Utilities
It is a standard practice in the UK to pay a deposit to the landlord before moving into your rented accommodation. Your tenancy deposit will usually be the same amount as 4 or 5 weeks' rent. It's illegal for your landlord to force you to pay a deposit of more than 5 weeks' rent (or 6 weeks' rent if your annual rent is more than £50,000). The landlords MUST protect any deposit taken in one of the three government-approved tenancy deposit schemes.
The landlord should refund the deposit in full when you move out unless there has been damage to the property or its contents during your tenancy. Your landlord must not make deductions from the deposit for fair 'wear and tear', i.e., the normal deterioration of fixtures, fittings, and items through normal use during your tenancy.
It is advisable to keep a written record of all the rental payments you make. If you have problems with your landlord, you can get advice from the Citizens Advice Bureau, which has rental-specific guidance.
Your landlord is legally required to put your deposit into one of the government-backed Tenancy Deposit Schemes. This ensures that your deposit will be protected if your landlord refuses to refund it without good reason or makes unreasonable deductions.
Every scheme provides a free dispute resolution service. If you disagree with your landlord about the amount that should be returned, the dispute resolution service will resolve the matter and refund the appropriate amount of your deposit.