End of tenancy - what is classed as fair wear & tear

[Happytoplayfair]

Happy Sunday afternoon,

just that really… what after a 10 year tenancy would be expected above the clean through?

10 years? Most of everything except for things that are broken expected to last longer than 10 years.

After 10 years, I would expect to replace everything tbh.

After that long... carpets worn, odd stain but present.
Walls... scuff marks but not graffiti
Kitchen... scuffed but all present.
Garden... tidy.

Basically... not deliverate damage, but ready for redecoration. Also depends on how old stuff was originally when you moved in. And whats been done while you were living there!

I would imagine that as long as it is left clean and all your belongings gone it would be okay.

However, after we left our apartment after 2 years so no wear and tear the landlord tried to sting us for an unreasonable amount for cleaning. The place was spotless and we went to the deposit scheme to get our deposit back.

So clean it and take photos so you have evidence

Thank you for your replies.

Prior to us was a 5 year tenancy by previous tenants, nothing new between them and us. Other than previous tenants painted through.

No work done to the house via landlord during our time other than:

• toilet leak ensuite
• toilet leak main bathroom
• integrated washer/dryer replaced (still very naff)
• lock mechanism on garage door changed
• kitchen sink tap the inner parts fell out into a a drink, we were told that was our fault we disputed this and he has put it down as claim against our deposit when we leave for replacement (this was at year 8)

we have rug doctored the carpets yearly for our own satisfaction. At year 5 we painted through the whole house same magnolia colour as current.

we haven’t painted any walls different colours or wallpapered.

every 3 month inspection by agency has left us with a glowing review I quote “ wish all of our inspections and tenants were this easy”.

we will rug doctor before leaving, we will clean through and wash any scuffs on walls, put right any picture hook holes, have done all the grout on driveway.

my main worries:

• do we need to paint through?
• oven is showing signs of wear but will leave it clean would we need to replace it?
• a scuff to one kitchen cupboard door
• a couple scuffs to high traffic skirting board area in hallway

I think because the managing agents have always been ok we’ve just plodded along. However on the two occasions we have had dealings with the actual landlord he hasn’t left us with a comfortable feeling that the handover process will be easy.

I wouldn't paint or repair anything but do photograph the scuffs you've mentioned so you can present them as evidence. Take lots of photographs.

I found the deposit scheme very reasonable. I also mentioned that the landlord was trying to recoup the cost of a fridge (that had been moved and I hadn't seen for 2 years). So if your landlord tries to say something is damaged you can prove it wasn't. Also you can prove that there is some wear and tear but it's reasonable.

In my experience landlords try to find a way to keep alot of the deposit.

I think it all sounds realistically a 15 yo kitchen will have the odd scuff. A 15 yo oven won’t look new. I wouldn’t paint. Your landlord should do that after a 10 year tenancy. I suspect the deposit scheme will tell him to jog on regarding the tap.

I really wouldn’t worry leave it clean, take pictures, it’ll be fine.

In my experience even though the landlord and I were on good terms the second I handed in my notice he was an arse.

I assume he was worried that his good tenant was leaving and it would affect his money. This wasn't my concern.

But if I ever rent again and I hope never to, I wouldn't help the landlord the way I helped him.

He is not your friend. The managing agents in my case couldn't have stepped further back if they tried. Get and keep evidence and fight if you have to.

This sounds fine! Honestly, clean it all, keep receipts, job done. Our landlord tried to claim for a clean (we’d had it done professionally - by their recommended cleaner), curtains (they disintegrated! I got a video of them falling apart), carpet (10 years old - hard no), and picture hook holes. Went to the deposit holder and got it all back. We had been in for 3 years and had loads of issues.

I think my personal favourite was before the deposit protection scheme came in and the agent took my 400 deposit to cover ‘his time’. He went to jail for fraud not long after. Twat.

If the carpets are 15 years old, they will have nil value (its a percentage per year).

My son in a flatshare, the agency wanted to withold their deposit and claim for a deepclean of the property and lots of other costs but they had a lot of photo's from the move out and had cleaned and done the garden.
My son and friends threatened to go to arbitration under the Tenancy deposit protection scheme(which from what I understand usually finds in the tenants favour and the agency backed off and gave them the money.
They needed good photo's though.

Do you have a check in report? Does it have clear records of the contents and condition of the place? I agree that scuffs, worn patches, chips and the like are to be expected. Deliberate damage, or unreported breakages would be more of an issue. I wouldn't expect a tenant to paint, I definitely wouldn't expect them to replace an oven, and to be honest I'd rather they didn't in both cases as I would prefer to do it myself, either to my own taste or in consultation with the incoming tenant.

Thought I’d pop back with an update. I cleaned the property and took lots of photos fully prepared to state my case. Yesterday I received a phone call from the managing agent who was asked to call us by the landlord. The landlord wanted to pass on his many thanks as to how clean and in good repair the house was after nearly ten years and that the full deposit would be returned.

Moving home was so important for so many reasons and this has just tied up all links to the previous area perfectly.

Thank you for all of the above advice.

Have a great Thursday.

That's nice to hear, glad it ended well, it sounds like you had a decent landlord.

I definitely wouldn't expect them to replace an oven, and to be honest I'd rather they didn't in both cases as I would prefer to do it myself, either to my own taste or in consultation with the incoming tenant.

Same here, we prefer a particular paint colour and type, and get a professional to do it. For safety reasons we'd have the oven fitted by a professional too. I would expect the place to look a little tired but nothing actually broken unless pre mentioned.