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.
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.
As we aim to return deposits as soon as possible, it is common that repairs have not been completed at the point of returning your deposit; in turn, receipts may not be available.
Additionally, it may be that deductions to your deposit are not used to repair the specific damage in question. A deduction to the deposit is a compensatory amount used to remedy loss to the landlord; the landlord has no obligation to spend the money to make good damages. Therefore, receipts may not be possible.
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.
Yes, as long as they are party to the tenancy agreement.
Who is party to tenancy agreement?
Any other tenants or a guarantor are party to the tenancy agreement and can pay rent on the tenants behalf.
Who is not party to the tenancy agreement?
Permitted occupiers are not party to the tenancy agreement and should not pay rent on the tenants behalf.
Unless they are on the tenancy agreement or guarantors, friends, family members, spouses, or partners are not eligible to pay rent.
Why is this?
Due to the way in which property law works in England, if a landlord accepts rent from someone who is not party to the tenancy, they could inadvertently create an implied tenancy with this person.
A TV License is required as per the Terms and Conditions of the TV Licensing website https://www.tvlicensing.co.uk/
If they need replacing, yes. Tenants must conduct themselves in a tenant-like manner. Acting in a tenant-like manner means doing the little jobs about the place which a reasonable tenant would do. Replacing lightbulbs, unblocking a sink, tightening the odd screw, and keeping the property clean and tidy would all be acts that would be considered tenant-like conduct.
For more information, please refer to:
- The Housing Act 1988
- Warren v Keen 1953
The combination of good ventilation and adequately heating is the best way to prevent issues with condensation and damp.
Heating
Aim to always keep your home no lower than 18C. Your thermostat can help you regulate your heating throughout the day. Do take the time to make sure all your radiators are working correctly, and if you have any concerns, please do contact us for support.
Ventilation
Properly ventilating your home may involve opening your windows when you can, making sure window and wall vents are open and unobstructed, and utilising electronic extraction fans commonly located in bathrooms and kitchens, where moisture levels are highest.
It is also important to consider airflow in the property. Making sure there is not too much furniture in a room and not overfilling wardrobes are common examples of how you can support good ventilation your home.
Do:
- Keep lids on pans when cooking
- Dry clothes outside or in your tumble dryer
- Always use the extractor fan
- Leave any window vents open
- Make sure air can circulate by leaving gaps between furniture and the wall
- When having a bath, put cold water in first to reduce the amount of steam when the hot water is added
- reduce excess steam by using a microwave instead of the hob when possible
- Consider purchasing houseplants such as English Ivy, Peace Lily, Snake Plants and Palms help remove moisture from the air
Do not:
- Dry your clothes on radiators
- Leave water standing when it is not in use
- Overfill wardrobes
If you have opted for a Bills Exclusive tenancy package, you will be provided with an advice sheet upon moving in, which will outline the companies to contact in order for you to set up the necessary accounts and find out who the current energy suppliers are.
It is important to remember that you are responsible for payment of all bills from the first day, up until the end date of your tenancy, even if you haven’t officially moved in..
If you are uncertain, you can always speak to us on 0191 9250631.
You can view the virtual tours available on our website, from the comfort of your own home. If you require a viewing in person at the property or would like more information, click on the ‘arrange a viewing’ link found on the individual property adverts or if it is a general letting enquiry you can use the contact us form on the contact us form.
You can also call us on 0191 9250631 or pop into the office to see us.
A Right to Rent check is a requirement introduced by The Home Office in 2016 to reduce the number of people working and living in England illegally.
Landlords need to check that all tenants who occupy their properties have legal status to live in the UK. This means that before you can rent a property from us, we must complete a Right to Rent in the UK check for all people, over the age of 18, who will be living in the property.
Commonly, a Right to Rent in the UK check involves checking a prospective tenant’s eligible documentation (e.g. a passport) and confirming that the tenant has a likeness to the provided documentation.
Completing your Right to Rent Check
Your circumstances affect how you can complete a Right to Rent in the UK Check:
If you are a British or Irish citizen with an in date GBR or IRE Passport.
