Student Apartment Move-In Checklist: Protect Your Deposit as a First-Time Renter
Moving into your first student apartment is exciting. It is also the moment most students lose part of their deposit — not because they caused damage, but because they did not document the pre-existing state. This checklist is designed for first-time renters who want to keep every penny of their deposit.
Start your free report ↓Why students lose deposits more often
Student properties change hands frequently. They often have more accumulated wear and damage than long-term rentals — from previous occupants, not you. Without a clear move-in record, that wear can be attributed to whoever is leaving last.
The other common student mistake is not taking documentation seriously because the deposit "seems small." Even £500 or €600 is significant when you are a student, and disputes can follow you for months into your next year.
First-time renter tip: Do your inspection on the first day before you put anything in the rooms. Furniture and boxes make damage harder to find and photograph later.
Student-specific things to check on move-in day
Your bedroom
- Walls — marks, holes, stickers or sticky tape residue from previous tenants
- Desk — scratches, stains, wobbly legs
- Chair — broken wheels, torn seat
- Shelving — secure, no damage
- Mattress — stains, tears, springs (photograph front and sides)
- Wardrobe — doors working, no damage inside
- Window — opens fully, lock works
- Heater or radiator — turns on and reaches heat
Shared kitchen
- Fridge — clean, no mould, working temperature
- Oven and hob — working, clean or noted as dirty at start
- Microwave — working, clean or noted
- Sink — drains, no smell
- Cupboard space assigned to you — condition noted
Shared bathroom
- Shower — pressure and temperature, no mould
- Toilet — flushes fully
- Tiles — cracks or missing grout
- Extractor fan — working
Common areas
- Hallways — note any scuffs or damage
- Common room furniture (if any) — note condition
- Washing machine / dryer — runs a cycle, door seal intact
- Letter box — key works, not blocked
- Communal outdoor areas — any issues noted
Utilities and practical checks
- All electrical sockets — working (bring a phone charger to test)
- Hot water — works within reasonable time
- Heating — turns on and heats the room
- Internet connection point — present and labelled (even if not connected yet)
- Smoke and CO alarms — test each one
The most common student deposit mistakes
- Putting up posters with the wrong tape — always use painter's tape or picture hooks within lease rules
- Not reporting maintenance issues promptly — if you ignore a leak, you may be blamed for the resulting damage
- Moving out without cleaning — a professional clean is rarely required if you maintain reasonable standards
- Not doing a final walkthrough — always inspect room by room before handing keys back
- Not reading the inventory — landlord inventories sometimes list items as "good" that are clearly not
When to send your move-in report
Send your documented report by email to your landlord or accommodation office within 48 hours of receiving the keys. If you are in managed student accommodation, check whether there is a specific form or process required by the provider.
Frequently asked questions
One joint report is better than several separate ones. Go through the property together so all tenants agree on what was present and in what condition. All names should appear on the report.
Normal wear and tear is not a valid basis for deduction, whether you are a student or not. "Normal student wear" is not a legal category. Challenge any deduction that is not specific damage you caused.
Create your own on the first day and email it to your landlord. Their failure to provide one does not remove your right to document the property's condition — and in many jurisdictions it actually weakens their ability to make deductions.