Landlord ‘ignorance’ about wear and tear vs damage is getting costly

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Educating landlords about what constitutes wear and tear could reduce the number of costly deposit disputes, according to the Association of Independent Inventory Clerks (AIIC).

Those landlords who can’t distinguish between the two are likely to raise disputes over negligible wear – and are more likely to lose them, particularly without a thorough inventory.

The AIIC says relying on knowledgeable inventory clerks can protect both tenants and landlords but also reduce unnecessary disputes.

Mydeposits reports that rental deposit disputes between landlords and tenants amounted to a costly £27 million in 2021 – an average of £1,005 per tenancy.

AIIC chair Daniel Evans (pictured, below) says the money wasted on unnecessary disputes could be reduced with better understanding of fair wear and tear, which describes the deterioration of the condition of the property as a result of reasonable use by the tenant.

Damage caused by negligence does not fall under this criteria, but items, fittings, or fixtures that have been worn through natural use would be classified as fair wear and tear.

When a home’s wear and tear is assessed, average useful lifespan of an item, expected usage, who is renting the home and the length of the tenancy are all considered.

“We recognise that deposit disputes cannot be prevented altogether but if issues arise, the only way to ensure the right amount of money from the deposit is received is by relying on an inventory,” says Evans.

“Landlords can do their bit by making sure all the correct information and documentation is provided throughout the tenancy. This will ensure that adjudicators have sufficient evidence and neither parties are left to bear the brunt of unnecessary costs.”

Read more: A handy end-of-tenancy checklist.

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