The landlord has put in a claim for £200 for damage but I left the property in excellent condition – can I ask them to be more specific? Usually, this is returned in full when you end a tenancy, with money taken off depending on what was agreed in your tenancy agreement. Landlords must return a deposit within 10 days of agreeing with the tenant(s) how much they’ll get back. Make sure you get a receipt for your deposit. Most landlords will ask you for a month's rent as a deposit before you move in. “Unfortunately, with changes to deposit rules, we’ve seen an increase in landlords charging ‘pet rents’ – adding £25 or £50 to monthly rents. Your landlord may ask you for more than a month's rent. This is the wrong approach from landlords. There is no limit on the amount of money a landlord can ask for as a deposit if you are renting privately. How much can a landlord charge for a security deposit? When it comes to disputes between landlords and tenants one of the most common types of disagreement is whether a tenant should get their deposit back at the end of the tenancy and what deductions a landlord can make from the deposit. How much deposit can a landlord ask for? If your rental flat or house is managed by a letting agent, you will need to contact them instead. Applies to: this tenancy deposit legislation applies to every landlord in England and Wales that has taken a deposit from a tenant under an Assured Shorthold Tenancy Agreement. At the end of the tenancy, the tenant is entitled to a full refund UNLESS the landlord can show, with evidence that they have a claim and may then propose deductions. By law, the deposit remains the tenant’s money throughout. In this blog we look at the topic of what a landlord can deduct from a tenant’s deposit. It’s worth doing this in writing – ideally via email – so you have a record of when you requested it. Securing the deposit: the deposit must be protected with in 30 days of receiving it, even if you’ve only received a partial amount of the deposit. If you don’t think that the claim is reasonable you are of course within your rights to question the claim. Landlords cannot take holding deposits from multiple tenants at once. Rental sector tenants' security deposits should be capped at five weeks' worth of rent as larger sums than this can cause financial difficulties for renters, a committee of MPs has urged. The maximum amount of security deposit a landlord can charge will vary depending on the state. Landlords cannot subtract fees (including referencing fees) from the holding deposit. Landlords in England cannot legally ask for more than the equivalent of five weeks’ rent for new and renewed tenancies — or six weeks if the annual rent is at least £50,000. Landlords and agents can ask for a refundable amount as security against damage to the property. 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