Student landlords forced to deduct money from tenants’ deposits

Almost a quarter of students lost part of their rental deposit when they left their accommodation at the end of the last academic year, according to new research.

Fresh figures released by The Deposit Protection Service (The DPS) show that 22% of students lost part of their tenancy deposit when they vacated their property, with landlords often citing a lack of cleaning as the main reason for keeping the money.

According to the DPS, cleaning is the most common cause of a tenancy deposit dispute in the private rented property sector.

Over the past 12 months, 63% of landlords that entered The DPS’ Dispute Resolution Service cited cleaning amongst their reasons for a claim. 

Damage caused by tenants is the second most cause of disputes at 53%, followed by the need to redecorate (37%), and rent arrears (23%) at the end of a tenancy.

Other costs cited by landlords include gardening (16%), replacing missing items (16%) and outstanding bills (4%).

Julian Foster, managing director at The DPS, believes that students arriving at university can improve their chances of receiving their deposit when they leave by acting now.

Foster said: “Like anyone renting accommodation, students must act responsibly during their tenancies and be aware of both their rights and responsibilities.

“If their deposit is protected, our free Dispute Resolution Service can ensure that they can challenge any deduction they consider unreasonable, and that an independent adjudicator will consider their evidence before making a decision.

“The system also gives landlords a chance to reclaim any costs created by the behaviour of their tenants, so student renters should think and act in a way that prevents damage or other losses from the very first day of their tenancy – not just towards the end of the academic year.”

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