End of Tenancy - shared student house

no.1swimmum

I am just looking for some advice for my son. He moves out of his shared student accomodation this coming Saturday, he will be the last student there as I can not get time off work to collect him before. He Shares with 3 other students, the parents of one of them own the house, which has caused numerous problems over the past 2 years, but that is not why I am here.

DS did not get or sign a inventory when he moved in despite questioning the owner about this several times (this is the first time they have been landlords, they bought this property for son to live in because they were disgusted by the state of those available for students to rent!). His deposit is in one of the schemes he has a letter confirming this, and the landlords said they would refund some of the utlity charges as they overcharged all tenants.

As we have never rented accomodation before I have no idea what the procedure is, at the moment we are not even sure if the Landlords are coming on the check out day as they live further away from the property than we do. I will get him to clean his room and will check that the bathroom is clean, and take plenty of photos, especially of the kitchen which apparently is strewn with the dirty dishes etc from the owners sons BBQ last week, and a mixing bowl full of pasta on the floor by the bin! DS will clean out his allocated cupboard in the kitchen and wipe out the fridge but he refuses to clean up after their son, but we have no actual proof that this was his mess it will be just his word against ours!

Thank you

silvercar

Take photos, read the meters, tidy up your area. Dispute any deductions that are not justified with the relevant tenant deposit scheme.

Shared areas are a difficult one, all tenants can be seen to be jointly liable and I suspect if the landlord had the evidence they can deduct from each tenant equally.

Guest101

no.1swimmum wrote: »

I am just looking for some advice for my son. He moves out of his shared student accomodation this coming Saturday, he will be the last student there as I can not get time off work to collect him before. He Shares with 3 other students, the parents of one of them own the house, which has caused numerous problems over the past 2 years, but that is not why I am here. -did he sign a joint tenancy, or a single tenancy?

DS did not get or sign a inventory when he moved in despite questioning the owner about this several times (this is the first time they have been landlords, they bought this property for son to live in because they were disgusted by the state of those available for students to rent!). His deposit is in one of the schemes he has a letter confirming this, and the landlords said they would refund some of the utlity charges as they overcharged all tenants. -So they paid the LL for utilities?

As we have never rented accomodation before I have no idea what the procedure is, at the moment we are not even sure if the Landlords are coming on the check out day as they live further away from the property than we do. I will get him to clean his room and will check that the bathroom is clean, and take plenty of photos, especially of the kitchen which apparently is strewn with the dirty dishes etc from the owners sons BBQ last week, and a mixing bowl full of pasta on the floor by the bin! DS will clean out his allocated cupboard in the kitchen and wipe out the fridge but he refuses to clean up after their son, but we have no actual proof that this was his mess it will be just his word against ours! - the above helps to answer this

Thank you

Answer the above please

Pixie5740

With no inventory taken at the start of the tenancy that would make it tricky for the landlord to prove that the flat is now in a worse condition than it was at the start of the tenancy.

no.1swimmum

Thanks for all your replies.

I think it was a joint tenancy, they all signed the same document (except their son) and were given copies, I have asked him to look this out and find out for me.

Yes they paid the Land lord for utilities, it was included in their rent (Gas, electric and water - they have had no contact with any of the utlitie companies and as far as my son is aware all bills are in the Landlords name) and their son directly for their share of the Internet bill. Their is no land line phone in the house.

I have told DS to take photos with the date on today, as their son left last night, and we will take more photos on Saturday. He is going to text the Landlord and ask what he should do with the front door keys once he has locked up, the responce will tell us whether they are coming to the checkout.

Pixie5740

Get your son to take meter readings as well. I know that utilities were paid for by the landlord but it might save any hassle further down the line if he gives final meter readings to the landlord.

G_M

they paid the Land lord for utilities, it was included in their rent (Gas, electric and water - they have had no contact with any of the utlitie companies and as far as my son is aware all bills are in the Landlords name) and their son directly for their share of the Internet bill.

* they paid the landlord/owner or the son? If the son they may all have been lodgers, not tenants
* what date does the contract end? This may not be the day he moves out. What notice was given/accepted? Rent may still be due after Saterday
* However it sounds like a 'joint and several' tenancy - ALL tenants equally liable for all rent and any damage
* lack of inventory is to your son's advantage in any dispute over damage/condition
* who was the 'lead tenant' - that is who the deposit scheme will return the deposit to. The lead tenant will then have to share it out
* as advised, clean and take photos
* hopefully the other tenants cleaned before they left. If it IS a 'joint and several' tenancy, then they are ALL liable if any ONE tenant left his room damaged/disgusting, or left owing rent
* did the other tenants pay rent up to Saterday? Their tenancy does not end when they leave. It ends when the LAST tenant leaves, assuming the proper notice has been served or an end date agreed with the landlord (again, assuming it's a joint tenancy).

no.1swimmum

Thanks for the replies I have just spoken to DS and learnt a few things myslef.
The Cheques for rent were made payable to the son, who then transferred the mortgage amount to the parents and kept the rest to live on!
The contract ends on Sunday 28th, and my son informed the Landlord that he would be moving out on the 27th jsut over 6 weeks ago.
There is no rent due, it was paid three times a year at the begining of each academic term, in advance.
It was definatly a joint tenancy, between my son and two others. The landlords son was not mentioned on the tenancy agreement.
I have just discovered that my son was the Lead Tenant, he is on very good terms with both the other tenants so it would not be an issue to forward returned deposit, except that one is going to the US to do her Masters, but he knows her parents address and could forward it to them if needs be.
DS said that he knows the other 2 tenants cleaned their kitchen cupboards and shelf in the fridge, he has no idea about their rooms as he has not been into them to check - should he?

Money_maker

Surely for the sake of a bit of washing up and a bowl of pasta he can clean it up. I would forget about pride here. Just spend an hour or two ensuring every room is tidy. Take photos. Job done. It will be character building for him.

missbiggles1

Money_maker wrote: »

Surely for the sake of a bit of washing up and a bowl of pasta he can clean it up. I would forget about pride here. Just spend an hour or two ensuring every room is tidy. Take photos. Job done. It will be character building for him.

I agree with this - it isn't the right time to be pedantic, just for the sake of a couple of hours' cleaning.

Guest101

no.1swimmum wrote: »

Thanks for the replies I have just spoken to DS and learnt a few things myslef.
The Cheques for rent were made payable to the son, who then transferred the mortgage amount to the parents and kept the rest to live on! - HMRC may be interested, and they may have been lodgers, but at this late stage the impact isn't massive.
The contract ends on Sunday 28th, and my son informed the Landlord that he would be moving out on the 27th jsut over 6 weeks ago. - Seems fine.
There is no rent due, it was paid three times a year at the begining of each academic term, in advance. - Good stuff.
It was definatly a joint tenancy, between my son and two others. The landlords son was not mentioned on the tenancy agreement. - HMRC are more likely to be interested than prior.
I have just discovered that my son was the Lead Tenant, he is on very good terms with both the other tenants so it would not be an issue to forward returned deposit, except that one is going to the US to do her Masters, but he knows her parents address and could forward it to them if needs be. - or her bank details presumebly?
DS said that he knows the other 2 tenants cleaned their kitchen cupboards and shelf in the fridge, he has no idea about their rooms as he has not been into them to check - should he?- yes. deduct any cleaning from their share of the deposit. They may argue, but with photgraphic evidence he should be ok

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