Most problems in shared accommodation are decided on the first day, not the last. Here is the ten minutes that saves you the argument.
Photograph everything, before you unpack
Every wall. The mattress. Inside the wardrobe. The bathroom. Anything already broken, chipped, stained or loose — photograph it deliberately and close up.
Then send them to your operator the same day with a short message: "Moving in today, here is the condition of the room." Now the record is not yours or theirs, it is shared and dated. This single step ends most deposit disputes before they exist.
Confirm the things you were told
Out loud on a viewing is not the same as agreed. On day one, confirm in a message:
- The monthly rent and the date it is due.
- What is included — DEWA, internet, cleaning.
- The deposit amount and that it is refundable.
- The notice period.
You are not being difficult. You are creating the written version of a conversation you both already had.
Get the practical details
- Keys — the room, the flat door, the building if it has one. Ask if anyone else holds a key to your space.
- Wi-Fi name and password.
- Who to call when something breaks, and on which number.
- Bin day and where the bins are.
- Where you may keep food, and which shelf or cupboard is yours.
Ask about the house rules early
Every shared flat has them, written or not. Better to hear them on day one than to break one in week two:
- Guests — allowed, and until when?
- Cooking — any restrictions, especially in the evening?
- Quiet hours?
- Laundry — machine, cost, and whose turn?
- Shoes inside?
Meet the people you are sharing with
Not a formality. You are going to queue for a bathroom with these people. Five minutes of introducing yourself on day one makes the next six months materially easier, and it is much harder to do in week three.
Set one reminder
Put your rent due date in your phone as a recurring reminder, and your notice period somewhere you will find it. The commonest way people lose part of a deposit is not damage — it is giving notice too late.