Please see below extracts from correspondence supplied by the University of Glos Accommodation Service which would appear to cover the subject for all tenants......
" Dear Students,
As we are nearing the end of the academic year we are contacting you in preparation for your departure from your student house.
We hope that you have had an enjoyable year in your accommodation, and wish to help you end the year with as few problems as possible.
Enclosed is a short leaflet entitled ‘How to get your deposit back’.
This is intended to give you helpful advice and information on leaving your accommodation in a suitable condition in order to have your deposit returned to you. Please read it through carefully as it may help to save you some money.
As a general rule of thumb you should always try to return a property to the owner in the state that you received the property.
If you completed an inventory at the beginning of the year, you should refer to this to compare the condition of the house to how it is when you leave. If you did not complete an inventory, you should try to leave the house as clean and tidy as possible.
You should always be aware that any extra work that is required by the owner, such as cleaning and removing rubbish, in order for them to get the property back into a state suitable for letting could be charged to the residents, and these costs may be deducted from deposits.
It is best to contact the landlord and ask him to visit once before you leave so any problems can be pointed out and you have the opportunity to resolve these before you leave. Of course natural wear and tear occurs in any property, so if you feel you have had any money unfairly deducted, please contact us.
If your landlord does deduct any money from your deposit, then you should ask for a break down of how the money was spent.
Again, feel free to call or e-mail us using the details below, or pop into our office based in Francis Close Hall.
Kind regards, The Accommodation Team "
" HOW TO GET YOUR DEPOSIT BACK
Please ensure that the following steps are followed in order to get your deposit returned as fully as possible. These apply even if you are staying in the same house next year:
1. The property must be left very clean and tidy.
This should include the following:
All carpets must be vacuumed, including the stairs and areas under beds and furniture.
Any stains on carpets, which were not reported to the Landlord when you moved in, should be removed.
Skirting boards and all other woodwork must be cleaned.
Cookers need to be thoroughly cleaned, as do sinks, baths and toilets etc.
Fridges and freezers should be cleared, defrosted, cleaned and left unplugged with the doors open.
Please pay particular attention to the communal areas because you will all be liable for any damages or cleaning in these areas.
2. The inventory must be checked with your landlord or their agent.
The owner should carry out two inspections.
The first when you are present so that they can advise you of any problems. However the final inspection, when the house is empty, is the most important as a claim would be decided upon at this stage. SO ENSURE THAT THE HOUSE IS LEFT SPOTLESS!
All damaged items must be repaired/replaced.
3. Read your gas and electricity meters before you leave.
The readings should then be given to your supplier. You will also need to inform your telephone company that you require a closing bill. Remember to give them a forwarding address that the closing bill can be sent to. Non-payment will result in blacklisting for future credit ratings. Utility suppliers (such as gas and electric) usually need a weeks notice that the property is being vacated.
4. All belongings must be removed from the property.
Do not leave any rubbish inside, or outside, of the house. This includes your collection of shopping trolleys, cones or road signs that you may have accumulated over the year! Owners can, and do, charge for the removal of these items.
5. All keys must be returned to the landlord. You may find that if you do not return them on time you will be charged.
It is good practice for your deposit to be returned to you within one month, as long as there are not any damage claims or any other outstanding issues.
We hope you have enjoyed your time at the house! "
DEPOSITS
A further note concerning the return of deposits, it is our experience that 90% of our tenants deposits are returned promptly in full. Any deductions usually due to non contentious issues such as rent arrears.
If damage has been incurred at a property that may require a deduction from the deposit, delays may be experienced through obtaining quotes for the repair work or waiting on a workman to complete the repairs and submit a bill that can be presented to the tenant to show how the deduction was calculated.
Please also view the link provided to www.mydeposits.co.uk for further information.
DEFECTS
It is also requested that out going tenants leave a list of any defects, particularly defects that are only really noticeable by a resident, so that any repairs may be dealt with before new tenants move in.