Fair wear and tear after a 2 year tenancy

[soontobemrsmckeown]

Been in a house nearly 2 years. It has cream carpets that I know I will be getting cleaned professionally. I painted a few walls with permission from landlord so will be painting them back the original colour. The rest of the things I can see is just general cleaning. There is a few marks on white walls, banister rail has a few paint chips on it would these be classed as wear and tear. Anything else that us classed as wear and tear in a rental house after 2 years?

Touch up the marks on the walls with white paint...same with bannister. Just get tester pots.

Try a Flash eraser on wall marks- they are really good.

On the walls you have not painted, make sure you have filled any holes made from hanging pictures. And paint over obviously. Make sure oven is included in the cleaning. Go over your original inventory to ensure anything you have broken (that wouldn't be considered fair wear and tear) is replaced. Make sure any items that were left with property are packed away do movers don't accidentally take them away

All sounds wear and tear to me. Landlord would have to prove damage against an agreed inventory and the tiny sums that might be awarded aren't worth the effort.

He also gets newly painted walls!

With the cream carpets, do note that if you can do a good job yourself you need not pay to get professionals in. Depending on the nature of the grime, you could rent a carpet washing machine and get it done cheaper. Yes, paint the walls back to the starting colour.

Scuffs and paint chips are general wear and tear, and he can't deduct from your deposit for that.

Did he protect your deposit? If not, it's a criminal offence and you can take him to court for 1-3x the deposit. If he did, ensure that you dispute any attempted deductions via the scheme he protected it with.

Also, look up betterment, which is a little known but very useful concept.

We're about to go through this too so watching with interest. Weve not damaged anything not put in any picture hooks (hundred already here). Getting house curtains and carpets professionally currants cleaned (with invoices). Bit worried about what would count as wear and tear. House has been up 5 years and in need of a lick of paint. I hope we won't be responsible for that. While we've been here we've looked after the garden , cleared gutterings and painted the fences. And we're leaving light bulbs that work!

Is your deposit protected? Is there an inventory!

Yes in a scheme, and there is an inventory which we signed bit don't have a copy of. LL / LA does though

Ask for a copy.

Deposit is your money and landlord has to prove damage, which is then pro rated for age of item and amount damaged.

Guidance is paintwork worthless after five years, carpet after eight or less.