The Most Common Deposit Deductions and How to Avoid Them
If you rent in Sheffield, your deposit is protected by a government-approved scheme, and deductions must be justified. Yet cleaning remains the single most common reason tenants lose money at the end of a tenancy. Knowing exactly what agents look for helps you keep every penny.
Where Deposits Get Lost
- Greasy ovens and extractor fans
- Limescale on taps, shower screens and toilet bowls
- Stained or un vacuumed carpets
- Cupboards and drawers left dirty inside
- Gardens, balconies and bins left untidy
- Mould in bathrooms left untreated
How to Protect Your Deposit
The golden rule is to leave the property at least as clean as it was at the start of the tenancy, using the check-in inventory as your benchmark. Take photos as you go and keep receipts for any professional cleaning. The small cost of an end of tenancy clean is almost always less than the deduction a landlord will apply for a substandard finish.
The Inventory Is Your Best Friend
Your check-in inventory records the condition of the property when you moved in. Work through it room by room at the end of the tenancy and you will catch the spots an agent will check. If something was already marked on the inventory, you are not liable for it, so make sure issues are flagged at the start, not the end.
"We got our full deposit back for the first time ever after using Crystal Clear's end of tenancy service. Worth every penny.", Jasmine P., Sharrow