6 Tips for Keeping Your Security Deposit

February 27, 2019

Many believe that security deposits are often as good as gone, especially when the landlord is firm in their stance that it’s your fault.

However, the reality is different. There are several ways and methods that you can use to get back that deposit worth a whole month’s rent.

1. Plan the Minute You Move In

The main problem usually is the fact that most of us forget to take pictures of the place. Pictures enable us to have physical proof of how the area looked when we moved in.

You especially need to make sure that you have all the damages documented up front, as many landlords want to try and pin those on you.

2. Keep the Documents Organized

When a person moves into an apartment, they usually get a lot of documents from the landlord. Most of us leave them aside without ever looking at them. Some even get lost.

You should keep all of these documents and more importantly, keep them organized. You’ll have to go through them to see the proper procedures you need to follow when moving out, as following them will make sure that the landlord will have to give you the security deposit back.

3. Maintain Your Home

Naturally, one of the best ways to avoid losing the deposit is to make sure the place is undamaged and in more or less the same shape as it was the day you moved in.

To do this, you’ll have to maintain it by cleaning regularly, and doing all the special maintenance that many properties have included in the contract you’ve signed. You’ll be well off to make sure that these clauses don’t exist in the lease, or at least to negotiate them upfront.

4. Don’t Try to Fix Damage on Your Own

If you, unfortunately, manage to cause any damage, it’s not smart to try and fix it on your own. You need to see what the lease says about these because ‘patchwork’ often entails deductions from security deposits. It’s much better to contact a professional to repair everything.

5. Always Report Problems That Require the Landlord’s Assistance

In most cases, things like mold, leaks, pests, etc. lie in the domain of the landlord. They have to fix these problems for you. However, you have to report them promptly. If you don’t, you could lose the deposit.

6. Be Nice as Kindness Goes a Long Way

In the end, the best thing that you can do is try to be friendly with your landlord. Most of us are decent human beings, and it’s more likely that you’ll run into a nice landlord than a terrible one.

So strive to pay your rent on time and regularly communicate with them, without bothering them if there’s no real need. These tips are bound to go a long way towards ensuring that the security deposit lands safely back into your hands when you move out. If you need any additional financial advice, or you need an easy-to-get and easy-to-repay loan, visit our site for more information.