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.”
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.”
| 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% |
