The deposit is your money, held by the landlord as security. Whether you get it back is mostly decided not when you move out, but when you move in. If you document things well on day one, you'll rarely have to argue at the end.
At move-in
Photograph everything that isn't perfect, and make sure it goes into the handover report. Anything not written down there is hard to prove later as already having been that way.
A few things tenants often miss:
- The floor: scratches along the edge of the parquet, under the furniture, in front of doors.
- The bathroom: cracked tiles, limescale, mouldy grout, a wobbly toilet seat.
- The appliances: run the washing machine, the oven, the fridge. If something doesn't work, write it down.
- Windows and shutters: do they close, are any fly screens torn?
- The walls: holes, stains, marks left by previous furniture.
Take close and wide shots. The close-up shows the defect, the wide shot shows where it is. If you don't sign the report on day one, send the landlord anything else you find in writing within a few days of moving in.
In writing
The deposit amount and the deadline for returning it should be in the lease, and ask for a receipt when you hand it over. If you pay by transfer, write "deposit" in the reference. We cover the landlord's side in this article.
If the lease doesn't give a deadline, ask before you sign. "We'll sort it out at the end" is the worst answer, because at the end you'll need that money for your next flat's deposit.
During the tenancy
What happens to your deposit is shaped during the tenancy too. A few simple habits help a lot:
- Report problems in time. A neglected drip turns into a leak, and then the blame can easily land on you. How to report it is shown in our article on reporting repairs.
- Ask before you change anything. Painting, drilling, a shelf on the wall: a short written "OK" from the landlord is worth a lot later.
- Pay utilities on time. The landlord can legitimately deduct unpaid utilities from the deposit.
Before you move out
- Clean, and take all your belongings.
- Read the meters together, with photos.
- Return every key, including the gate opener and the mailbox key.
- Walk through the flat together, and sign the report.
It's worth taking the move-out photos from the same angles as the move-in ones. Side by side, you can see what changed and what didn't.
Don't skimp on cleaning. Most small deductions come from a dirty oven, a limescaled bathroom and greasy kitchen cupboards. One thorough afternoon prevents them.
If they deduct from it
Ask for an itemised explanation. Normal wear and tear isn't damage, and it can't be deducted. If a deduction is fair but the amount feels too high, ask for an invoice or a quote.
If you disagree:
- Write briefly and stick to the facts. Which item you dispute, and why. Attach the move-in photo if it shows the defect was already there.
- Set a deadline for a reply, for example eight days.
- If there's no solution, get legal help. For smaller amounts, an order for payment (fizetési meghagyás) may also be an option.
If you can't reach an agreement, Tenant protection helps resolve the case. It's part of the Verified Passport, at no extra cost.
FAQ
How soon should I get my deposit back?
Within the time you agreed in the lease. If there's no deadline, within a reasonable time after you hand back the flat, once utilities and any damage have been settled.
Can the landlord keep all of it because of utilities?
Only the justified part. Holding back the whole deposit for an expected utility bill is usually excessive. Ask them to transfer the rest.
What happens if we didn't write a handover report?
Then it's harder for both sides to prove anything. Photos, messages and witnesses count instead. That's why it pays to document on day one at your next flat.
Rentkey
In Rentkey, move-in photos go into the handover report with a date, and you can see them as a tenant too. At move-out the same process repeats, so the two states can be compared side by side.
