Rent is the largest cost of your monthly income – so it’s important to make sure you do everything you can to keep costs down as a tenant. Try these tips and hacks to reduce your rental costs, and make sure you get your deposit back when you move out.
Know your deposit rights
By law, there is an upper limit to how much your rental deposit can be. That is a maximum of five weeks’ rent for annual rent under £50,000 and six weeks’ rent for over £50,000. In Northern Ireland, the limit is one month’s rent. If you are asked to put down a holding deposit, this must be refundable and a maximum of one week’s rent.
You also cannot be charged application fees for things like credit checks. You may be charged an administration fee for altering the contract mid-tenancy, such as to add another tenant but this is capped at £50 or ‘reasonable costs’ if extensive changes are needed.
On top of the limits, the landlord must put it into a registered tenant deposit protection scheme within 30 days. If they don’t, and don’t send you confirmation details, you have a right to reclaim the full deposit regardless of any claims on it. You may also be able to claim up to three times’ the amount of the deposit in small claims court, should your landlord not return it at the end of your tenancy.
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Keep an eye out for rental scams
In areas where rental properties are in high demand, scams are common. This could be:
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Someone renting an Air BnB, taking ‘holding deposits’ from several people to ‘view’ and disappearing with the cash
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Someone taking full deposits, seeming like they approve the tenant, give a move-in date… along with several other people
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Overcharging deposits and charging fees
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Subletting on a lease where it is not permitted (this gives you no tenant rights)
Always check the company information for the property if you can. Either the landlord name or property should come up in a search on Companies House and other organisations – if it doesn’t, this is a red flag.
If it’s a private landlord, make sure you do thorough searches on their name and reputation if possible. Ask to speak to previous tenants, too – any landlord reluctant to do so is a red flag.
Decorate wisely
Decorating as a rental tenant can help you feel more at home. However, ensure you use rental-friendly items such as Command Hooks that leave no trace on walls, or opt for items that don’t attach to walls.
Lampshades, table lamps, cushions, throws, and your bed linen can all add a personal touch to your home without risking damage to your rental. If you really want to decorate, either get the landlord’s permission in writing, or use things like removable vinyl tiles for kitchen splashbacks and cupboards, and take them off before the end of the tenancy.
Invest in a cleaner
While most people get an end-of-tenancy cleaner in to make sure they get their deposit back, consider arranging a monthly deep clean instead. The cost can be reasonable, and it will save you a lot of time in the long run as it prevents those small annoying jobs from building up.
When was the last time you washed your skirting boards? Exactly. A monthly deep clean keeps your rental in top condition, reducing wear and tear caused by things like mould and mucky build-up.
Install a water meter
Tenants with a contract for more than six months have a right to request a water meter from the water company. The exception is if you live in a House of Multiple Occupation (HMO), which is where you have a separate tenancy to other people in your home and rent a room or studio flat with shared entrances and communal areas.
Your landlord cannot usually refuse to give permission, but it is polite to let them know the property will be metered because once this happens it can’t be reversed. There are very limited reasons a landlord can use to refuse a meter, such as the cost of installing one due to digging up the garden to get to the relevant pipe.
A water meter could save you hundreds of pounds per year, as you pay only for the water you use instead of a blanket estimated amount.
Change electricity and gas supplier
If your name is on the utility bill, you have a right to switch supplier. This means you can shop around to find the tariff that suits you best, and that could save you hundreds every year.
Some landlords try to keep bills in their name. If this is the case, ask for a breakdown of costs and visibility over the bill. If you want, try doing a comparison on the current price versus the tariff and work with your landlord to switch to a cheaper tariff.
Don’t be fooled into a broadband contract
Do not – do NOT – take on someone else’s broadband contract. If a tenant is moving out and tries to get you to switch to keep the same broadband account at the address, refuse.
There are two reasons for this. First, it doesn’t give you the opportunity to shop around to find the best deal. Second, they may have built up arrears on their account and leave you with debts to pay.
They should contact the broadband provider to inform them of their move. Your own broadband is your responsibility – either move your existing provider if you’re still in contract, or set up a new one. Don’t take on a stranger’s previous contract!
Be aware of the break clause
Make sure you know when and where the break clause is in your tenancy agreement. This is the period in which the landlord – or you – can give notice of your intention to end the tenancy. You cannot be served notice to leave the property before the break clause. This guarantees you a minimum time to stay in the property, even if the landlord changes their mind and wants to sell up or get you out.
There are many rights surrounding notice periods and evictions, such as being served a correct Section 21 notice. For example, a Section 21 issued after a break clause is invalid if it was served at a time there was no valid gas safety certificate on the property. Shelter has a lot of useful information about tenant rights, evictions, and deposit claims.
Negotiate rent rises
Finally, if you like where you are currently renting but have been issued notice of increased rent, try to negotiate with your landlord before making decisions about moving.
Point out to them that finding new tenants comes at a cost to them (as they must pay credit check and application fees), and that you’ve been reliable tenants during your time at the property. Some landlords may wish to retain reliable tenants if they can guarantee a longer tenancy – though avoid anything over a couple of years. Always try to keep communication open between yourself and your landlord, as it can make a big difference in keeping your rent rises down.
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