"Cautionary deposits" for rental property- is this normal?

[Carnabystreet]

Private rental and they are asking for a deposit in case of damages etc- and will be returned after our stay.

I wouldn't mind if it was a cheque which they held onto- but they want cash transfer to bank, for £300, several weeks before the holiday.

Is this normal?

Not all properties ask for a security deposits, but it is normal to be asked for one.

Check the terms and conditions on your contract. If you haven't got a contract then don't give them a deposit until you get one.

It's a private rental so they can do what they like in a contract. It's not for a long stay.

I would say it is normal. I'd be supriised by anywhere that didn't ask for a security deposit. I rent out my holiday home and now charge a £200 security deposit which is refunded within a few days of them vacating the property. It used to be £100 but then last year someone cause hundreds of pounds worth of damage and I was significantly out of pocket.

A friend of mine rented a villa in Spain last year and had to pay a £1,000 deposit.

I don't see what the problem with paying a security deposit is. If you look after and respect other people's property then you have nothing to worry about. Have a look at properties on Owners Direct, most of them set out in their advert what their security deposit is.

It may be a private rental, but that doesn't mean they can do what they like with security deposits. They can only withhold monies if damage is caused. A contract should make it clear how long they have before refunding and what you are liable for.

We have done this a few times and not had any problem getting it back however it is part of why we dont like private rental as one person's end of let sweep up is another person's deep clean.

Do insist on a contract and make sure that you understand what is the accepted standard for the end of let. Some people are reasonable and some people do take the michael.

Yes, we've always got it back. It varies a lot; last year we paid $1,000 for a house in California and forgot to ask for it back for three months. I think the owner had conveniently "forgotten" about it too. This year we're only paying £300 for a much bigger house in Tuscany. Previously paid as little as £50 for a house in Devon.

There's no logic.

Take a photograph of every single room before and after your holiday and make a written note and photo of everything and report even the slightest damage when you get there without delay.

That way you cannot be held liable for something that was already broken.

I suppose it's just a bit sad really. Sad that some people don't take care of other people's properties, but also it implies a lack of trust.

Don't owners have insurance to cover damage anyway?

And letting should work both ways- if the property doesn't live up to it's advert, then clients should be able to have money back as well!

MOSagain- the problems potentially are- you are reliant on the goodwill of the owner to be honest about refunding it - and promptly.

The deposit can be a fair amount of money added on to the cost of the holiday. Be slightly more acceptable if payable on day or two before arrival, but the owner will have the money for weeks in advance.

CarnabyStreet, yes, owners do, or should have insurance but why should I have to lose my no claims bonus and pay an excess of up to $250 just because an owner has caused damage in my house.

Owners are also reliant on the goodwill of guests not to cause damage. The one that I had a few years ago caused hundreds of dollars of damage and lied about it, claiming it had been that when she arrived. Now if I arrived in a luxury holiay home where the oven had caught fire and had burnt all the surrounding kitchen cupboards and the nearby fire extinguisher had been used to try to put the fire out, I'm pretty sure I'd have informed the management company straight away that the house was not satisfactory on arrival

I never charge a cleaning fee, that is something that I pay for. The only time my management company impose a fee is when there is damage or items missing or a considerable amount of rubbish is left in the house due to them not putting the rubbish bins out when the bin men come twice a week.

We have had a to pay a security deposit a few times on a private rental.

Never had to pay one and I have rented many properties in the Balearics through Owners Direct.

I think, from another thread a month or so ago, that it is very common in the British holiday cottages market.

We charge a £100 security deposit and it's payable eight week's before arrival. After a few instances of avoidable damage we decided to start asking for one to give people more of an incentive to look after the place. It's repaid within a day of departure after the cleaner's been in to check if all is okay and so far I've never had to retain one. Breakages happen, as does wear and tear, but burnt new worktops etc are not things I'd expect to bear the cost of. I always think you should treat a place as you'd like your own home treated, and touch wood, the vast majority of people think alike.

so Toughasoldboots, if you rent someones privately owned homes without paying a security desosit and cause damage, accidentally or otherwise, what would you do? If you'd caused hundreds of pounds worth of damage that the owner would then have to pay out, would you shrug your shoulders or be honest and pay for the damage?

I think you will find most owners are reasonable. Over the past 15 years that I've rented out my home, I've had lots of things accidentally broken. You expect the odd plate, glass etc and a bit of wear and tear. However, I've also had a lot of things stolen, bedding and pillows being top of the list and games from the gamesroom, no doubt to entertain the children on the drive home. I've had wardrobe doors completely ripped off and chairs and a table broken. I've only ever once refused to return a deposit and that was when a significant amount of damage was caused to the kitchen when they somehow set the oven on fire and burnt the surrounding units.

with respect though Toughasoldboots, I would not be able to take them to court as my property is overseas and by the time the renters had returned home and any damage had been found I would be unable to do anything. The english courts would not have the jurisdiction to deal with any damage caused in the USA.

I have to say though, a lot of renters are honest. There have been many occasions when I've found something such as a rogue mug or plate that was not there previously and can only assume that they've broken one and gone out and bought a replacement. I have no issue with accidental damage. I had 4 kids and know how things are, I just have issues with people who deliberately steal furnishings and cause significant damage and then deny it.

I have always had to pay a security deposit. The amount requested can affect whether I choose that property or not though.

We are renting a house in France this year- and the security deposit is £200. i think that is fair. Some though ask for £1000 or more. I would not want to entrust someone with that much of my free cash -it makes me suspicious as to whether they have any intention of returning it.

If we damage anything then we would replace it, or inform the owners before we leave and discuss replacing it or not.