As a British or Irish citizen with an in date GBR or IRE Passport, you can complete a remote or in person Right to Rent check.
Remote Right to Rent checks must be completed by a government approved identity service provider (IDSP). On request an email invitation to complete a remote Right to Rent Check can be provided; the email will be received from TrustID.
TrustID will provide instructions on how to complete the check.
NOTE: To complete a Right to Rent Check via an IDSP, you must have a valid, in date, GBR or IRE passport in your possession.
After completing the remote check, we will contact you to conduct a likeness check, which can be completed via video call.
In person Right to Rent checks will require you to attend our office, Wellbridge Property, Unit D Saddler’s Yard, Saddler Street, Durham, DH1 3NP
If you are a British or Irish citizen without an in date GBR or IRE Passport.
As a British or Irish citizen without an in date GBR or IRE Passport you must complete an in person Right to Rent check.
You must either have an original form of documentation from a list of acceptable identification documents (List A), or you will need to have two original forms of ID from List A Group 2.
Once you have the original identification document(s), please book an in person visit to our office, Wellbridge Property, Unit D Saddler’s Yard, Saddler Street, Durham, DH1 3NP.
If you are an Overseas National.
As an Overseas National you must provide us with a Right to Rent share code.
Upon confirming your share code and date of birth, please book either a remote likeness check via video call or an in-person check at our office, Wellbridge Property, Unit D Saddler’s Yard, Saddler Street, Durham, DH1 3NP.
Your first rent instalment is typically due on the start date of your tenancy.
Direct debit is our preferred method for rent payments, as it’s the easiest and most hassle-free option for tenants. Please contact us to set up your direct debit.
We can only accept payments from tenants or guarantors.
You will need to attempt to unblock the hose of your vacuum cleaner. To do this you need to disconnect the hose at both ends, the end that is attached to the vacuum itself and the end which may be attached to one of the utility attachments. Once this has been done, you will then be able to see if there is a blockage in the hose itself.
If so you will need to then take something that will be able to clear it, for example: A straightened wire coat hanger or the handle of a mop or brush. Using these items you will be able to carefully unclog the hose of your vacuum.
Once this has been completed you will then have to check if there is any blockages in the soil chamber. Look at the connection between your hose and chamber. Try to reach this connection spot and feel whether there is any form of clog. If you detect any blockage, clear as much as possible.
Please also empty the soil chamber. To empty this there should be a release button, normally at the top of the chamber, which you will be able to click down and release.
You can then empty the chamber into your house bin, but be careful as it can get a little bit messy, we would suggest you empty the chamber straight into your black wheelie bin outside your property. You can then connect the chamber back to the hoover, it should just sit into place and click back on.
If all blockages have been removed, you will then be able to start reassembling the vacuum the way you took it apart. Once this step is complete, turn the hoover on and you will be able to check again whether the suction is up to standard and your hoover is up to spec.
If your hoover is still not working and or the suction power is not strong enough, you can report it on the portal. This will then get forwarded to the maintenance team who will be able to assist further.
Most students will use their maintenance loan to pay rent. Loans are received generally three times a year (September, January, April approx).
If your rent is due on a different date to when you will receive your loan, you will need to let us know as soon as possible through email and we can usually arrange for you to pay your rent on an agreed date.
Please be aware that you will be required to make payment of your instalment due in July/start of your tenancy agreement to enable us to release keys for the property to you and your co-tenants.
In most of our properties there should be an electronic thermostat (either mounted to the wall or loose somewhere in the property) this device allows you to control the heating in your property.
If you do not have a digital thermostat, you most likely have an older model. This is a simple turn dial with a temperature scale at the side. Further to these, you can also set timers and temperatures on your boiler manually.
I would suggest contacting your property manager if you require any further information, they may even be able to provide a manual for the thermostatic devices.
Once a tenancy ends we aim to, return the deposit, via bank transfer, within 10 days. To return the deposit, we must complete the following steps:
- Property Inspection
On the day the tenancy ends our team will complete a property inspection. An inspector will complete a full walkthrough of the property detailing its condition in an inspection report. - Processing of Inspection Report
Next, a team member will compare the inspection report against the check-in report completed at the end of the tenancy. Any discrepancies between the two reports will be investigated fully.
