As a tenant, it is one of the most annoying things you can experience. You have worked hard to keep your home in one piece during the time you have lived there, only to be slapped with a huge bill at the end of the tenancy.

Of course, there are all sorts of rules that govern deposits. For example, over in the UK the tenancy deposit scheme was introduced some years ago, with this effectively ring fencing the funds that you pledge at the start of your contract. Then, there is all the legislation which states what landlords can and can’t deduct.

However, despite the previous paragraph, there are still ways in which you can be left out of pocket. Today’s article will take a look at some of these, showing how you can protect yourself by the time you do vacate the property.

It can sometimes come down to a light bulb

It sounds utterly ridiculous and trust us, it is. However, if you leave your tenancy with a light bulb that has blown, you might be asking for a huge bill.

Sure, the cost of a light bulb is minimal, but this might be the tip of the iceberg. Some estate agents and landlords won’t bat an eyelid at subsequently charging you for the cost of installing these light bulbs. These electrician fees are typically done by the hour, meaning that you could be looking at £60 for that failed bulb by the end of proceedings.

Make cleaning your top priority

Something else that tenants often fall foul of is cleaning (or, a lack of it).

This is something that landlords can jump straight onto and in some ways, it’s perfectly understandable. After all, no new tenant is ever going to want to move into an unclean property, so this should sit with the outgoing tenant.

Of course, there are different types of cleaning. Some tenants will clean the entire apartment, while others may leave small parts and still receive a charge. The oven often falls into this category and we would really urge you to read these tips for cleaning your oven to help you along your way.

Stay on top of the garden

You might not use the garden, but that doesn’t mean to say that you don’t have any responsibility over it. On the contrary, you are expected to maintain it, although this will only be applicable if it was handed over to you in a decent state at the start of the tenancy.

As such, make sure you regularly cut the grass, and just keep it in acceptable condition.

Be aware of any changes you have made to the house

This final point might not apply to all of you, but if you have had made any changes to your home it goes without saying that you need to reverse them. For some people this might be decorating, while for others it might be a new wall. Regardless, make sure they are reversed unless you want to be hit by nasty charges.