It’s nearly the end of term. You’re poor, tired and in need of a holiday, but you’re not quite sure your loan is going to stretch that far. Your budget is looking a little less Hideout festival, a bit more hiding away in your bedroom.
But every cloud has a silver lining...
Remember that £200 you reluctantly handed over to your landlord back in the day? Even though moving day brings a herd of emotions - stress being the main one, it comes with light at the end of the tunnel.
That sweet, sweet moolah in the form of your deposit!
Hold on. Before you get excited, you need to get your marigolds on and get cleaning. There is no way your landlord is giving that deposit back if your cupboard doors are glued shut with soy sauce. Here’s a little guide to getting that deposit back so you can have the Best. Summer. Ever.
Be honest
Own up to things. If you’ve broken a lamp shade or smashed through a wall with your bare fist - tell your landlord right now. It’s better to own up and get things fixed as soon as possible, rather than hoping they won’t notice. They will definitely notice. They’re also more likely to go easy on you and not charge you an absolute fortune.
Clean it up
With the way student contracts work, someone will be moving into your room before your bed is even cold. No-one wants to move into a new house full of hope to find the shower stained an unmentionable colour. Find a day when your whole house is free and make it a group effort.
Your mum gave you all those cleaning products when you moved in for a reason, so put them to good use. If you find some stains are too difficult to remove, try mixing a cup of baking soda with warm water. Leave it on the stain for 10-15 minutes to let it soften, and then wipe away. It works wonders.
Get snap happy
When you leave, take pictures of e-v-e-r-y-t-h-i-n-g. When your room is empty, take pictures so you’ve got evidence. Just in case your landlord tries to accuse you of something! If you pay for your gas, electricity and water, take pictures of your final meter readings, so no-one can say you’ve not paid your bills!
Good luck getting your deposits back!
Words: Polly from Toothfairy Talks
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