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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Has anyobe actually ever got their deposit back on a rental?

124 replies

malificent7 · 11/07/2021 19:32

I am currently deep cleaning my rental property ...I have been there for 10 years so wear and tear is evident.

I have scrubbed scuff marks off the wall, got a deep cleaner to do barhroom/ kitchen / skirting boards etc. Grout/ tiles are looking good.
There is a tiny blob of slime on dds carpet..i have softened with vinegar and is coming off slowly. I am using rug doctor throughout. there was also some black mould growing behind furniture...have scrubbed it off.
I know I wont get my deposit back but as a matter of pride I want to leave it in a good state.
Has anyone actually had a deposit back and if so...how?

OP posts:
JustCallMeBubblesDahling · 11/07/2021 19:34

Your deposit should be protected and you can dispute landlord costs so why wouldn’t you get it back?

RoseRedRoseBlue · 11/07/2021 19:36

Yes, every time. Any deductions have been agreed by both parties.

Hamandcheeselife · 11/07/2021 19:36

Never! Doubt i will in this one either. But the rules have changed and they have to provide evidence to who its protected with. Mine isn't protected and I'll be entitled to 3x but in real life who has time to go to court when I'll never get it anyway 🙄

MoiraRose4 · 11/07/2021 19:39

Yes, I’ve always got mine back. The last one had a deduction for a professional oven clean, but that’s all.

Houserenoqueen · 11/07/2021 19:40

As a LL, we have always given full deposit back with tenants so far. Your deposit should be protected so there is no reason to think you won’t get it back if it’s looking as clean as you say :)

StepladderToHeaven · 11/07/2021 19:41

Yes. Once I even got interest on it!!

chickenyhead · 11/07/2021 19:41

I lived at my last house for 10 years. I got all but £30 back, but it took ages to come through.

DramaAlpaca · 11/07/2021 19:41

My DS and his flatmates got theirs back recently without any bother and with no deductions.

Fuckitfuckit · 11/07/2021 19:41

Yes,
Reasonable wear and tear, meaning as long as its clean and no damage, they cannot legally take it.
If you can reference back to your inventory when you moved in, and everything's in a reasonable state you should be alright.

Also, please be aware that when they take some of your deposit, they can only take a %of the costs.

I've always received my fill deposits back, but I've always moved into new houses, which have been perfect when I've moved in, replaced items that were damaged (I had to get a new washing machine and the company who removed the old one ruined the lino in the kitchen, so I replaced it)
Had a carpet cleaner in to do all the carpets, and I repainted all of the rooms which were looking a bit tatty, and cleaned everywhere, Inc the oven.

To be honest, I think I probably created a lot of work for myself!

SpikeDearheart · 11/07/2021 19:43

Yes, every time (7 different rentals). Once had a deduction as a housemate burned the carpet with her hair straighteners but that was fair enough. Had to argue a couple of times as they tried to charge me for wear and tear things that I'd reported during the tenancy, but they backed down when I pointed out it wasn't within the law.

pigsDOfly · 11/07/2021 19:43

I've had a couple of tenants who have their full deposits back on the one house I own and let out.

The tenants who didn't get their deposits back were the ones that left owing rent (over 6 month's worth in one case) and had left the house in a state of disrepair - often the two go hand in hand in my experience.

I don't expect the house to not suffer any wear and tear it's what happens when people live in a property and would most certainly not expect to keep any part of a deposit for it.

It's left to my landlord's agent to inspect the house when tenants leave and I trust his judgement, but then he's not an arse.

If you feel you've left the property in a good state (remember to take photos) you are entitled to query any claim the landlord might make on your deposit.

A landlord has to have a good reason to keep back any part of a deposit.

Even when no rent has been paid, as in the case of one of my tenants, my agent still had to justify the claim.

ApplyWithin · 11/07/2021 19:44

Yes. Every time. I’ve rented 6 houses. No problem.

XenoBitch · 11/07/2021 19:44

Yes. I made sure it was clean and got my deposit back no problems.

AllThatFancyPaintsAsFair · 11/07/2021 19:44

Some years ago I had that job that had some content related to rented properties and I can only remember one time a tenant didn't get all or most of their deposit back

I suppose it might have changed but I can't see why it would now be the norm not to get it back

Northernsoullover · 11/07/2021 19:44

Every time now, but not before I knew my rights. You DO NOT roll over and take the deductions unless you leave it a midden or deliberately damaged. The deposit schemes are weighted very heavily in favour of the tenants so you need to do some googling of the schemes to see how a dispute works because I kick myself at some deductions I used to agree to.

tracker222 · 11/07/2021 19:46

I've only rented once (for 2 years) and got my deposit back.

MikeHat · 11/07/2021 19:46

On the day DS moved out the lock broke, I was with him and the door wouldn't lock. He went directly to the EA and told them when he handed his keys in. They charged him £80 for fixing it.

Yummiliscious · 11/07/2021 19:48

In our first rental (4 years) the landlord kept £80 for cleaning, although we scrubbed the place spotless. I was more worried about a stain on the carpet and was prepare to pay for that but the landlord said he was changing the carpet anyway. Second rental (5 years), got cleaner in and got full deposit back. I think it depends on the landlord .

StarCourt · 11/07/2021 19:48

Yes every time

DeathByWalkies · 11/07/2021 19:49

I've lived in quite a few rented houses over the last decade and have always got my deposit back in full, except for one where the LL agreed to deduct the last month of rent from the deposit

Iheartbaby · 11/07/2021 19:55

Always, I refuse to pay my last months rent until I get my deposit back

TheRebelle · 11/07/2021 19:58

Yes, every time, on the last one I even had an email from the letting s agent thanking us for leaving it in such good condition.

We got a tester of magnolia paint and went around coving up all the marks and pin holes with it so it looked better than before we moved in!

pitterpatterrain · 11/07/2021 19:59

Yes - we ended up going through the tenants deposit scheme adjudication thing but the claims the landlord had were so ridiculous we got all our money back

Some things included wanting us to pay for a new sofa, new kitchen cupboards, a Hoover we hadn’t used, full cleaning with company X (which we actually used...)

All in all we had start/end photos, they had refused the agents to do an opening inventory with photos so had no evidence

Merryoldgoat · 11/07/2021 20:00

Yes, both times. First time with zero deductions. 2nd time a small deduction. I cleaned myself and it was fine.

RoseRedRoseBlue · 11/07/2021 20:00

@Hamandcheeselife

Never! Doubt i will in this one either. But the rules have changed and they have to provide evidence to who its protected with. Mine isn't protected and I'll be entitled to 3x but in real life who has time to go to court when I'll never get it anyway 🙄
You wouldn’t have time to go to Court to get 3x your deposit? Ok then.. ..