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Original poster

Is this "normal wear and tear" on a rental property

119 replies

Dundundun · 07/02/2019 21:30

I hand my keys back to my rental property tomorrow and just wondered what counted as "normal wear tear" as i really need my full deposit back.

So I have cleaned every visible surface including paintwork and windows, cleaned inside all kitchen cupboards and drawers, cleaned the oven and extractor etc. Basically if you can see it I've cleaned it.

I've filled in all holes from where I had my TV on the wall and painted over the marks with the paint the landlord said the last tenants had used and left except it's a lot lighter shade of magnolia now it's on the wall so it's obvious where I've painted, will be charged for this?

I've tidied the garden but can't mow the grass as A) we've had really bad snow and rain for 2 weeks and B) I sold my mower already without thinking. Will this matter?

There is also about half a bin of garden waste as my council don't collect the green bin between November and March. Will this matter?

And finally one wall of my bedroom was a purple colour and I didn't have any paint of the right colour paint and my bed has left a black Mark on the wall, I have scrubbed it best I can but it's still slightly noticeable (but not a big black line any more) will this matter?

Thanks in advance 🙂

OP posts:
ToEarlyForDecorations · 07/02/2019 22:42

First rental:

Was an ex-show home so the agreement was we would put the ornaments etc back on random windowsills etc. We did this as well as clean the house from top to bottom. My husband swept the carpet. I Hoovered it. The Letting Agent STILL wanted £20 to pay for vacuuming and dusting to be done. We agreed and got our deposit back in full.

Second rental:

The kitchen lino got damaged when a crew of monkeys delivered and failed to install a washing machine. We showed the damage to the Landlord then claimed for the cost of replacement lino to be supplied and installed. All good. Then the water run off from the shower was not managed properly so there was minor water damage to the carpet.

On vacating, we were expected to get the house back to how it was when we moved in. OK, we already knew this. We paid about £450 for the house and garden to be cleaned to an immaculate standard, it looked better than when we moved in. The cheeky bastard landlord still wanted to deduct £100 for the water damage. We were prepared to contest it and they backed down - we got our full deposit back. (It really got my goat that the Letting Agent then took fresh marketing photos because we had done such a good job. When I commented on this all they LA could do was say, 'the Landlord asked us to' Gah.

Current rental -
Don't know we're still living here.

ToEarlyForDecorations · 07/02/2019 22:52

To clarify: we claimed the cost of replacement of damaged kitchen lino from the washing machine supplier. Yes, looking at YOU Currys Know Nothing er I mean KnowHow.

Solina · 07/02/2019 22:56

I think it really depends on landlord. We once lived in a flat that was filthy when we moved in and spent good time cleaning it out before moving in. Washed the net curtains and the water was black it was that dirty.

When we moved out we cleaned the whole place up really well, floor to ceiling pretty much and you really could not fault it. We thought we would get all the money back no problem as it was perfect and had been so filthy when we moved in. Got charged £80 for "limescale on taps" which apparently took 5h for a professional cleaner to clean. I was so angry but we didn't dispute in the end as was going through a lot of stress at the time.

purpleme12 · 07/02/2019 22:59

Exactly you can't predict it.

SynchroSwimmer · 07/02/2019 23:09

Purple felt tip marker pen might sort out the bedroom wall black mark?

Similar approach can work for carpet stains

(As we used to do in the RAF) 😉

StrawberrySquash · 07/02/2019 23:18

I've always had mine back. The one time I had a professional check out I was pleasantly surprised by how much she said was normal wear and tear.

Hermano · 07/02/2019 23:31

If they try it on just dispute dispute dispute.

With no inventory they have no proof of the state when you moved in, therefore no proof you left it worse.

It really is that simple. Take lots of photos avec you leave to prove you left it decent, and you'll win any dispute

BabynamehelpArgh · 08/02/2019 03:31

I’ve heard horror stories but have had all 3 previous lots of deposits returned in full (now got a mortgage thank goodness)

bigandbumpy · 08/02/2019 09:47

In my opinion general wear and tear is the odd mark on the carpet or scrape on the wall. I wouldn't be impressed if my tenant decided to make alterations on the property like painting the wall in a colour of their choice, or drilling holes in the wall.

I would expect you to mow the lawn. The bin might not be collected for months but why is that the LL or new tenants problem. If it's only going to cost you £20 why don't you get someone round?

Not sure how it all stands if you don't have an inventory.

ScabbyHorse · 08/02/2019 09:53

It depends on the landlord. I got my full deposit back and there was even a hole in the door. It's better now that there is the tentants deposit scheme.

ToEarlyForDecorations · 08/02/2019 13:54

The bin might not be collected for months but why is that the LL or new tenants problem. If it's only going to cost you £20 why don't you get someone round ?

When we moved in the outside black wheeled bin was full to overflowing with rubbish left by the Landlord. So was the recycle bin. We ended up paying, via our council tax, for their rubbish and recycling to be collected. Which denied us the use of those facilities for our rubbish and recycling for the first couple of weeks because their rubbish and recycling was in the wheeled bins. Same deal with the 'green waste' but it was only half full.

I drew this to the attention of the Letting Agent. He wasn't bothered. Well, it didn't inconvenience him did it ? So, I took photos of the overflowing bins and agreed with the Letting Agent that was how the bins would be left when we vacate. I will, no doubt, have to remind him of that. I will, complete with colour date and time stamped photos.

