When you move into a rental property, regardless of if this is renting as a student or not, or if you will be sharing a property or renting a flat alone, you will have to put down a deposit. This deposit is usually the deposit will equal six to eight weeks of rent, this is payable when signing your tenancy agreement and is the Landlords reassurance. This deposit can be used to repay missed rental payments, repair damage to the property or items furnished within it and for cleaning which is necessary due to soiling above the usual wear and tear expected in the property - basically any financial loss they have due to your tenancy in the rental property.
Your deposit will be paid directly to the Landlord or agents, but they must pay it into the Tenancy Deposit Scheme within 14 days of receiving it. The TDS will hold this amount until the end of your tenancy preventing the Landlord from deducting amounts unfairly or refusing to repay it unjustly.
When you sign your tenancy agreement there are likely to be specifications regarding the property and there may be stipulations regarding your use of the property. For example, it may state that you may not dry washing on radiators. If when you leave the property there are damp issues which can be traced back to you drying washing on radiators then it will be obvious that you have not complied with your tenancy agreement and you may be liable for any costs in repairing damage due to this non-compliance.
When you visit potential properties, take note of the condition they are in along with any items which are furnished. If there is already a cigarette burn in the carpet when you move in, photograph this and ensure the Landlord is aware of it. If he isn’t or claims he isn’t then when you leave he may insist that you caused this damage and are responsible for the repairs. Ensure a detailed inventory is taken, signed by both yourself and the Landlord which details all damage in the property before you take residence there. If there are any issues raised when you leave, this may be the solution as the Landlord will have previously agreed that damage was already there. Likewise this can work in the Landlords favour, if the inventory details brand new sofa and when you leave there are stains and rips then it will be apparent that you are responsible for any damage beyond normal wear and tear.
Bear in mind that if you live in a property for 10 years there will be more damage due to wear and tear than if you live in a property for 1 year. This will be taken into account but if you have an accident and spill bleach, for example, on the carpet then this is not natural damage that should occur during the life of the carpet – and you will be accountable and therefore responsible financially for the costs involved in any reparation.
When you leave your property, if the Landlord and yourself agree on the amount that should be returned to you then you will receive your deposit back. The Tenancy Deposit Scheme (TDS) will not return any funds to yourself or the Landlord until you have mutually agreed on the amount (if any) payable to the Landlord. If there is a dispute then you can raise a dispute directly with the scheme allowing you to challenge the Landlords opinion and have an independent judgement on the correct repayment of your deposit.
As a student there me be more potential for you to be blamed for damage to the property as students do not have the best reputation in caring for properties – however, the TDS will be completely impartial and will not make judgements based on this but on the state of the property and the actual financial obligation due to any damage.