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Original poster

Renting -getting deposit back

54 replies

purpleme12 · 12/06/2021 16:23

I will be moving out in the near future
People who've moved out of rented properties - if they kept your deposit what reason did they give?

And also what would count as wear and tear?

Any comments welcome

OP posts:
Butterfly44 · 12/06/2021 17:38

Your agreement will state of you are allowed to put anything up on walls. If you used nails etc you are expected to make it good as it was before handing over to you or having deduction for getting someone in to make good - fill & paint etc.

Original poster
purpleme12 · 12/06/2021 17:40

@HeartvsBrain

How long have you lived there OP, and is it just you living there?
It is me and my daughter (although my ex also used to live here) 5 years
OP posts:
HeartvsBrain · 12/06/2021 17:41

Just seen the 2 posts above mine - when we left our first rental property we used a tube of ready made hole fillers on where we had put up pictures etc then gave the whole wall a quick paint over with Magnolia (as that was the colour already on the walls). We moved into our new property (rented again) a few days before the termination of our last property, this was so that we could clean and paint (where needed) in bare rooms, which was much easier!
We got our whole deposit back, but then we had a nice landlord. We are hopefully leaving our present property next month, but our landlady here has been a nightmare, so I am anticipating an argument over the deposit!
Good luck with your move OP.

Original poster
purpleme12 · 12/06/2021 17:42

So when we first moved in it was me and my ex on the tenancy agreement
Then it became just me - so a new tenant agreement
So it would be the original inventory that they would be looking at them from when we all moved in?

OP posts:
milinhas · 12/06/2021 17:45

I’ve never put up shelves in a rental but I have put up pictures (with permission) then filled in the holes and touched up the paint on leaving. Those were in the places we weren’t charged - so as long as you leave it as you got it I’d hope you would lose any money there.

milinhas · 12/06/2021 17:45

*wouldnt

surreygirl1987 · 12/06/2021 17:52

Well was a new inventory done when your tenancy agreement changed?

Original poster
purpleme12 · 12/06/2021 17:56

@surreygirl1987

Well was a new inventory done when your tenancy agreement changed?
No it wasn't So would it still go on the one originally when we were both on there?
OP posts:
jackstini · 12/06/2021 17:56

Agree check your agreement re holes/pictures/shelves - it should say and you will know if you need to remove and make good

After 5 years I would expect a bit of wear on flooring but you will likely find it's your responsibility to keep it in 'good decorative order' and keep the garden tidy

Did you take pics when you moved in? Have you had any quarterly/annual inspections where anything has been queried?

As a landlord I have only kept back some deposit twice, both with the agreement of the tenant. Once where I had to replace a carpet as they had knocked over an iron (£75) and once where they didn't take all their belongings so I had to pay council to take and charged them (£45)

This is over 17 tenancies/9 properties/14 years
Hope that helps.

cloudchaos · 12/06/2021 17:58

It really depends on the letting agent. I've rented and had my whole deposit back without them trying to take any, and other agents have tried to take in excess of £1600 listing things such as "finger prints on walls" and claiming £100 for it! If they try to take anything you disagree with, just go via the DPS resolution service and they will sort it all. Take photos when you leave as you will need to submit your own evidence. Hopefully you have a check in and check out inventory?

Original poster
purpleme12 · 12/06/2021 18:14

To answer some questions:
The carpet is so bad it comes up when you hoover so I know that's not fit for purpose (although I expect they'll try to say something's my fault on it)
No I don't have pictures when I moved in (I know I should have done). I don't have a copy of the inventory from when we all first moved in as my ex had it and lost it.

OP posts:
QueenStromba · 12/06/2021 18:14

After five years they won't get a penny for redecorating as it would be expected to need to be done by then. Unless the carpets, furniture and appliances were brand new they're probably at the end of their expected life anyway. If they do try to charge for something like that make sure they pro rats the cost so if something is five years old and expected to last for seven years then you only pay for 2/7 of the cost of replacement. Make sure all the lightbulbs are working, everything is clean and the garden is in a similar state.