If there are any deductions, these will be calculated at this stage. - Feedback
Within 10 days, the nominated lead tenant will receive an email from a member of team.
The email will include the inspection report in step 1, and, if necessary, a breakdown of any deductions.
The nominated lead tenant is welcome to outline any queries they may have at this stage. We ask that any concerns are raised within 10 days of receipt of step 3.
Bank details will be requested to organise the return of monies. - Return of Monies and Ending the Process
All being well and without delay, funds will be returned to the bank details provided.
We endeavour to respond to any maintenance requests as soon as we can – please familiarise yourself with our response guidelines:
Priority One: Any repairs required in order to avoid a danger to health, risk to the safety of residents or serious damage to buildings or residents belongings. Response within 24 hours of reporting the problem. Example – gas leak, fire, flood, only toilet not working.
Priority Two: Repairs or defects which materially affect the comfort or convenience of the residents. Within 5 working days of the report of the defect. Example – no hot water, no heating.
Priority three : Reactive repairs not falling within the above categories. Within 28 days of report of the defect. Example –broken cupboard doors, vacuum cleaner not working, painting.
Our office opening hours are Monday-Friday 9-5pm.
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.
We would always ask that you initially view any properties of interest virtually using the video tour links on each advertisement. This will then narrow down your search to allow you to view the property you have chosen in person if needed.
You will be required to pay 5 weeks rent for your deposit.
Unfortunately, cleaning and the removal of items are the most common reasons for deductions to deposits. Moreover, remedying cleaning issues and removing items can be very costly.
As a business, we are charged to dispose of items. With labour considered, it can cost over £30.00 to dispose of a single TV.
General end of tenancy professional cleaning, on an average five-bedroom house, costs approximately £280.00. In addition to this, professionally cleaning an oven and hob costs on average £90.00. If the fridge freezer has not be defrosted, this means that an additional visit will need to be scheduled. If some items have also been left at the property, the cost of rectifying the cleaning could cost upwards of £400.00.
To avoid the necessity for professional cleaning, we suggest looking to your check-in report to give an accurate representation of the condition the property was provided to you in. Also consider whether any additional, professional cleaning was conducted at the start of your tenancy.
You may consider hiring a professional cleaner; be sure to book them well in advance as demand can be high during busy periods.
There is no ‘cooling off’ period for tenancies. You will usually be liable for rent from the day the tenancy starts, even if you aren’t living in the property.
Usually, slow drainage or a total blockage in your bath or shower is caused by an accumulation of hair, soap and dirt in the pipe. You may be able to pick out whatever is causing the blockage, but make sure you wear protection on your hands, for example rubber gloves.
If you are unable to get to the blockage that way, the next step would be a plunger. You should always try using a plunger first before resorting to bleach or other chemicals. This is because the act of plunging often results in being splashed by the water and could result in chemicals getting on your skin or clothing.
To get the most out of your plunger you should run the rubber end under the hot tap for several minutes to soften the rubber. This will make the rubber more flexible and better able to generate the required suction to clear the pipe.
Once plunged we would suggest you put some drain unblocker down there and leave it for 30 mins. Any big brand drain unblocker will do the trick. Once you have left it to work in the drain we would suggest you pour some boiling water preferably from the kettle.
If, however, your drain is still blocked up, and you have attempted the steps above, you will need use our maintenance portal which is very easy to use. This will then get forwarded to the maintenance team who will be able to assist further.
If you fall into arrears, you will be contacted by us via text, call or email. If you are struggling to make payment, we would encourage you to speak with your learning institution to seek advice on any relevant Hardship Funds that are available to you.
We can also provide you with various links to help. We can then look to put a suitable payment plan in place. If a positive resolve is not reached or an agreed payment plan is not adhered to, we will seek payment from your guarantor.
If there is no guarantor provided or no positive resolve reached, under the terms of a joint tenancy agreement, we will turn to your co-tenants for payment. If rents are still not recovered, and our communications have been exhausted, we will look to seek further assistance to recover the debt through legal action.
