Ten steps to getting your money back...

1. First things first, make sure you leave the property in the condition you're required to under your tenancy agreement. This will mean giving the house a thorough clean (including using that brush that's been sat next to the toilet all year), defrosting the freezer and removing all your stuff from the property. You may think the next students in will love your choice of breakfast cereal but your landlord will charge you if they have to throw away the food you leave behind (even if it is before it's use by date). The same goes for furniture or other items not on the inventory. There's lots of tips for what to do with your unwanted items & waste (such as how to check your bin day and get extra bags) at Leave Canterbury Tidy.

2. Contact all the companies who provide services (gas, electric, water, internet, phone line etc.) and let them know your moving out day so they can send an accurate final bill.

3. On your last day have a final check of all rooms (even your housemates because you don't want to be paying for their mess) and take some photos of how sparkly clean everything is just in case you later have a dispute over the cleanliness.

4. Make sure you secure the property (including any window locks) and return the keys to your landlord.

5. If possible try to arrange to be there when your landlord comes to do their inspection. You may be able to sort out any disputes there and then before the industrial (expensive) cleaners get called in. You also avoid the landlord making any excessive claims against you.

6. You landlord should write to you if they want to make deductions from your deposit. If they're reasonable and you agree you simply write back (probably email) and agree. The remainder of your deposit will then be returned.

7. If you don't agree then the amount your landlord wants to deduct, don't feel pressured to accept it. You can get the undisputed amount back while one of the deposit protection services reviews the evidence. Simply tell your landlord that you don't accept their proposal and you want your deposit passed to the deposit protection services. Some schemes have deadlines so do this sooner rather than later.

For example, the landlord wants to take £100 from your £500 deposit for cleaning. You dispute this. The Landlord returns the undisputed £400 and the deposit protection service looks at evidence from both you and the landlord to decide the outcome. They may decide that your landlord is entitiled to some or all of the money they are claiming, or they may decide that your landlord hasn't proven their case and give you your money back.

8. Remember, your deposit is first and foremost your money. Your landlord is responsible for making a case that they are entitled to make a deduction.

9. If you are disupting your deposit, here's a more detailed guide which covers all three deposit protection services is available here: http://www.thedisputeservice.co.uk/resources/files/A-guide-to-deposits-disputes-and-damages.pdf

10. If you need help you can always contact our Advice Centre, via email, phone or in person. Full details at www.kentunion.co.uk/advice.