Original poster
purpleme12 · 12/06/2021 18:16

@QueenStromba

After five years they won't get a penny for redecorating as it would be expected to need to be done by then. Unless the carpets, furniture and appliances were brand new they're probably at the end of their expected life anyway. If they do try to charge for something like that make sure they pro rats the cost so if something is five years old and expected to last for seven years then you only pay for 2/7 of the cost of replacement. Make sure all the lightbulbs are working, everything is clean and the garden is in a similar state.
Thank you for the confirmation this makes me feel a bit better (I'm sure they'll try it)
OP posts:
RandomUsernameHere · 12/06/2021 18:17

Not all landlords try and keep the deposit. We rent out our old house and when the last tenants moved out we gave the full deposit back. There were a few bits of damage but they had been there for a couple of years and had generally been good tenants so seemed reasonable. It's not all down to the letting agent as some posters are saying, the agent needs to get permission from the LL to return the deposit.

Original poster
purpleme12 · 12/06/2021 18:19

Oh that's interesting to know actually

OP posts:
cloudchaos · 12/06/2021 19:29

I think the expectation is that they prove the damage is caused by you. If they didn't take photos they can't prove it wasn't like that when you moved in. It's also about how old the carpet was. If it was already there for several years and then you used it for another 5 it may now be worth zero. In that case they can't charge you or it would be betterment.

Treacletoots · 12/06/2021 19:54

We've had 6 tenants and only once claimed on the deposit. The tenant had allowed their dog to shit on the carpets and did a really poor job of cleaning it. We had to replace all the carpets in the entire house and their deposit nowhere near covered it.

There's usually something broken, or damaged but as a landlord I take a pragmatic approach as to whether it's just easier to get it fixed than bother with the hassle of claiming on the DPS.

If they've done no maintenance in 5 years then I'd be amazed if they were successful in a claim, why are you concerned OP. If you've looked after the property with reasonable care then there can't be that much damage can there?

Original poster
purpleme12 · 12/06/2021 20:09

I'm concerned because dealing with them stresses me out and I don't trust them
Their job is to criticise your house
I expect them to say that the house needs redecorating and I expect them to comment on the carpet when I do move out even though the carpet is such awful quality. But this thread has helped about what to expect on my side so we'll just see I guess

OP posts:
MeanderingGently · 12/06/2021 20:20

I have rented for years, although I tend to go for long-term rentals where you can decorate the property rather than short-term lets.

I had a very old place, part of a huge country house. The rental was directly with the owners. They didn't put the deposit in a rental scheme, it was all a bit haphazard. I was there 7 years and then moved down south, I'd decorated the lot, took some things with me. I decided I didn't trust the owners to find the deposit so I emailed to tell them that as they already had my 2 month's deposit I wouldn't be paying the rent for the final 2 months. They didn't complain, as they didn't have a leg to stand on.

I had a short-term let later on, only 6 months, kept the place beautifully and left it immaculate, it was all done properly and I got my deposit back.

Current place is a small flat, allowed to decorate, no deposit was asked for in return for improving the place.

Not sure whether my experience helps as I've always had good rentals.

Original poster
purpleme12 · 12/06/2021 20:20

Plus at a previous property they said we did things that we didn't eg cut the wires of the alarm and remove it which was the landlord not us! Amongst other things

OP posts:
fairynick · 12/06/2021 20:24

At halls of residence, I didn’t get £50 of my deposit back for leaving a mask of Alex Turner on my desk. “Tidying”.
In my second year of uni, my landlords (retired lawyers) took £80 because they went into my bedroom when I was on holiday towards the end of my tenancy without telling me, my room needing cleaning but had been packed away ready to move home. They cleaned it and then they added cleaning charges. Didn’t bother questioning it because I was 19 and they were lawyers so didn’t think I’d have a chance.
Honestly despise landlords, best to be careful.

murbblurb · 12/06/2021 20:25

England? Lots of horseshit on this thread. The deposit system is there to stop landlords charging for wear and tear or non damage. Even damage is pro rated for the area damaged. After five years, even if the place was newly decorated top to bottom when you moved in, the remaining life in carpets and paintwork is deemed not much. Landlord also has to prove damage with evidence from when you moved in.

Any trouble. , Raise a dispute.no trust needed.

murbblurb · 12/06/2021 20:27

Deposit scheme in place since 2007. Clueless tenants are easy meat for dodgy landlords , as proved on this thread. Get clued up. Shelter don't provide housing but may provide advice, although it's all online.

firefly123 · 12/06/2021 20:35

As a landlord I have never held back a deposit... any of it. Despite wear and tear. I always redecorate between tenants. Have had three in the past 11 years. Would be wrong for me to take their money for general wear and tear. Absolutely happy for them to put anything on the walls.. based in London

dogistoobigforthesofa · 12/06/2021 20:49

Years ago, I was charged for a full house clean because I didn't clean the area above the cooker hood...