Cleaning costs and unpaid rent are the top reasons why deposit money is withheld when a tenant moves out of a rented property, my|deposits has found.

The tenancy deposit protection scheme surveyed landlords and agents, asking them the main reasons why they withhold deposit money at the end of a tenancy.

Of those who did keep some of the deposit, 78% reported the most common reason was to pay for cleaning after the tenant had left. Unpaid rent was also a major cause for withholding the deposit.

Damage to property, furniture and carpets were other key reasons why tenants didn’t receive all of their money back. August is one of the busiest months for tenancy deposit returns, with university students moving out of their rented property.

Eddie Hooker, CEO of my deposits, commented: “Tenants can avoid having any of the deposit withheld by ensuring the property is clean, any damage is repaired, and the rent is paid up to the day they move out. But general wear and tear should also be taken into account by landlords and agents.

“This is the busiest time of year for deposit returns as students vacate properties for summer. It is important they meet with their landlord or agent when moving out, inspect the property together, and then come to an agreement over the return of the deposit.

“It’s worth noting that less than two per cent of tenancies end in a dispute over the deposit."