Cleanliness – or its lack – has been named by letting agents as the most common reason for tenants losing their deposit.
A survey of 265 ARLA Propertymark member branches found that 88% of agents said the main reason tenants don’t get their deposits back is because they leave the property dirty or messy.
Another 44% cited lack of maintenance such as keeping the garden in a fit state, while 39% said issues of direct damage to the property were the most common reasons for losing a full deposit.
Unpaid rent was cited by 31% of respondents as a common cause, while leftover belongings, unpaid bills and keys not being returned were also highlighted.
The figures are similar to data from the Tenancy Deposit Scheme (TDS).
A TDS spokesman said: “In our recently-published Annual Review, cleaning and damage were the two most common causes for deductions.
“In our insured scheme, cleaning accounted for 56% of disputes, and damage was involved in 51% of cases.
“In the custodial scheme, damage was the most common cause of disputes, accounting for 68%, and cleaning was second at 47%.
“In both schemes, redecoration was the third most common reason for deposit disputes.”
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The most common reasons why tenants don’t get their (full) deposits back at the end of tenancy agreements |
Percentage of agents who selected each option |
|
Lack of sufficient cleanliness |
88% |
|
Lack of maintenance (i.e. overgrown gardens) |
44% |
|
Direct damage to the property and its contents |
39% |
|
Unpaid rent at the end of the tenancy |
31% |
|
Damage due to carelessness and lack of maintenance |
29% |
|
Unwanted personal belongings left behind |
12% |
|
Keys not returned at the end of tenancy |
2% |
|
Unpaid bills at the end of the tenancy |
2% |
|
Pest infestation |
2% |
What reasons have you seen for deposit disputes?
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