Moving FAQs

You will still be liable for the property until the initial contract period has come to an end. You can, however, look at the possibility of someone taking over your tenancy, freeing you from its obligation. This process is called an assignment.

You will need to find a replacement tenant that is mutually agreed upon by all remaining housemates. All existing tenants and the proposed new tenant would need to arrange an agreed time to sign relevant paper work to assign you out and put the the new tenant in your place onto the tenancy agreement.

If you need any support in finding a new tenant or have any further questions, please contact your property manager.

In all cases the property must not exceed the allowed number of non-related persons in the residence. If you would like a new tenant to replace an existing tenant in the property we can carry out a process called an assignment.

There is a small administration charge for this. Under a joint tenancy agreement, before anyone can be assigned to the tenancy, mutual agreement from all other remaining housemates must be obtained.

A landlord or agent can ask that a property is cleaned to a professional standard. Tenants are responsible for ensuring that the property is returned to the same standard of cleanliness they found their property in at the start of the tenancy, with consideration of any additional cleaning that was carried out shortly after the tenancy began.

If the property is not left in a fit condition, a landlord or agent can recover costs associated with returning the property to the condition it was found in at the start of the tenancy.

For more information, please refer to the Tenant Fees Act 2019: Guidance for tenants.

Unfortunately, we cannot agree that personal items are left at the end of your tenancy, for future tenants. We ask that you remove all your personal items from the property when your tenancy ends.

Yes, if any keys are not returned at the end of your tenancy this could mean that there are deductions from your deposit.

Copied keys or unreturned keys can cost around £10 to £15 to replace. If multiple keys are not returned, it may be more appropriate to replace the lock entirely. Depending on the system, replacing locks can cost between £20.00 to £80.00.

A landlord must return your deposit within 10 days of it first being requested from the tenant. The tenant cannot request that the deposit is returned until the tenancy has officially ended.

There can deductions to your deposit for the following reasons:

Cleaning issues

Cleaning is the most common reason why there might be deductions from the tenant’s deposit at the end of the tenancy.

The check-in report at the start of the tenancy is the best indicator when acknowledging what the expectation for cleaning should be. Usually, properties are cleaned to a professional standard; it is reasonable for a landlord to expect the property to be returned as it was received, and as outlined on the check-in report.

The cost of removing or storing personal items at the end of the tenancy can also result in charges.

Damages

Damages can be accidental, deliberate, or a result of neglect; examples can range from broken furniture, untimely corrosion of shower seals, and carpet stains or burns.

Excluding an allowance for fair wear and tear, the landlord can deduct the cost the replacement, or eventual replacement, from the deposit.

Decoration

Less acceptable fair wear and tear (see below), there can be deductions to a deposit for damage to decoration. Damage from blu tac or similar adhesives can commonly result in deductions to the deposit.

Decoration should be completed to a professional standard; we encourage any of our tenants to consider this before undertaking any decorative repairs themselves.

Missing items

If an item of furniture or an appliance is missing or broken at the end of the tenancy, the cost of replacing the item, like-for-like, could be deducted from the deposit. For more information, see the fair wear and tear section below.

When tenants aim to replace a missing or broken piece of furniture or appliance, they should consult with the landlord prior to purchase, and make sure that the item is suitable and meets requirements.

Perishables

These are things like batteries in TV remotes or dim or blown lightbulbs. As a tenant, it is your responsibility to assure that these are renewed at the end of your tenancy.

Keys

Any keys or fobs you were provided need to be returned at the end of the tenancy. Failure to return these, or if copies are provided in place of the originals, charges may apply for their replacement.

Outstanding rents/invoices

If you have an outstanding invoice, for rent or bills, these can be deducted from the deposit at the end of the tenancy.

Final instalments of rent should be settled before the end of tenancy. Depending on the terms of the tenancy agreement, the landlord can charge late payment fees.

You will not receive deductions to your deposit for:

Fair wear and tear

The Tenancy Deposit Scheme (TDS) refers to fair wear and tear as:

“…the reasonable deterioration that occurs in a rental property over time, as a result of normal, everyday use during the period of a tenancy. It’s separate from damage caused by misuse, negligence, or intentional actions of a tenant, which the tenant should be responsible for.”

