If you live in rented property your deposit is one of the largest outlays you will make. One of the least certain factors is how you will get your deposit back when you leave the house or flat you have been renting. These tips should help maximise your chances of full payback.

Throughout the life of your tenancy you should keep a careful eye on any faults or damage to the property. If necessary, alert your landlord early so that any faults are not a surprise to them when they inspect the property on your departure. They will be able to rectify faults during your tenancy so it does not appear as if you have been neglecting your tenant obligations.

Undertake proper maintenance during your tenancy. There are a couple of places in a house where regular cleaning will make it much easier when you come to vacate. The first is the bathroom. Clean tile grout and silicon on a regular basis to stop build-up of unsightly mildew. The second is the oven. Ovens quickly build up a difficult-to-remove film of baked on grease. Clean your oven every couple of weeks and it will save you several hours of scrubbing and a possible deduction from your deposit.

Before you vacate the property, have the carpets cleaned. You can hire a DIY carpet cleaner from hardware shops for minimal outlay and it makes a huge difference to the impression of how you have maintained the property during your stay.

Ensure windows are clean inside and out before you leave the property. Also outside, if there is any garden, make sure it is tidy, grass cut and weeds removed.

You should refer to your original inventory and return any items or furniture provided to their original locations. Don't forget to replace pictures on the walls. If you have broken a glass or lost a piece of cutlery, replace them on a like for like basis.

Wipe down internal walls where hand marks and dirt have gathered. When doing this you might find occasional damage. Small dents can often be filled with a cheap tube of filler and covered with a matching paint. If the property has been recently decorated it is likely that the landlord has used a common colour like magnolia, or they may have left half-empty cans of paint in storage somewhere around the property.

Finally, when you move out, ensure you remove all you belongings and take all your rubbish away from the property. As added protection you may wish to go round and take several pictures in every room, perhaps with a newspaper on display from the day you leave. Take utility meter readings and alert all your utility companies of your final readings when you leave. Make sure all the keys are handed back to the landlord or letting agent. Then wait for the final inspection and hopefully full return of your deposit within the timescale stated in your original rental contract.