The big warning to students returning to university this autumn is to make sure that their deposit is protected, according to one accommodation expert.

Independent property industry specialist Malcolm Harrison, who is also the spokesman for the Tenancy Deposit Scheme, advised students to ensure their landlord is a member of one of three deposit protection schemes.

His comments follow the proposal of new laws by Communities and Local Government, which estimated that up to 3,000 properties have been repossessed with paying tenants facing eviction.

"[Students] do need to make certain that their deposit is protected," stated Mr Harrison.

"They need to actually ask the landlord for details of where the deposit is and the fact that it has been registered," he added.

The news comes after the Higher Education Statistics Agency website reported that there were 200,090 full-time first-degree graduates whose career destinations were known in 2007/08, compared to 190,385 in 2006/07.

Students moving from one house-share to another this autumn might want to consider putting some of their belongings into storage.