Help me win this disagreement with EA

[AutumnalFeelings]

My kitchen cupboard handles have all developed this flaky peeling sort of texture slowly over the past year or so. It was worse previously, some had a brownish sort of tinge. The letting agent mentioned it at my last inspection, and offhand I just said that I know - it's weird, tried to remove it on one with some kitchen spray and the rougher side of a sponge (e.g. the colouring) but didn't help much.

I got a shitty letter a week after with my renewed tenancy agreement saying I had admitted to causing the damage with a scouring pad and this would need to be addressed. 

There are about 10 handles, obviously I haven't scrubbed them all to oblivion with a scouring pad and caused it. Who would do that?  I just said I tried it once on one handle AFTER it had happened.

Irrationally annoyed me so much. From google I think it could be rust/ tarnishing. So I sprayed some rust spray on and that's helped a lot with the colour, it's just the texture that's the issue (see pics).

Is there anything I can do to fix it? I really want to fix it and then send them an email saying that's not what I said and am not sure why it's reported that I did, and that it's actually tarnishing from the cheap finish (or whatever), which I've managed to fix.

FWIW, I've been here nearly three years and just wipe them over with kitchen spray and a micro fibre cloth every day as needed. Other things, like my oven handle (different kind of metal) are absolutely fine, so I don't see how I could have caused it. On 10 bloody handles. 🤷🏽‍♀️

Does your kitchen spray contain bleach? Bleach can permanently affect some metals, causing discoloration and rusting.

Try rubbing the handles with some baby oil - it should remove the tarnish and adds a protective layer. Ordinary cooking oil works too.

Try Viakal.

Oh maybe, I just buy whatever is on offer to be honest  I'll try the suggestions but don't think that will improve the texture would it? Was thinking about sanding them down and painting them with some kind of silver metal paint if that even exists 

First time I've ever lived on my own without my mum so I'm a bit clueless 

I work in marine engineering so am familiar with this sort of thing.

The handles are anodised aluminium. if this is recent it is because the protective anodising has been scrubbed off, probably by a cleaning agent. Once the bare aluminium is exposed it will corrode.

Probably not what you wanted to hear, but you could argue that kitchen door handles that can't be cleaned using standard kitchen cleaning methods aren't fit for purpose.