A landlord can deduct money from your security deposit in the UK for a number of reasons, including:
- Unpaid rent
- Damage to the property
- Cleaning costs
- Late payment fees
- Other agreed-upon charges
If your landlord deducts money from your deposit, they must provide you with a written explanation of the deductions within 14 days of the end of your tenancy. If you disagree with the deductions, you can dispute them with your landlord or the deposit protection scheme.
When you move out of a rental property in the UK, your landlord is entitled to deduct money from your security deposit for any damage that is beyond normal wear and tear. This includes damage to the property’s fixtures, fittings, and appliances and damage to the property’s structure.
The amount of money that your landlord can deduct from your security deposit is limited by law. The Tenant Fees Act 2019 (TFA 2019) sets out a list of permitted and prohibited fees for landlords to charge tenants. Permitted fees include rent, service charges, and professional fees for gardening and pest control. Prohibited prices include administration fees, late payment fees, and cleaning fees at the end of a tenancy.
If your landlord deducts money from your security deposit for damage that is not beyond normal wear and tear, you can dispute the deduction. You can do this by contacting your landlord and asking them to reconsider. If your landlord refuses to reconsider, you can take your case to the deposit protection scheme.
The deposit protection scheme is a government-backed scheme that protects tenants’ security deposits. When you move into a rental property in the UK, your landlord must place your security deposit with a deposit protection scheme. If your landlord fails to do this, you can take them to court.
If your landlord deducts money from your security deposit and you dispute the deduction, the deposit protection scheme will investigate the dispute. If the deposit protection scheme finds it in your favour, they will order your landlord to repay you the money that they deducted.
It is important to note that the deposit protection scheme cannot force your landlord to pay you any money. However, they can help you to recover the money that you are owed.
If you are a tenant in the UK, it is important to be aware of your rights and responsibilities when it comes to security deposits. By understanding the law, you can protect yourself from unscrupulous landlords.