Failing to clean properly when leaving rental home is the top reason that tenants in the UK’s private rented sector don’t get their deposit back, new research has found.
Some 88% of letting agents said that the main reason tenants don’t get their deposits back is because they leave the property dirty or messy, according to the research from the Association of Residential Letting Agents (ARLA).
The organisations pointed out that in most instances, properties are professionally cleaned at the start of the tenancy, so while a tenant can clean it themselves when they leave the property, and aren’t required to use a cleaning company, landlords expect the same level of cleanliness as documented in the inventory at the start of the agreement.
To avoid any disputes ARLA recommends that tenants take photos at the start and end of the tenancy to use as evidence.
The next main reason is lack of maintenance with 44% of ARLA members reporting that gardens in particular are often not looked after property, followed by 39% mentioning direct damage to the property and its contents.
One of the most common types of damage is pictures and mirrors being hung on walls. ARLA says that a deposit deduction can often be avoided if the tenant asks the landlord if they can hang pictures.
Some 31% of agents said unpaid rent at the end of the tenancy ends up with it being taken off the deposit, 29% said it was due to damage caused by carelessness, 12% for unwanted personal belongings being left behind and 2% for keys not being returned, unpaid bills and pest infestations.
‘When you’re leaving a property you’ve been renting, the general rule is to leave it as you found it. Make sure you haven’t left any personal belongings behind, and that the property is clean and tidy for the next tenants,’ said Sally Lawson, president of ARLA.
‘You should flag any damaged items to your letting agent or landlord during the agreement, so that when you leave, it doesn’t come as a shock. This will also help you develop a good relationship with them, which will be useful for any reasonable negotiations about the deposit,’ she explained.
‘Finally, you should always take photos of the property at the start and at the end of your contract, so that if you need to dispute any of the deposit deductions, you can evidence your points,’ she added.
