, that the rent on the place isn’t suddenly going to rise and the same can’t be said for those mortgage repayments. It’s always going to depend on the type of mortgage deal or let agreement that you’re currently using. However, there is one area where the home buyers seize the upper hand.

 

You see, if you own a home, you can treat it however you want. Hate gardening? That’s cool, just let the grass grow and call it a ‘wild nature-friendly’ garden. Don’t like cleaning? No problem, no one is going to force you to keep your home tidy which is why it can be quite unsettling venturing into the home of a hoarder. But the same isn’t true when you rent because when you rent you’ll have to pay a deposit. This is intended to guarantee that any damage or wear and tear that occurs while you’re in the property is paid for by you to the landlord when you leave. It avoids the letters, the emails, the calls, demanding you pay up.

However, ideally, you want to get your deposit back when you leave the rented accommodation. The problem is that a lot of people lose their deposits. In some cases, this is entirely their fault, and in others, it’s the actions of the landlord that has left them out of pocket. So, before we look at the things that you might do that will cause you to lose your deposit, let’s examine some of the ways you can protect yourself.

Document Everything

When you move in you’ll get an inventory. This will tell you everything that is included in the property and any damage that might already exist before you moved in. If you’re not provided with the inventory, make sure you request one. Once you’ve officially requested this document the ball’s in their court. If they don’t provide you with one, it’s very difficult for them to prove that you caused any damage to the property. However, you should still take your own dated pictures when you move in to highlight any possible issues.

Check How It’s Being Handled

 

A deposit should be held by a third party. By doing this, you can guarantee that the landlord can’t unlawfully hold your deposit if there is no damage that you caused to the property. The deposit will never be given directly to them, and instead, it will be held by a separate party. Not all landlords have this type of setup for the deposit, so you’ll need to decide whether you’re willing to rent from somewhere that isn’t offering this type of protection.

You also need to bear in mind that a deposit does not mean you can’t be charged extra for damages. Your actions might lead to a fault in the boiler system. That could lead to a repair cost worth thousands, and this won’t be covered by a typical deposit scheme. In this case, you could still be asked to cover the cost. Now, let’s look at some of the ways that you can lose your deposit.

 

Environmental Damage

If you’re a smoker, you will want to check the terms of living in the property. You’ll find in most cases you are not permitted to smoke on the property. Even if this is permitted, you could still be held accountable for any damage caused by this to the property from marks on the walls to unpleasant smells. The good news is that according to sites like acpulse.com, air purifiers can completely eliminate the issue of smoke damaging property. So, you might want to think about investing in one of these before you move in.

 

Although, it’s certainly not the only way you can damage property. You also need to consider the possibility of mold and damp on the walls or windows. Living in a property with double or triple glazing both are quite common. As such, you should leave your window open a crack at night. This will allow air to flow naturally and stop mold developing. You can remove mold quite easily with antibacterial spray. However, you should be aware that once it reaches a certain point, it will leave marks regardless.

These are some of the main environmental issues to watch out for, but there are others. For instance, you might rent a place that allows pets. If you have an animal, do bare in mind that you can’t leave the place smelling like a dog when you move out. You’ll have to clean it, and that brings us to the next point.

Keeping Things Clean

 

Leaving a place dirty when you leave is one of the easiest ways to lose your deposit. The only way you can avoid this is if you have photographic proof the place was dirty when you moved in. Even then though, this can be disputed, so it’s always a good idea to give it a thorough clean and of course complete regular cleanings while you’re living there.

 

If you have lived in a property for a while, it might even be worth getting in professional cleaners. That way, you can provide evidence that the home has been properly taken care of before the move out date.

Leave What Was There

Finally, you must leave the property exactly as it was when you moved in. There’s a clever way landlord save money, and that’s with the lighting. The bulbs they buy are often cheap and will fail hours after you move in. As such, you should remove the bulbs they had in as soon as you move in. Then, replace them with your own and put the olds ones back when you move out. It’s a great way to cover yourself and avoid getting stiffed with your deposit simply because you forgot to put some bulbs back. Ledkia.com offer some of the best energy saving bulbs on the market, if you want to buy your own.

 

The deposit can often be one of the worst parts of renting the property, but if you take this advice, you can dodge the usual headaches completely.