Cleaning costs top the list of tenancy deposit deductions

Cleaning charges are the main reason tenants lose part of their deposits, a new survey reveals.

Research by Go.Compare home insurance found that nearly two-thirds (63%) of renters who saw money withheld in the past two years pointed to cleaning fees as the cause.

This was higher than any other category recorded.

Also, younger tenants are more likely to see a deposit deduction than older tenants.

Though some of the whackier reasons will baffle landlords which include not cutting the grass short enough.

Deposit deduction friction

The platform’s home insurance expert, Nathan Blackler, said: “Deposit returns can be a source of friction when tenancies come to an end.

“Clearly, most renters who’ve experienced this feel their money was kept unfairly.

“If this is the case, it means landlords are wrongfully retaining thousands of pounds of deposits.”

He went on to say tenants should take photos of the property when moving in and when leaving.

A checkout inventory is also a good idea and paying all outstanding fees for the property before leaving.

Damage and redecoration deductions

The survey puts damage to property and redecoration costs in second place, with just over a quarter (26%) of respondents giving these reasons.

Smaller numbers reported deductions for abandoned belongings (6%), outstanding rent and missing items (4% each), while 2% were told funds were held back for unpaid bills.

Some tenants were given unusual explanations, including being charged because the lawn was not cut short enough, or for keys the tenant said had never been supplied.

Others said no explanation was provided at all, or that reasons were fabricated.

The research also shows that younger tenants are more susceptible to tenancy deposit deductions.

Almost a third (31%) of renters under 35 lost part of their deposit after moving out, compared with only 12% of those over 54.