mydeposits - Students tenants

Tips for student tenants

Do you know what happens to your deposit once you’ve handed it over to your landlord or letting agent? How can you make sure you are able to get it back when you move out?

Here are some tips from mydeposits:

• Make sure your landlord or agent protects your deposit within 30 days of moving in. You can use our simple deposit look-up to see if your deposit has been protected with mydeposits.
• Take care of the property and don’t break any terms of the contract.  Remember, if you damage the property, leave it unclean or fall behind in your rent, your deposit could be withheld to pay for this.
• Carefully read the inventory and make sure it matches the condition of the property when you move in.
• When you move out, speak to your landlord directly about the return of the deposit.  Make sure you attend a check-out inspection of the property.
• Speak to your landlord.  This is the most effective way to stop a minor disagreement over the deposit’s return becoming a formal dispute.  Almost 99% of tenancies end with no problems: communication between tenant and landlord is the key.
• If you are still disappointed with the deposit return, you have three months from the end of the tenancy to raise a formal dispute, More on dispute resolution.

Find out more in our Top Tips for Student Tenants guide

The Law

Since the 6 April 2007, all landlords and agents who take deposits in England and Wales under an Assured Shorthold Tenancy (AST) agreement must protect your deposit in an authorised deposit protection scheme. The deposit must be protected within 30 days. mydeposits is one of three government-authorised schemes for landlords and letting agents to protect deposits.

Read more on the law and mydeposits