{"id":29615,"date":"2026-06-01T11:16:56","date_gmt":"2026-06-01T10:16:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.propertysurveying.co.uk\/newsletter\/?page_id=29615"},"modified":"2026-06-01T11:16:56","modified_gmt":"2026-06-01T10:16:56","slug":"a-students-guide-to-starting-and-ending-a-tenancy","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.propertysurveying.co.uk\/newsletter\/?page_id=29615","title":{"rendered":"A Student\u2019s Guide to Starting and Ending a Tenancy"},"content":{"rendered":"

A Student\u2019s Guide to Starting and Ending a Tenancy<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

As the end of the University academic year approaches, we remind students how to manage their exit from rented accommodation and, we hope, retain their deposits.<\/p>\n

Deposits<\/strong><\/p>\n

Deposits are a landlord\u2019s reasonable protection against tenants causing damage to their property.\u00a0 Contrary to the image of grasping goblins depicted by the media, most landlords are just normal individuals trying to make a bit of money to provide an income or top up a pension.\u00a0 It is perfectly reasonable for them to want to protect the property in which they may have an emotional as well as a financial investment.<\/p>\n

That said, two close family members of the author experienced less scrupulous landlords when at University in Liverpool and Birmingham who tried to withhold their deposits for student accommodation.\u00a0 Luckily for them, they were savvy girls who had taken the advice that follows.\u00a0 When unpleasant disputes began, their resident surveyor was able to step in and use their evidence to fight their respective corners.<\/p>\n

If you follow the advice below, you should be able to relax and enjoy your student experience.<\/p>\n

Before Term<\/strong><\/p>\n

Well before term starts make sure your documentation is in order.\u00a0 Check the small print of accommodation contracts.\u00a0 Make sure you know who to contact if you have any issues.<\/p>\n

If possible, if sharing accommodation, try to negotiate that your guarantor is only liable for your share of the rent.\u00a0 It seems widespread now that agencies require guarantors to guarantee the entire rent for the property but if you can challenge this, do so.<\/p>\n

On Arrival<\/strong><\/p>\n

It is easy to arrive at your university digs full of excitement.\u00a0 Unable to contain the thrill of making a room your own by filling it with items carefully chosen from home or rinsed from loving family in a two-hour stint in Ikea, it is tempting to unload everything immediately.\u00a0 This may not be helped by being given a time-slot in which to unload a car in student halls.<\/p>\n

NO!<\/p>\n

1 Try to contain yourself.\u00a0 Be practical.\u00a0 Before you do anything else, PHOTOGRAPH EVERYTHING. This includes:<\/p>\n