School’s out! And whether you’ve been counting down the days until the end of term or dreading leaving your student home, the time has come to move out. Even if, in pandemic times, it may not feel like long since you moved back in.
Moving out of student accommodation, whether it be university halls or a private rented property, can be a stressful and chaotic process for all involved.
Whether it’s the sheer volume of people all moving at once or the messiness of student accommodation, leaving student housing is widely considered a taxing task. And this year is unlikely to be an exception with the impact of the pandemic.
To help you survive the process, we’ve put together a guide that covers the vital steps involved in moving out of your rented student accommodation, including the importance of the condition of the property, areas to clean, inventory checks and advice on how to get your deposit back if you paid a traditional deposit.
When you moved into the property and signed your tenancy agreement, you agreed to leave the property in exactly the same condition it was in when you moved in, notwithstanding inevitable wear and tear.
It is important to abide by the clauses stated in the tenancy agreement to prevent any disputes occurring or deposit deductions being made.
When preparing to move out, remember to always refer back to your tenancy agreement for clarification of your responsibilities. Ask yourself the following questions to ensure you haven’t missed anything:
Some renters may choose to enlist a professional cleaner to give the property a thorough clean before moving out; others may choose to clean the property themselves.
Either way, according to our research here at Ome, lack of cleaning is the main cause for deposit disputes in student rental properties.
Some areas to pay close attention to when cleaning at the end of your tenancy are kitchen appliances such as the hob, the oven and the fridge, bathroom fittings including showers and taps, doors and windows, especially seals.
Completing a detailed check-out inventory report at the end of the tenancy is best practice for renters. It is important to get into the habit of completing check-in and check-out reports for every property you rent to avoid disputes over condition and cleanliness at the end of the tenancy.
Download Hamilton Fraser’s end of tenancy cleaning and inventory checklist.
Check-in and check-out reports should detail the condition of each item and be supported by time-stamped photographic evidence.
When moving out of a property, bear these questions in mind:
If you opted for a Deposit Replacement like Ome’s Deposit Replacement Membership, a subscription fee would have been paid in place of a traditional upfront deposit.
With Ome’s Deposit Replacement Membership you, the tenant, are responsible for any unpaid rent and bills, damages, or breaches of other tenancy terms you have agreed to.
If you and your landlord or agent struggle to reach an agreement on any end of tenancy settlements, Ome’s Deposit Replacement Membership includes the use of our award-winning world-class resolutions team, who will help you negotiate. If necessary, our legally trained adjudicators will then make a decision using the evidence provided.
If you paid an upfront traditional deposit with a government approved scheme such as our partner, mydeposits, check out their advice on how to request your deposit back at the end of the tenancy and what to do in the event of a dispute.
At the end of your tenancy when it comes to deposit release:
In summary, the key takeaways for a smooth moving out process are to ensure that the property is cleaned and left in a good condition, comparable to how it was when you moved in, and you have carried out a check-out report to support any cases of disputes arising after your departure.
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