3 Tips For Getting Back Your Security Deposit
When students at the University of Georgia (UGA) move off campus, they consider a number of factors about housing, such as the location, on-site amenities, and monthly costs. But one aspect of UGA off campus housing that’s frequently overlooked is security deposits. A security deposit is an upfront payment from a tenant to a landlord to hedge against damages, late fees, and other expenses not covered by the monthly installments. In theory, it’s possible — in fact, it’s easy — to get back every penny of a security deposit, but many students fail to do so. If you’re ready to make Athens Ridge your home, follow these steps for receiving your full deposit from other off campus communities.
1. FILL OUT THE INSPECTION CHECKLIST
When you move into an off campus apartment near UGA, the landlord gives you an inspection checklist. Your first task, even before unpacking, is to go room-by-room and record the condition of every feature — the details matter. The apartment’s condition when you move out is compared to what the checklist says, and any discrepancies may result in deductions from your security deposit for cleaning and/or repairs. As a bonus tip, take time-stamped pictures of the apartment as further support of your observations.
In reality, it’s not unheard of for students in UGA apartments to rush through the apartment inspections, at best throwing a few cursory glances around the rooms, or even forgoing them altogether. Ultimately, tenants are responsible for conditions of the apartments in which they live. Often times, those same students’ deposits dwindle as landlords perform their final inspections. If you want to get back the full deposit, it’s essential that you complete a detailed inspection and promptly submit the checklist upon moving in.
2. READ YOUR HOUSING CONTRACT
In college towns like Athens, GA apartments for rent offer different housing contracts. Some apartments have traditional contracts, with terms for individual renters as well as families. But student apartments, like Athens Ridge, feature individual contracts that let students rent fully furnished apartments “by the room.” But what all housing contracts share are clues for tenants to get back their security deposits, including the vacate notice and cleaning duties.
VACATE NOTICE
Most housing contracts stipulate a deadline for a tenant to renew or serve a vacate notice before the contract expires. Failing to notify the landlord within the proper time frame, or leaving without notice, may result in fines taken out of the security deposit.
CLEANING DUTIES
Landlords for student apartments in Athens expect tenants to restore their apartments to original condition before moving out. The housing contract describes specific requirements for cleaning and repairs of wear-and-tear and meeting these helps avoid deductions.
3. VERIFY YOUR FORWARDING ADDRESS
In the majority of cases, tenants aren’t returned their security deposits when they move out due to issues which regard the mail. Usually, landlords send former tenants their deposit checks, which are accompanied by documents that explain any deductions, through the mail in the weeks following the move-out date — one month is the deadline under Georgia law.
As such, the last tip for getting back a security deposit is straightforward but critical: verify your forwarding address before moving out. After all, if you don’t update the forwarding address with the United States Postal Service, or at least tell the landlord where to mail the check, you may never receive it — make sure your information is current.