Tippexy · 08/02/2019 13:58

@Confusedbeetle What you're doing is illegal. No wonder landlords get a bad rap on here. Hmm

BIgBagofJelly · 08/02/2019 13:58

Make sure you've replaced all lightbulbs as some letting agents charge ridiculous fees for that. I would ask a neighbour to put the bin out or come back and do it myself. If you've got heaps of rubbish ask a friend with a car to make a trip to the local dump for you (obviously buy them dinner/drinks as thanks).

ToEarlyForDecorations · 08/02/2019 14:32

When we moved in there was about 8 lightbulbs that needed to be replaced. I asked this to be done when we viewed the property and had agreed to sign the tenancy agreement and move in. It made it look like the light fitting didn't work, which was a concern to us.

Note to self in future - if the lights aren't working, for whatever reason, it's an indication that other things might not be functioning. Not just electricals !

This hadn't been done so I chased up the Letting Agent who eventually came round and changed all but one of the lightbulbs as I had not noticed it wasn't working.
I asked him to come back and do it but pretty much got told, hard luck I've used all the bulbs I had. Was he about to get more and come back and finish the job ? Nope.

(So I got some lightbulbs and did it myself. Will I be putting the non-functioning light bulb back in the socket when we vacate ? It depends how petty and passive aggressive I'm feeling.)

BarbarianMum · 08/02/2019 14:34

If they didnt do an inventory then dont let them take a penny without challenging it. I'm a landlady and Ive only once in 15 years kept back a deposit (and even then I was £££ out of pocket - they were tenants from hell).

elfycat · 08/02/2019 14:41

I'm a landlord and I approved when they started the deposit scheme to protect people from twat-landlords. I always intend to give back 100% and the few times I haven't is because of non-payment of rent, or a place left filthy and damaged. I can usually overlook a bit of damage or a couple of days cleaning but not, say, when I'm scrubbing faecal matter from a ceiling... all I can think of is it was fired on the tip of a nerf gun 'bullet', it was little circles all over the room

As a tenant I've been forgiven leaving a burned line in a carpet (iron fell from board) and other transgressions under the 'wear and tear' rules. I think that's where I set my standard for deposit return.

I hope you get the deposit back. If you think they're holding back an excessive amount make sure you report it to the scheme in good time. I'd think the paint - where you've filled and where the bed was is W&T and you've made as good as you can. Gardens are tricky and you might have to pay - but if you do and it seems excessive ask a local firm what they'd have charged and make sure they haven't just picked a random number out of thin air.

pigsDOfly · 08/02/2019 14:47

I'm guessing that all these landlords that keep a 'bit' of the deposit either have good cause to do so or are breaking the law and not putting the deposit into a deposit protection scheme.

They can't just keep whatever they want and if they apply to keep any of the deposit you can dispute it within the rules of the deposit scheme.

My last tenant had all their deposit back. They'd left it in a reasonable condition but they'd been there four years so it would have been unreasonable to expect it not to show a bit of wear and tear. I don't expect them to start painting the walls because they were newly painted when they went in.

I then had all the rooms painted, replaced several fittings and put in a new boiler before the next tenant went in because it was time these things were done.

Heronymous · 08/02/2019 14:53

I expect the paint will be an issue, but probably not the mowing.

Zampa · 08/02/2019 15:00

It's not illegal to deduct rent arrears from a deposit ... I don't think Confused Beetle has it wrong.

newnameforthis7 · 08/02/2019 15:18

Have to admit, I have never known anyone get their full deposit back either. I know some do, but no-one I have ever known. As a pp said, they always find SOMEthing!

Good luck though.

wink1970 · 08/02/2019 15:27

TV holes in the wall are a no-no, unless you got permission.

I also wouldn't be happy if the entire house was cream and you had painted a wall purple.

I'm afraid I would charge for the latter & maybe the former if you had made a real mess. If we had pre-agreed either then fine.

OneStepSideways · 08/02/2019 15:37

For future reference, always take photos the day you move in (use a proper camera that prints the date at the top) and make sure you capture any damage even things like peeling paint or dents in the wall.

At the end of tenancy we get a professional deep clean, most letting agencies specify you must have the carpets washed, kitchen deep cleaned (including inside fridge and freezer), make sure you dust the ceilings and tops of doors. Bathroom should be de-limescaled (I've been charged for that 😡) and polished to a high shine, no mould on grouting etc.

It all depends on your agent/landlord, some will nitpick over tiny things, others won't mind.

MsSquiz · 08/02/2019 15:59

@Tippexy what @Confusedbeetle is doing is not illegal.

Deposit must be used for any repairs, etc first, before deducting rent arrears.

We have had situations where there have been so many deductions from the deposit required that the landlord then does not get the rent arrears that we're owed

hedgehoglurker · 08/02/2019 16:29

We've always had full deposit back. 5 properties, staying for a year or two at each. Only one was a dispute over £200 of it, which we won. Without a check-in inventory, they'll find it difficult to prove anything. Good luck with the move.

pigsDOfly · 08/02/2019 17:43

I've had two tenants who didn't get their deposits back.

One was subletting the property and left the place in such a bad state of disrepair that there was no way his deposit even began to cover what it cost me to repair the damage.

The other one left after a court order and bailiffs were sent in having paid no rent for longer than the six months it took us to evict him. It also took me a lot of money to repair the damage left.

Sometimes it not the 'nasty mean' landlord who's being grabby. Sometimes the reason people don't get their deposit back is because they're bloody awful tenants.