A tenant’s security deposit is a refundable amount that tenants pay to the landlord before they move in. It is returned when the premises are vacated, providing the terms of the lease have been adhered to.

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Justification

There are a number of reasons the landlord can keep part or all of the security deposit:

1. If your lease has an early termination clause and you leave before the agreed terms, e.g. twelve months or do not give 30 days’ notice, the tenant is responsible for money owed for the duration of the lease, therefore the landlord can deduct this from your deposit.

2. Non-payment of rent is considered a breach of the lease, so the landlord is therefore permitted to deduct this from your deposit. If you owe more than the deposit, the landlord can take you to court to recover the rest.

3. Damage to the property – the property should be left in the same condition as when you moved in, allowing for normal wear and tear. Damage such as broken windows, broken doors, damage to bathroom fittings, holes in walls, large stains on the carpets, any water damage to wooden floors should be repaired before leaving, otherwise, they will be deducted from your deposit.

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4. Cleaning costs – if the tenant leaves rubbish or personal belongings which need disposing of or the house is left in an unclean state, the landlord could claim back cleaning costs.

5. Pets – any damage caused by pets, for example, the cost of cleaning to remove pet smells, can be claimed.

6. Missing items – your landlord will give you an inventory of items which are provided within the property. If any of these items are missing after vacating the premises, the landlord can claim from your deposit to replace missing items on a like for like basis.

Agents

There are leasing agents all over the UK with houses and flats available to rent, for example, rent houses in Gloucester from http://www.tgres.co.uk/properties-to-rent, who will be happy to sit down and talk you through the ins and outs of leasing agreements and useful information on security deposits.

Lease

When renting a property, tenants must read the lease carefully and adhere to all the requirements, otherwise you could lose all or part of your security deposit.