Certainly this is something that we wish to avoid, therefore communicating with us is essential.
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.
If your Direct Debit fails, you will be notified by us via text or email. This will show information as to why the Direct Debit has failed. In some cases, there may be a charge for a failed payment.
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.
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.
Common issues outside of our office hours often involve maintenance problems and lockouts.
Below, we provide guidance on how to address these common concerns.
Maintenance:
If you experience an urgent maintenance issue when our offices are closed, and the situation requires immediate attention, please call 0191 9250631 and our team will support. The team are equipped to handle various queries and can, if necessary, coordinate with contractors to resolve an issue promptly.
Lock out:
If you have locked yourself out of your bedroom or property, our Out-of-Hours team, can arrange a locksmith to attend your property on your behalf. A cost will be associated with this service and will be invoiced to you shortly after. Alternatively, stay with a friend or relative and we can arrange for you to be let into your property to retrieve your key at the next available time.
Smell gas:
If you can smell gas:
Call the National Gas Emergency Service External link immediately on 0800 111 999 – make a note of the reference number they give you
Fire:
In the event of a fire:
Raise the alarm to warn other occupants – shout ‘FIRE, FIRE, FIRE’.
Ensure that no one is in immediate danger.
Call the Fire Brigade – 999
Leak:
If there’s a leak, you might need to shut off your water at the stop tap. There could be multiple stop taps in your property, typically found in one of three places: the cellar, utility room, or kitchen.
Additionally, many individual appliances have their own isolator valve, which can also be useful if you can identify the source of the leak.
Power cut:
If you have a power cut in your property you should complete the following steps to establish the cause of the tripped electrics.
Firstly, check to see if there has been a power outage in your using the live power cuts map provided by National Grid.
If you there has not been a power outage in your area you should:
1. Go to the fuse box and ensure that all switches are to the very bottom, including the mains switch and the RCD Switch (these are the bigger switches).
2. Put RCD switch to the top and mains switch to the top, these two should always stay up.
3. Working from left to right put all of the smaller switches up to the very top, waiting around 10 seconds between each switch. If the item that tripped the electrics in the first place is still plugged in, it will cause the smaller switch to not stay up. You must locate this item and unplug from the wall and complete the above steps again.
4. Each small switch should be labelled with an area/description – i.e. Ground Floor Sockets. This will show you which area the item is plugged into, to work out which appliance/plug in is that’s tripping the electrics you will need to turn off and unplug everything that is plugged in on that circuit.
5. Once you have managed to keep all the switches up on the fuse board you can then start to plug each item back in (one at a time), this will show you which item is causing the electrics to trip.
6. The item that has tripped the electrics will probably require the fuse changing. If it is an appliance that Wellbridge have supplied you, raise it in the portal and we will arrange an electrician to attend and take a look.
Wellbridge deal with two types of deposits, tenancy and holding.
A tenancy deposit is a sum of money that a tenant pays to their landlord or letting agent before moving into a rented property. At the end of the tenancy, if there are issues with damage or cleanliness, there can be deductions to the deposit. The deposit remains the tenant’s money, notwithstanding possible deductions, the deposit is returned to the tenants shortly after the tenancy ends.
To safeguard tenancy deposits associated with Assured Shorthold Tenancy Agreements, tenancy deposit protection schemes were introduced in 2007 as part of the Housing Act 2004. There are two ways landlords can hold deposits, via a custodial or insured scheme.
Within 30 days of receipt of a tenancy deposit payment, landlords are required to protect the tenancy deposit with a government authorised scheme. Wellbridge uses the Deposit Protection Service (DPS)
Where the deposit is held by the deposit protection scheme, this is a custodial scheme. The scheme is held by the deposit protection scheme until the end of tenancy and is released on the agreement of the tenant and landlord.
Alternatively, there are insured schemes. Deposits are held with the landlord; however, if there is a dispute regarding the return of the deposit at the end of the tenancy, the landlord must give the deposit to the deposit protection scheme. The scheme will then assist the tenant and landlord in reaching an agreement.
