Spot the clauses that bite

10 steps

Money clauses

Deposit above two months' rentThe Model Tenancy Act caps residential deposits at two months, so anything higher is your money locked up with weaker protection.
No written deposit-return timelineA promise to return it soon is how deposits quietly disappear.
Automatic painting or cleaning chargesA flat fee carved out of every deposit regardless of condition is the most common quiet loss.
An open or steep rent escalation clauseA yearly bump that compounds, or one the owner can set at will, is often buried in the fine print.

A lock-in longer than the notice periodA long lock-in with a short notice traps you: you can be asked to leave on short notice, but cannot leave yourself without forfeiting money.
A notice period longer than one monthA two or three month notice can mean paying rent on a flat you have already left.
No move-out inspection clauseWithout a joint inspection, deductions come down to the owner's word against yours.

Maintenance and society charges left vagueMaintenance extra with no number is where surprise bills live.
As-is condition with no signed inventoryAccepting the flat as-is with no record means every pre-existing flaw can be billed to you later.
One-sided penalty clausesPenalties that only ever fall on the tenant signal a lopsided agreement.