Is this normal for landlords?

Is he going to be a lodger living with his landlord?

Asking for my son. He has just enquired about a room to rent in Belfast for September. They said they want a month's rent up front for their deposit. That's fine. My son asked if he payed his deposit now, would the room be secure for him come September, and that it wouldn't mean he would be expected to start paying rent as from now? They said, no, he can start paying rent in September. That's fine. Then he asked them if, because of the Covid-19 , if the university doesn't go ahead in September would he get his deposit back? They said no. Is this right? Is this normal or legal? Surely a deposit is a deposit and you are entitled to it back if something beyond your control happens which means you cannot take up that tenancy? What do people think? Thanks.

Depends on the contract terms. I never ran into issues with my deposit, so never delved into the nitty-gritty. Private landlords normally use deposits to cover damages or arrears. I've not heard of deposits being used in this context to 'place hold' a space this way.

Also, if it is under an 'Assured Tenancy Agreement' (and it should be), then the landlord must use a 'deposit protection scheme'. It's the law. That way, it also gives you more leverage to make sure that the deposit is not being abused by the landlord.

I get the impression from just the poor way this sounds like it is organised... that there is no deposit protection scheme?

Yes, that is the normal arrangement when renting in Belfast.

Oh. That doesn't sound too good. I know he was initially put off them because it says rent is either £300 or £330 pm + fees. When you read it it says you also have to pay an additional £70 pm for cleaning the communal area, broadband etc. He and I were thinking, well why not just say the rent is either £370 or £400 a month then? I told him I would come on here and ask people's advice.

Ah, hidden charges.

Make sure in the contract that these "fees" are fixed. Normally the contract fixed the rent per month, for a period like 12 months.

I don't think the same applies to "fees". Plus also, a house share of several people where "fees" are not included or the bills are split... could cause a lot of agrow if you have 1 or 2 occupants acting irresponsibly, and the landlord decided just charge everyone living there for it.

I mean... this doesn't normally happen anyway with adults. But students... possibly. Very often students don't know how to behave sensibly. It makes the landlord angry, then he takes it out on everyone living there, for example.

Is it really? I had no idea. Is it different to other places then? Do you know why?

Ah, hidden charges.

Make sure in the contract that these "fees" are fixed. Normally the contract fixed the rent per month, for a period like 12 months.

I don't think the same applies to "fees". Plus also, a house share of several people where "fees" are not included or the bills are split... could cause a lot of agrow if you have 1 or 2 occupants acting irresponsibly, and the landlord decided just charge everyone living there for it.

I mean... this doesn't normally happen anyway with adults. But students... possibly. Very often students don't know how to behave sensibly. It makes the landlord angry, then he takes it out on everyone living there, for example.

Fees are pretty much all illegal now.

Ah, if that's so... then I pretty much don't know what I'm talking about I guess.

As of when, are they 'illegal'? Last time I delved into the details was 2 years ago.

I just had to Google what "Holding Deposits" means. Neither me nor my son know anything about student rentals, or private renting if you are a student.

In 2019 they were made illegal because so many agents were taking the piss charging new rents into the thousands for standard documents that cost less than 50p to print out.

On the Property Pal website, for rentals in Belfast, a very large percentage of them say "Plus fees".