Holding deposit
A holding deposit is a payment which demonstrates your commitment to rent a property whilst referencing is complete. As a landlord, we are only able to accept one holding deposit at one time for a property. The holding deposit will be put towards the first rent instalment. Do note, that if the tenancy does not go ahead, there are circumstances wherein the holding deposit can be retained by the landlord; for more information, see the Tenancy Fee Act 2019.
A Direct Debit is when you give permission to us to collect your rent, from your nominated bank account on an agreed date. This date normally coincides with the start date of your tenancy.
A landlord’s gas safety certificate, also referred to as the landlord’s gas safety record, is required by law to be held for all rental accommodation in the UK where there are gas appliances present.
It involves a gas safe registered engineer inspecting your gas appliances to ensure they are safe and working correctly. These are renewed every 12 months.
A HMO (House in Multiple Occupation) Licence is required if the property is rented to five or more unrelated people who form more than one household. Tenants share amenities and facilities within the property such as kitchens, bathrooms and all communal areas.
This mainly applies to larger student properties, however, even if your property is smaller and rented to fewer people, a licence may still be required.
All student tenancies are for a fixed term and generally 12 months in length and not periodic tenancies.
There is now a legal onus on all landlords to have an electrical installation condition report in place on all rented accommodation.
These are renewed every 5 years and any remedial required works and repairs will be communicated to you at the time if required.
An Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) measures the energy efficiency of a property on a scale of A-G. Energy Performance Certificates were introduced in England and Wales in 2007 and are a legal requirement for a building to be sold, let or constructed.
Once obtained, an EPC is valid for 10 years. It gives you an idea of how expensive a property will be to run in terms of gas and electric bills.
If you have a gas or electric heating system, here are some handy tips on how to heat your home most efficiently.
Keep your heating system at a consistent, moderate level.
Generally, it is more energy efficient to heat your home at specific times rather than maintaining a constant temperature. Although we suggest keeping an ambient temperature of 18C to prevent issues with condensation, you may choose to increase the heating to above 20C in the morning and evenings, or whenever you are typically at home.
Maintain circulation in the home.
To circulate heat around your home more successfully you should:
- Avoid drying clothes on radiators, as this can block heat from circulating.
- Ensure furniture isn’t blocking your radiators to allow heat to flow freely.
- Close doors between rooms to contain heat where it’s needed most.
- Utilise electronic extraction and vents when it is too cold to open windows.
Insulate your home effectively
Soft furnishings like curtains, rugs, and blinds can play a big role by trapping heat in your home.
- Blinds and Curtains: Open blinds and curtains during the day to let in natural sunlight and warmth. Close them at night to add insulation and block out the cold.
- Add Rugs: Rugs help insulate hard floors, reducing heat loss and adding an extra layer of warmth and comfort to your space.
- Close Doors and Windows: Keep doors and windows in unused rooms shut to stop heat from escaping and prevent cold air from seeping in.
Call us on 0191 925 0631 and we can check if the property you are interested in is still available. The initial stage we will talk you through the application process, the referencing criteria and general information about the tenancy/ property.
Once all parties are satisfied to proceed, you will be asked to pay a holding deposit payment (equivalent to 1 weeks rent) which will cease all marketing of the property. You will then complete a third party referencing questionnaire to start the referencing process with Concurrent.
Once satisfactory referencing is received, contracts will be drawn up and sent to each tenant to sign electronically. A checkin time and date will be booked in once complete.
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.
Deposit Protection Scheme applies to all deposits for Assured Shorthold Tenancies. By law, a landlord or agent who receives a deposit for such a tenancy must protect the deposit. There are several Government Approved Schemes – we have chosen the DPS (Deposit Protection Scheme) to protect our tenants deposits.
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 your heating isn’t working properly, here are a few quick checks you can try before reaching out for help:
The heating isn’t coming on at all.
- Check your thermostat:
- If the screen is blank, the batteries probably need replacing.
- Make sure the settings are correct (eg. temperature and scheduled heating times).
- If you need help setting your thermostat, please get in touch.
