Damages is the top cause for deposit claims not rent arrears

Damages is the top cause for deposit claims not rent arrears

9:23 AM, 23rd December 2020, About 3 years ago

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According to The DPS just over half of the claims made by landlords against tenancy deposits in 2020 cited a need to clean or make repairs to the property or its contents,

Costs for damage made up 27% of claims, while cleaning was cited in 25% and Rent arrears 8%.

Outstanding bills was just 2%, Redecoration 11%, Missing items 7%, Gardening 5% and various other 15%.

Matt Trevett, Managing Director at The DPS, said: “It can be very frustrating for both parties when a landlord feels they need to charge a tenant for problems that could have been addressed before they left the property.

“We always encourage landlords and tenants to stay in touch throughout the tenancy so everyone understands their obligations and can work together to find solutions before a tenancy ends.

“This includes an awareness of the standard to which a property must be cleaned when tenants vacate as well as the need to address any damage or wear and tear beyond what you might reasonably expect to have occurred during a normal tenancy of its length.”

The DPS figures for 2020 show that landlords who entered dispute were awarded at least some of their claim in 75% of cases, with tenants being awarded at least part of the amount claimed in 80% of cases.

The DPS said that around £4 million of deposit money had gone to landlords through its Dispute Resolution Service process during 2020, although just 3% of all tenancies had ended in dispute.


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