It is important to know what you are entitled to as a tenant and what the responsibility of the landlord is. At the start of your tenancy you should receive evidence that your landlord is protecting your deposit in a government-backed deposit protection scheme. During the tenancy you may find that maintenance issues arise. Your contract should state whose responsibility it is to sort the repair, depending on the nature of the issue.

If there is a problem that is affecting your health or safety, for example an unsafe gas installation, you can contact Winchester City Council. An inspection may be requested if your landlord has been given reasonable time to resolve the issue but has not taken action.

What can our landlord deduct from our deposit?

You’ve probably heard that it is not uncommon for students to face unfair deposit deductions. The deposit is your money, your landlord should only keep money from your deposit if you have caused them financial loss. Your landlord should provide evidence of their costs if they decide to make deductions. Reasonable deductions could include unpaid rent or damage to the property. They should only charge you a reasonable amount on a ‘like for like’ basis. For example, if you caused damage to a cheap old bed you shouldn’t be asked to pay for the cost of a high quality or brand new replacement.

Reasonable amounts of wear and tear don't count as damage. Your landlord should not deduct money from your deposit for things like faded curtains, small scuffs on walls or worn carpets.

Do I have to pay for professional cleaning?

Cleaning was historically among the most common reasons for deductions being made from deposits and the charges were often very high - this led to a change in legislation last year. If your tenancy started after 1 June 2019, the Tenant Fees Act means you can opt to clean the property yourself, rather than pay for professional cleaning or your landlord’s cleaning service.

You only need to clean the property to the same standard as it was when you moved in. If you’re not known for your cleaning prowess, or you have left the oven or carpet in a particularly bad state, we suggest you use professionals to avoid deposit deductions.

It is worth getting a few quotes in writing to secure the best deal, you can always try to negotiate the price. If one quote is much cheaper than the others, it’s usually a bad sign, unless they have been recommended. You may be asked to pay a small deposit but you shouldn’t pay until the job is done. You should also never pay in cash. Good services guarantee in their quote that they will come back to finish the job if the landlord is not happy.

If your landlord is not happy with the clean they should tell you immediately and give you a chance to put it right. If the property is left in a bad state, then the landlord/agent can charge you for cleaning - they do have to provide you with a receipt proving the cost though. If you are given a cleaning bill that seems unreasonable, please contact the Advice Centre. The agreed cleaning amount will then be deducted from your security deposit.

Helpful tip: Remember to take date stamped photographs when you move in and before you vacate the property to help ensure you don’t incur costs that were not your fault.