How Do I Get My Tenancy Deposit Back? A Student Guide

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Renting a shared student house means your landlord will likely ask for a tenancy deposit. However, provided you pay your rent on time, don’t damage the property, and leave it clean and tidy, you should get all your deposit money back after you move out.  

In this blog, we’ll cover everything students need to know about getting their deposit back at the end of their tenancy, including what a tenancy deposit is and a simple checklist for you to follow.  

What is a tenancy deposit? 

A tenancy deposit is a returnable sum (up to 5 weeks' rent) you pay to your landlord or letting agent. If the property is damaged or requires extra cleaning, your landlord might keep a portion or all of your deposit to cover the costs.  

Deposit protection 

If you’re an assured shorthold tenant (which most tenants are), your landlord must protect your deposit in a tenancy deposit protection scheme within 30 days of receiving it. Your landlord should provide you with written information about what scheme your deposit is protected with.  

How to get your tenancy deposit back 

If you leave your shared student house in the same condition as when you moved in, and you (and all your housemates) pay rent on time, your landlord should have no reason to deduct any money from your deposit.  

However, you can still take some steps to give yourself the best chance of getting your full deposit back. We’ve got an easy checklist for you to follow below… 

Before you move out  

Confirm your tenancy end date and move-out date 

Most student house contracts run from 1st July to 30th June the following year, but it’s always a good idea to confirm the last date of your tenancy with your landlord. If you’re moving out earlier than the last date of your tenancy, it’s also worth letting your landlord know.  

Look at your tenancy agreement 

Before you move out, have a look at your most recent tenancy agreement. This should have information on what condition the property should be left in and what things the landlord will make deductions for.  

If your tenancy agreement says you need to pay for professional cleaning, this is illegal according to the Tenant Fees Act 2019.  

Read your move-in inventory report  

Ideally, your landlord or letting agent should have given you a comprehensive inventory report at the beginning of your tenancy. This report should include the property’s fixtures, fittings, furnishings, and appliances and their condition when you moved in.  

Prepare for your check-out inspection 

In preparation for moving out, you should make sure your student house is in good condition. You should: 

• Clean the entire property to the same standard as when you moved in

• Repair or replace damaged items

• Fix any damage you’ve caused (if you can)

• Make sure the garden is in good condition 

• Get rid of any extra rubbish that won’t fit in your outside bins 

On the day you move out  

Take pictures of the rental property 

On the day you move out, make sure you take pictures of the entire property. This will act as evidence in case your landlord tries to deduct money from your deposit unfairly. If you’re all moving out at different times, get the last person to take the photos (but everyone should have helped with the cleaning!).  

Have your check-out inspection 

Many letting agents and landlords will want to inspect the property on the last day of your tenancy. Try to make sure at least one of you is present for the inspection - this will allow you to comment on any wear and tear and reduce the likelihood of your landlord making deductions. They should take a complete inventory of everything in the house and give you a copy of the report.  

After you’ve moved out 

Your landlord should transfer your deposit within ten working days of you agreeing on the amount to be returned. However, it might take longer if there’s a disputed amount. 

Get in touch with your landlord or agent about your deposit 

If you’ve agreed that you would get your whole deposit back, but your landlord or letting agent has not returned your deposit yet, you should get in touch with them 

Use your scheme's dispute resolution service if an agreement can’t be reached 

If your deposit was protected in a scheme and your landlord or letting agent agrees to dispute resolution, you can use your deposit protection scheme’s free dispute resolution service. They’ll look at the evidence from both you and your landlord and decide on the amount of your deposit you’ll get back.  

All-inclusive student accommodation by UniHomes 

If you’re looking for student accommodation for next year, why not make it as simple as possible with the all-inclusive student properties on UniHomes? We work with reputable letting agents and landlords nationwide.  

We have a comprehensive landlord and letting agent network with all-inclusive student properties in student cities across the UK. All the properties on our site include water, high-speed broadband, an optional TV licence and uncapped energy*. 

Because everything is included in your monthly rent payment, you don’t have to worry about splitting bills with your housemates, setting up utility accounts or having awkward conversations about missed payments! 

Contact us today to learn more about how all-inclusive student accommodation works, or look at the properties for rent in your student city.  

*Subject to our acceptable usage policy.