Moving out of a rental property can cause a lot of stress, especially if the tenants are worried about whether or not their landlord will give them back their deposit. The ongoing pandemic has put a lot of folks in financial difficulty, and it seems like landlords are unwilling to give their old tenants their full deposits back during these unprecedented times.
Even if you have a good relationship with your landlord, there is no guarantee he or she will hand over your full deposit. Moving out all of your belongings from your rental and moving it to the next location is not an easy task, especially if you have been living in the same property for a long time. Removing everything will consume a lot of time, and if you are in a hurry to move out, you might not get a chance to tidy up the property before the landlord comes to inspect it. Before you start the moving out process, plan how you are going to move out all of your belongings, and make time for cleaning. Don’t assume that this is going to be a quick job, so you might need to ask for some time off work to make sure the process goes smoothly. Rushing tasks like these will only lead to mistakes, so make sure time is on your side.
Cleaning the Property
Making sure you leave the property in good condition is vital to getting back your full deposit. According to a recent survey, letting agents estimate that 88% of tenants don’t get back their deposits because when they left their rental, it wasn’t cleaned properly. Although a lot of tenants assume the landlord is keeping the money for themselves, they usually have to spend a lot of cash hiring professional cleaners like this end of tenancy cleaning Lewisham company to restore the property’s original look.
Although a lot of tenants take on the task of cleaning the property themselves, employing an experienced cleaning company might help you save time. Reputable cleaners will use state-of-the-art cleaning equipment and products, so don’t be surprised if they clean stubborn stains that you thought were impossible to remove. Although these professional cleaners sometimes cost a pretty penny, it might prove to be a great investment if you get your full deposit back.
Maintaining the Property
When a tenant moves into a rental, they are expected to maintain the entire property, not just inside the building, but outside too. If the tenant has left the garden overgrown, and plants and trees haven’t been trimmed, then it is unlikely the landlord will hand over the deposit.
Although you could hire a professional gardener to help you fix up the exterior of the property, asking friends and family members is a cheaper option. A few hours of gardening can make a big difference, and it can help brighten up the property. If there is a front garden leading into the house, keep in mind that this is the first place the landlord will see, so make sure it looks in good condition to help leave a good first impression.
Direct Damage
Before you moved into the property, you should have spoken with the landlord about what you can, and cannot do. If you have decided to make some changes to the structure of the building, you might have an issue. If you have hung some pictures off the wall, then make sure that you have covered up the area where you installed the hook.
If there are kitchen appliances, carpets, or furniture that got damaged while you were renting the property, don’t hide it from your landlord. First, try and get it fixed, and if you can’t fix it speak with your landlord. Honesty is very important with a landlord, and most landlords respect their tenants for being honest. A lot of landlords have a lot of properties for rent, so they often have a long list of contacts that can help them fix different things in their rentals. They might help you sort out the issue for a small fee. If they find something that you have damaged that you have been hiding, the chances of you getting your deposit back are unlikely.
Conclusion
Most tenants can give their landlords a few week’s notice before they move out. When you are given a date, start the process immediately. If you leave it to the last minute, moving out and getting your deposit back will prove extremely difficult. Don’t hesitate to ask friends or family members to get involved. Sometimes, it’s difficult for tenants to see the issues with their rental property, especially for those living in the same rental for several years. Having a second pair of eyes can help you spot dirt in areas, damaged items around the house, etc. However, hiring professionals will make the whole process a lot easier.
