The most common cause of deposit disputes in private rented housing is cleaning!

Don’t be tempted to leave the cleaning to the morning over your move out – in almost all cases, this won’t be long enough and you’re risking your damage deposit. Take the time to understand your landlord’s expectations of what cleaning they expect to be done in advance, so you’ve got time to get it done and discuss any challenges you might face.

We’ve created a cleaning list to help you get started.

If you are an Assured Shorthold tenant (most students in student accommodation are) then your landlord or agent should protect your damage deposit in one of three government approved deposit schemes within 30 days of receipt. Failure to do so could mean you are eligible to claim compensation of up to three times the amount of your deposit.

If you are approaching the end of your tenancy and can't remember which deposit scheme your landlord or agent used then it's worth checking before you move out. Ask your landlord/agent to confirm, look at your tenancy agreement or check directly with the deposit scheme websites. You'll need a postcode, surname, tenancy start date and deposit amount to search. Links to the three government approved schemes are below:

• The Deposit Protection Service (DPS)
• mydeposits
• Tenancy Deposit Scheme (TDS) Insured

If you're graduating and staying in our wonderful city then you can use online search platforms and contact local letting agents. If you require housing advice or support once you have graduated then please contact the housing charity Shelter England or Citizen Advice.

We can offer support and guidance after you've graduated only if the issue you wish to discuss relates to a tenancy you held during your time as a UEA student.

Since 1st May 2026, the new Renters Rights Act means that any individual tenant can give 'notice to quit' a tenancy - for students on joint tenancies, this means that all tenants would need to move out after the notice period, unless they can negotiate a new agreement with the landlord. 

If someone in your house has given notice to quit, but you want to stay in the property, we suggest speaking to your landlord or letting agent as soon as possible, putting things in writing whenever you can. Let them know if you want to stay in the property, and find out if they'd be prepared to renegotiate your tenancy terms, or start a new tenancy with an additional replacement tenant. 

The recent Renters Rights Act changes are new for landlords as well as tenants, so they may need to seek some advice or information about how to manage the circumstances themselves.