Hi, enquiring about a 3 bedroom property to rent. £650 a month. Landlord wanted £750 deposit plus one month rent upfront. He also said the deposit is non- refundable as its used for upkeep of the property.
The deposit cannot be ‘non-refundable’. The tenancy agreement should explain under what circumstances the Landlord may make deductions from it. It must also be protected under a government approved scheme, of which you must be provided with details shortly after the tenancy starts. At the end of the tenancy you would be asked to agree to any Landlord deductions, and if you don’t agree it can go to an independent assessor to decide whats fair.
If the Landlord does not protect the deposit correctly, they may be liable for compensation to you.
If you have understood the Landlord correctly, this does indeed make them sound dodgy.
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Hi Frank, the landlord does indeed sound rather dodgy. I understand from your post that he has stated the deposit is “non-refundable” at the end of the tenancy. This would only apply should the landlord make a justified claim submitted against the deposit to its full value. This can only be made with your approval/agreement.
The landlord has to pay your deposit into the DPS or a gov approved holding company at the start of your tenancy failure to comply has quite serious consequence for the landlord. He has a short time to provide you with a document “prescribed information “ and also a certificate confirming the registration of your deposit.
The landlord will not be able to access this deposit after it’s been submitted to the DPS without your agreement.
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