Tenants in the UK have lost £1.1bn in deposit moneys over that last three years giving an average of £367m per year according to research from FindaProperty.com.

It indicates that four out of ten private renters who have moved in the last three years have lost some of their deposit with on average each tenant losing £313, although 19% of tenants say that they have lost over £500.

Nigel Lewis, property analyst at FindaProperty.com, said: "Our research shows one of the main reasons funds arent returned is a miscommunication between landlords and tenants about the condition in which the home should be left. Its vital for renters to read their tenancy agreement closely before signing it and review it throughout their rental contract especially when its time to vacate the property."

Cleaning is the most common reason for landlords to withhold part of a deposit - at 37%, followed by damage to carpets and curtains at 21%. One in ten tenants have resorted to legal action to claim back their missing money, while four out of ten say that the money taken from their deposit was far higher than the actual cost of repairs.