New data from deposit-alternative provider Reposit shows that students in private rented housing incur lower average end-of-tenancy charges than non-students, even though deductions occur more frequently in the student sector.
Reposit’s 2024 figures reveal that the average total charge, covering arrears, cleaning, and damages, is £788 for student tenancies, compared with £1,131 in the wider PRS. While student damage costs (£472) are lower than non-student costs (£563), student cleaning charges (£283) exceed those outside the sector (£220). This pattern highlights both efficiency and unique burdens in student rentals.
Charges are more common among students, occurring in 63% of tenancies versus 48% in the broader market. Cleaning emerges as the most frequent reason for deductions, followed by damages and arrears, mirroring trends across the PRS. In 2024:
54% of student tenancies incurred a cleaning charge, compared to 34% of non‑student tenancies
Damage charges occurred in 29% of student tenancies and 24% elsewhere
These statistics underscore the value of efficient end-of-tenancy management. Investing in software can streamline processes, reduce administrative workload, and handle frequent student charges effectively.
“Our platform saves landlords and agents at least an hour at the end of each tenancy by eliminating the need to process deposit returns while our smart, end-to-end solution streamlines all claim-related admin," explained Gurman Bains, head of new business at Reposit. "Among student letting agents where tenant turnover is high and cleaning charges are often incurred, deposit alternatives help manage these costs efficiently without complex deposit deductions or delays in returning deposits. One of the biggest time drains in traditional deposit schemes is negotiating disputed charges.
Bains concluded, "With Reposit, supporting evidence can be uploaded instantly, allowing for faster resolution or direct tenant acceptance. We’ve also tailored our process for student partners, offering more time to submit charges during the busy move-in/move-out season, and adjusting our referencing criteria to allow guarantor-based checks instead of referencing students directly.”
