Many people in Luxembourg who rent a home believe they will get back their deposits as long as they don’t damage anything, but that’s not always the case. Follow these five tips to avoid disagreements when it’s time to move out.
Think minimalist
Much of the damage that occurs to a property is caused by furniture, drinking glasses, shoes, pens, and other unnecessary items. Before you move into a rental property, think about getting rid of your stuff. Anyway, what do you really need? Most people can get by very well with running water, a couple of blankets, and a tin opener.
Children
Even if they don’t mean to, children cause a lot of damage: leaving an invisible oily film on doorknobs, running on floors and creating microscopic cracks, and sometimes missing the mark when they pee, which can stain or even corrode toilets.
If you have children, consider keeping them in a boarding kennel, which can also be a great way for them to develop an interest in dogs. Or better yet, instead of having kids in the first place, get a hamster. Yes, they leave behind an awful stink for which your landlord will surely charge you, but at least you won’t be blamed for damaging the foundations of an entire six-story apartment building because your son jumped out of bed every morning for three years.
Breathing
Sure, breathing feels good, especially after a long day of work when all you want is to sit on your sofa and inhale a few hundred times. However, it’s important to keep in mind that breathing creates moisture that can damage walls and lead to mold and rot. Take care of your rental property by doing most of your breathing outside.
Presence
Even if you followed all of the tips listed above, there’s still a chance that when the time comes for your final moving-out inspection, your landlord will sense that something has changed about the clean and newly renovated apartment you moved into three years ago. It’s likely that your mere physical presence destroyed the property in ways only experts can detect, so try to stay in a hotel or with friends for a couple of days every week. Trust us: your landlord will take note.
Improve the property
Not all property owners like it when tenants do repair work, but many will indeed appreciate it if you fix the broken stairs or replace old slates on the roof, and they might be a little more forgiving when it’s time to return your deposit. To really leave a good impression, you could actually improve the property which will increase its value and make your landlady smile. For example, you could purchase and install a new water heater. Or why not hire a reputable company to build extra rooms? While you’re at it, pay a landscaper to turn the dull backyard into a lush garden full of exotic flowers, a granite fountain, and even a hedge maze.
Originally published by RTL Today
