Lots of terminology to deal with while renting or managing rented property? At SafeDeposits Scotland we work hard to make deposit protection the easiest part of the process. In this A-Z series we aim to put some of the key terminology, and other considerations, front and centre to help you along the way.
E is for End of Tenancy
It’s the end of the tenancy, and time for the deposit to be returned to the tenant, provided they have followed the conditions outlined in their tenancy agreement. There are a few things to consider at this stage.
It might seem obvious that a final clean of the property is necessary, but often the tenant forgets to tidy areas such as under the bed or inside cupboards and wardrobes, or leaves items behind – which even if left with good intentions could still be grounds for a cleaning claim. The property also needs to be clean to the same level as is indicated in the check-in report. If this details that the property was cleaned to a professional standard when the tenant moved in, then it must be cleaned to a professional standard when they leave. Cleaning the property should be one of the last things the tenant does before leaving, so as to leave less time for it to get dirty again. When the landlord conducts their final inventory to produce the check-out report, they should invite the tenant to accompany them during this – however it is not essential that the tenant accepts this invitation.
The deposit repayment can be requested by either the tenant or the landlord. If both parties are in agreement with the repayment request, the payment will be made within five working days. For deposits held by SafeDeposits Scotland, guidance on submitting a repayment proposal can be found here. This is where, should they wish, the landlord will make a claim for part or all of the deposit. The tenant will then be required to respond, where they can either agree or disagree. Should they disagree and wish to refute the claim, the case will move forward to the ADR process.
Tenants should ensure that they log in to their SafeDeposits Scotland account (using their email address as their username) and check that all of their details are correct. This includes making sure that their bank details have been added to their account otherwise funds cannot be released to them.