Have we got a leg to stand on?

[easygoingsometimes]

Sons moved out of his student accommodation in July.
I personally went round and gave it a deep thorough clean to ensure he got his deposit back, not that it needed it as he’d kept it nice but I made sure the kitchen and communal area was spotless to make sure he’d get his deposit.
He has been waiting for this deposit to be returned and has just been told by email they are keeping back £200 for cleaning expenses.
The house was spotless and his room exactly how it was when he moved in.
I wish I’d taken photos but I didn’t expect them to do this, it feels like blatant robbery.
Surely we don’t have to pay for the cleaning of a spotless room?

How much was the total deposit and how many lived there. I think it’s pretty standard to keep some money back from a deposit for a deep clean, which may include cleaning carpets. Some tenants ask to see invoice stating the accommodation has been deep cleaned, so maybe that’s why. But if there are more than say 4/5 people staying there, then it’s a considerable sum the landlord is keeping, it’s going to be really hard if you haven’t taken photos to fight it.

There was 3 of them and the deposit was £500

It's so common. Unfortunately without photos it will be hard to fight it, it's so unfair.

The deposit should be held in a deposit scheme. The landlord does not get to unilaterally decide to keep what they want, it has to be agreed by you both. If you cant agree, the deposit scheme will have arbitration services. Go onto the the deposit scheme and start the process to claim the whole deposit back, let the landlord dispute it. You'll both be expected to provide evidence backing your claim.

How annoying.

Lesson learned: you photograph EVERY blemish when you move in and you challenge every line of the checkin/Inventory report, insisting that photos are added to document every sign of wear and tear. I literally check eveything eg the condition of the curtain lining, marks around the sink, indents in the carpet caused by furniture, insides of drawers and cupboards, amount of dirt on windows and scratches on the front door and fittings.

I have been burned so many times.

Sadly I don’t think you can do anything about this except complain and hope for the best.

Standard landlord behaviour. This happened to my son when he was moving out of his student let. Silly landlord didn't realise he'd let his host to 3 law students. They got their full deposit back...

Check if the deposit was held in a scheme ? It should have been and if not there may be a way of claiming against the landlord if not ?