Fair wear and tear is deterioration from normal use and age. It is different from damage and from a cleaning shortfall. The check-in record helps establish what was there at the start; age, quality, occupancy and the evidence all matter at the end.
This is general information for England, not legal advice or a ruling on your property.
Separate the three questions
| Question | Examples to investigate | What helps |
|---|---|---|
| Has an item aged through normal use? | Faded paint, worn carpet, minor scuffs | Age, starting condition, length of tenancy and occupancy |
| Has something been damaged? | A burn, breakage or stain that cannot be removed | Check-in and check-out evidence, cause, repair options and remaining value |
| Is something less clean? | Grease, dust or scale compared with check-in | Written cleanliness descriptions and close-up photographs |
mydeposits explains that wear and tear concerns condition rather than the standard of cleaning. Its examples include worn carpets, faded paint and loose handles from normal use. The table above is a way to organise evidence, not an automatic allocation of liability.
Why the age of an item matters
A deduction should not give the landlord a better item at the tenant's expense. This is often called “betterment”. Replacing an already old carpet with a new one is not the same loss as damaging a new carpet.
There is no universal expiry date for every carpet or paint finish. Quality, use and starting condition matter. Ask for the item's age, original condition and the basis of any replacement calculation rather than accepting a fixed lifespan pulled from a general guide.
A hypothetical example
Suppose a carpet replacement costs £600. For this example only, assume an eight-year useful life and six years already used. Two years remain: 2 ÷ 8 × £600 is £150. That illustrates an allowance for age; it is not a legal tariff or a prediction of an adjudicator's decision.
The next question is whether replacement is necessary at all. A suitable repair or clean may cost less. A reasonable cleaning cost could still be relevant if the tenant caused the soiling; successful cleaning does not automatically mean there was no cost to claim.
What about mould, grout and loose fittings?
Do not decide the cause from a photograph alone. Mould can involve leaks, inadequate ventilation or other building problems. A loose fitting might reflect wear, damage or an underlying repair issue. Report problems promptly, keep messages and ask for the cause to be assessed.
Do not assume darkened grout is always wear and tear or always tenant-caused dirt. Clean only where appropriate and safe; seek help with persistent damp or significant mould. Government guidance on damp and mould explains why the underlying cause matters.
Prepare for check-out
Find the check-in report and mark any existing issues. Take your final photographs after your belongings and rubbish have gone. Use matching angles where possible and add close-ups for the specific item being discussed. Keep the written descriptions too: a distant room photo may not establish how clean a surface was.
Do not paint over marks, fill holes or replace fittings without checking what is appropriate and agreeing any necessary work. A rushed repair can make a small issue worse.
Can the landlord insist on a professional clean?
Read Shelter's explanation of cleaning terms. The key distinction is between achieving the required standard and being required to buy a professional service. Paying a cleaner is a choice, not evidence that every deduction is justified.
When cleaning helps—and when it does not
Cleaning addresses dirt. It cannot restore worn carpet pile, repair a burn or fix a leak. Before paying, separate those issues and agree what the clean is intended to achieve.
Use our room-by-room checklist for a DIY plan. If you want help, see the move-out service. For a disputed deduction, follow the deposit return guide and the scheme's current process.