Deposits and charges
Examine deductions, inventories, check-in records and the terms used to justify a charge.
Housing problems should not derail your studies.
A deposit dispute, unsafe conditions or pressure to leave can make student life uncertain. We help establish your position and choose a practical route forward.
Deposits and deductionsDisrepair and conditionsAccommodation disputes
Where we can help.
Every case turns on its own facts. These are some of the issues we can help you assess and address.
Repairs and conditions
Document disrepair, reports to the landlord or provider and the effect of unresolved problems on your home.
Ending an agreement
Review what your contract says about moving out, replacement tenants, fees and continuing liability.
Eviction and occupation
Where someone is asking you to leave, we can examine the agreement and the steps taken. The rules can differ between a private tenancy and halls accommodation.
Where it starts
Does this sound familiar?
These situations can become difficult quickly. An early review helps separate the immediate problem from the wider consequences.
Your deposit is being withheld
You dispute deductions for cleaning, damage or rent after moving out.
Repairs keep being delayed
Damp, heating, safety or another condition has been reported but remains unresolved.
You are being told to leave
An agent, landlord or accommodation provider says you must move out, sometimes with little explanation.
Our approachStart with the facts.
Start with the facts.
Find the strongest point.
We examine the agreement and the evidence of what happened. We then set out your options in clear terms, including correspondence, a complaint or a formal dispute route where appropriate.
Useful documents to send
- Your tenancy or accommodation agreement
- Photographs, inventory and payment records
- Repair reports, notices and messages
A considered response
What happens next.
Student accommodation can take different legal forms. The agreement, the provider and the facts determine which protections and routes apply.
Identify your agreement
Check whether this is private rented housing, halls or another arrangement and what the written terms say.
Preserve the evidence
Collect photographs, inventories, repair reports, payment records and messages in date order.
Seek a practical solution
Assess the case for a written challenge, negotiation, a complaint or a formal process if needed.
Common questions
Before you make a move.
The answer depends on the facts, the documents and the procedure that applies to you.
Do student halls and private rentals have the same rules?
Not always. The provider and the legal form of the agreement can affect rights and procedures. We review the documents before advising on a route.
Can I stop paying rent because repairs were not done?
Withholding rent can create a separate risk. Get advice on your agreement and the condition of the property before taking that step.
What helps in a deposit dispute?
The agreement, check-in and check-out records, photographs and an itemised explanation of deductions are useful starting points.
Let’s talk
it through.
Tell us what happened, share the decision and any approaching deadline. Choose a meeting, WhatsApp or email on our contact page.
Book a meeting or contact us ↗Background reading: Shelter guide to student housing ↗