{"id":121,"date":"2018-06-08T08:30:15","date_gmt":"2018-06-08T08:30:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.idealflatmate.co.uk\/flatmate-HQ\/?p=121"},"modified":"2018-10-10T10:43:09","modified_gmt":"2018-10-10T10:43:09","slug":"a-complete-guide-to-rental-deposits","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"\/flatmate-HQ\/a-complete-guide-to-rental-deposits\/","title":{"rendered":"A Complete Guide to Rental Deposits"},"content":{"rendered":"

In case you damage your rental property, or leave before your lease is up and fail to pay what you owe, most landlords will require that you pay a tenancy deposit before you move in.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

If you have an <\/span>assured shorthold tenancy<\/span><\/b> (most tenants do, but use Shelter\u2019s <\/span>tenancy checker<\/span><\/a> to find out), then as a matter of law your deposit must be protected in a government-registered <\/span>tenancy deposit protection scheme <\/span><\/b>(TDP). The bulk of this article will apply to tenants in this position. If you are a <\/span>lodger<\/span><\/b>, however, you are exempt from this law: jump to section 7 for more information.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

Sections in this article:<\/span><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

    \n
  1. \n
      \n
    1. Rental deposits in a nutshell<\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
        \n
      1. \n
          \n
        1. Deposit information your landlord must provide you with<\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
            \n
          1. \n
              \n
            1. Making sure your deposit is protected<\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
                \n
              1. \n
                  \n
                1. If find your deposit is not protected<\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
                    \n
                  1. \n
                      \n
                    1. How to ensure you\u2019re owed your full deposit at the end of your tenancy<\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
                        \n
                      1. \n
                          \n
                        1. Disputes regarding the return of your deposit<\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
                            \n
                          1. Deposits for lodgers<\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

                            1. Rental deposits in a nutshell<\/span><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

                            A rental deposit tends to be equivalent to one month\u2019s rent, but this can vary depending on your <\/span>tenancy agreement<\/span><\/a>. Once you\u2019ve handed your deposit over to your landlord, it\u2019s still your money. It\u2019s our aim to provide you with all the information you need to rest assured it\u2019s protected, and to get it back when you\u2019re entitled to it.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

                            In a nutshell, as an assured shorthold tenant, your landlord has <\/span>30 days<\/span><\/b> from your date of payment to ensure your deposit is protected and to provide you with information about the scheme they\u2019ve used. When it\u2019s time for you leave the property, your landlord must agree with you how much of the deposit you are to get back (depending, for example, on any outstanding damages, bills etc.), and return the agreed amount within <\/span>10 days<\/span><\/b>.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

                            In the event of any disputes surrounding the deposit, the tenancy deposit protection scheme will hold your deposit until the dispute is resolved.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

                            2. Information your landlord must provide you with<\/span><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

                            There are three government-registered schemes in England and Wales that are eligible to protect your rental deposit. These are:<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n