Landlords and private rental companies need a security deposit to protect their properties when you move in. That being said, they’ll only retain your deposit if you violate the terms of your tenancy agreement with them. So, if you want to get all of yours back when moving out, here are some of the key things to look for in your agreement.
Provide The Right Notice Period
Your agreement should include information on how much notice you need to serve when moving out. This could be 30, 60, or maybe even 90 days. If you move out without serving as much notice as you should’ve, then the owner can retain some of your deposit to cover any lost rent.
Give It A Deep Clean
You don’t need the property to be absolutely perfect when you leave, but it should definitely be cleaned to a high standard. It is always worth getting proper house cleaners in to do this job, as you can then demonstrate you’ve cleaned the property professionally. Paint over any scuff marks and fill in any holes that you drilled in the walls as well - but you don’t need to worry too much about general wear & tear or age-related issues, like a carpet naturally fading.
See What You Can & Can’t Leave Behind
If your property was furnished, this means the furniture belongs to the owner, and you can’t take it with you. Removing any furniture that came with the home (unless the owner said you could remove it) will result in you losing some or all of your security deposit.
Similarly, a really easy way to lose some of your deposit is by leaving things behind in an unfurnished property. The owner will have to pay someone to remove the items, and they’ll take the cash from your security deposit. So, make sure you take all of your patio furniture and little bits and pieces away with you when you leave.
Check The Move-In Photos & Documentation
Cast your mind back to when you moved into this home, and you should’ve received a proper document with photos and comments on the home’s condition. This is essential with regards to your security deposit. It basically details what the property looked like, and your job is to return it to that state. This is also why you should take photos of anything that wasn’t documented when you moved in - like a mark on the ceiling that they missed.
Anyway, if you have these photos, you can use them to argue any disputes that a landlord may have about the condition of their property. For example, they try to withhold some of your security deposit because there’s a dent in the wall, but you display a picture from the initial document that shows the dent was there before you moved in.
While there’s always this fear that you won’t get your full security deposit back, the reality is far simpler. As long as you return the home to its previous condition and don’t violate the terms of your tenancy agreement, then you should get everything back with no worries at all.