Examples of fair wear and tear include:

• Small scuffs on walls.
• Wear on carpets.
• Markings eventually wearing away on hobs and ovens.

Repairs which are not the tenant’s responsibility

If there is a repair, which is not the tenants responsibility to address, deductions from the deposit cannot be made in relation to this. For example, if cosmetic damage was caused due to a roof leak, and the tenant has made reasonable efforts to contain this, there would not be a deduction from the deposit.

Burglaries or vandalism that has been reported

Damage caused by burglaries and vandalism must be reported to your landlord and the police at the time. Your landlord may request that you provide a crime reference number.

Wellbridge suggests that all tenants consider contents insurance for accidental and criminal damage.

For more information, please refer to:

What is fair wear and tear (TDS)

You and your housemates can move in from the start date of your tenancy agreement, subject to all paperwork being completed and all necessary payments being made i.e. your deposit and first rental payment.

You can all move in at varying times to suit yourselves on or after the tenancy start date. All keys are usually provided to a nominated tenant, however, please liaise with one another and let us know if you would like us to keep hold of any keys for collection to be arranged as necessary.

You will need to familiarise yourself with all safety features of the property including a planned fire escape route and fire exits, the location of your boiler and fuse box for example.

Upon key collection, you will be given a welcome pack with guides and assistance for anything you may have questions about. If you are not happy with the condition of the property, or have some general queries or concerns regarding general maintenance, these can be reported on the portal.

The Check in report records the condition of the property and its contents at the time of move-in. Commonly, the check in report documents a walkthrough of the property with pictures and comments. It is commonplace for both the landlord/agent and the tenant to contribute to the check-in report. The tenant(s) may be asked to sign off on the check-in report within 7 days of collecting keys.

Unless a tenancy agreement states otherwise, subject to fair wear and tear, tenants are required to leave the property in the same condition as when the Tenant moved in. The check-in report provides a baseline assessment of the property, which is used for comparison during the check-out inspection at the end of the tenancy.

Keys will be ready for collection from 12 noon on the first day of your tenancy.

For students, the Lead Tenant listed on the tenancy agreement is responsible for collecting all keys associated with the property. If you are on an individual tenancy, this responsibility will fall to you.

The Lead Tenant will receive an email prompting them to schedule a key collection appointment. During the appointment, the tenant collecting the keys will receive all property keys and will be responsible for distributing them among the tenants.

The tenant collecting keys will also have to provide ID on collection

Before collecting keys, all tenants must have:

• Completed their Right to Rent in the UK check
• Paid the full property deposit
• Submitted their completed guarantor documents
• Either set up a direct debit or paid the first rent instalment.

If you are looking to move a partner, friend, or family member, into your home, it is essential that you consult with your landlord before taking any action. If you move someone in without the landlord’s consent, you will likely be breaching the terms of your tenancy agreement. 

Whether a landlord can consent to another person moving into a property depends on several factors:  

House Share 

If you are renting a single room in a house, the property may be a licenced House of Multiple Occupancy (HMO). HMO’s have strict requirements regarding the maximum number of tenants. This may limit your ability to move in a partner. 

Sole Occupancy 

If you are renting an entire house or apartment, there are fewer restrictions on moving in a partner or family member. However, space must be a consideration, as landlords have a duty of care to ensure that properties are safe and not overcrowded. 

If a landlord can consent to another person moving into the property, you have two options as to how this person can join the property: 

Tenant	Permitted Occupier
The new person may be added to your tenancy as a tenant, sharing all the rights and responsibilities you have.   Pros:  Equal responsibility for rent and property maintenance. Full legal rights associated with being a tenant.  Cons:  The new tenant may need to undergo referencing, which could incur a fee. A new tenancy agreement will need to be signed.	A permitted occupier is authorised to live at the property but is not a tenant and does not have the legal rights of one.   Pros: No referencing process or additional costs. Flexibility to leave at any point during the tenancy.  Cons: No shared responsibility for rent. No legal rights associated with being a tenant.

Do be mindful that tenants and permitted occupiers must be able to prove their right to rent in the UK.