- Check your boiler pressure:
- Look at the gauge on or under your boiler. If it’s below 1.5, your boiler might need repressuring. You will need to contact our maintenance team on 0191 925 0631 for support with this.
A radiator isn’t heating fully or at all.
- Check the Thermostatic Radiator Valve (TRV):
- This is the valve on the pipe leading to the radiator. Make sure it’s turned to the right setting (usually increasing from 1 to 6).
- Radiators may need bleeding:
- If a radiator is only partially warm, it could be time to bleed them. Contact our maintenance team on 0191 925 0631 for support.
If you can smell gas:
- Call the National Gas Emergency Service External link immediately on 0800 111 999 – make a note of the reference number they give you
- Put out any naked flames, and don’t smoke or strike any matches
- Turn off all your gas appliances and don’t use them until they’re checked by an engineer
- Turn off your electrical appliances, and avoid turning any switches on or off
- Open your doors and windows
- Contact Wellbridge for additional support
Issues with cleaning is the most common reason why a tenant may face deductions at the end of the tenancy. Professionally cleaning a four-bedroom property costs on average £370.00, there can also be significant costs associated with businesses disposing of items left at the end of the tenancy.
To avoid these costs, we suggest that you put a plan together well in advance of when you expect to leave the property. Who, when, and where, is the best place to start.
Your target is to bring the property back to the level of cleanliness as when you moved in, this is usually to a professional standard. Referring to your Check-In report is the best indicator of the condition of the property at the start of your tenancy.
Depending on the size of your home and level cleanliness from the outset, set aside between 4 and 7 hours to clean the property. Bathrooms and kitchens take around 50% of your total cleaning time.
Think about what additional cleaning products you may need and budget accordingly. On top of cleaning products, you may choose to hire a carpet cleaner, or instruct a professional cleaner. Consider that end of tenancy cleaning is usually more expensive than domestic cleaning rates.
Commonly Missed Areas
Bins & Small Appliances
Interior bins, kettles, and toasters are not provided by Wellbridge Property Management, you will need to remove these from the property when your tenancy ends.
Appliances
Clean appliances inside and out. Be sure to consider the below when cleaning the following appliances:
Washing Machine
- Clean inside the filler drawer (this may be removable on your appliance.
- Clean inside the drum.
- Clean the filter before you leave the property.
Tumble Dryer
- Empty the water reservoir.
- Empty and clean the dust filter.
Oven, Grill, and Extractor Fan
- Consider using a strong oven cleaner.
- Be sure to clean the grill, hob, and extractor fan.
- The filters in your extractor fan can go in the dishwasher but may require additional cleaning also.
Fridge Freezer
- Give yourself time to defrost and fully clean the fridge and freezer in advance to you leaving the property.
- Be sure to set a towel down to collect water when you defrost the fridge and freezer.
- Turn the appliance(s) off when you leave the property and leave the doors open.
Under Beds
Be remove any refuse and vacuum under beds.
Drawers & Cupboards
Make sure that you have not forgotten any personal belongings. Be sure to wipe out all drawers before you leave the property.
Vacuum Cleaner
If a vacuum cleaner has been provided, assure that your vacuum cleaner has been emptied and cleaned before leaving the property.
Outdoor Areas
Make efforts to guarantee that the outdoor areas, including any bin areas are tidy and free of refuse on the last day of your tenancy.
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.
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.
Once you begin your search for a Student house, it is advisable to view plenty of properties to give you as much comparison as you can, this can be done easily now with Virtual tours.
View plenty of properties when searching for the right property to give you as much comparison as you can which has become a lot easier now we virtual tours.
Student Properties usually come to market during the latter half of your first term, so if you if you know how many bedrooms you need that is a good starting point
Contact us and we can help find the house you need, our team are on hand to offer you support and guidance and we will match you with properties that meet your criteria. We will direct you to our virtual tours and then show you around properties that you are really interested in when you require an in person viewing.
It is common for a landlord to ask for a guarantor to ensure a tenant will not default on rent or property damages.
If you are unable to provide a UK based guarantor, speak to us about other options.
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: