Tenancy deposits are there to protect landlords in the event of unpaid rent or damage to their property. Most tenants will get their full deposits back, but there are instances where the landlord may need to keep part – or all – of it to cover various costs. ARLA Propertymark asked its members for the most common reasons why tenants don’t get their deposits back.

Almost nine in ten letting agents (88%) said the main reason tenants don’t get their deposits back is because they leave the property dirty or messy. In most instances, properties are professionally cleaned at the start of the tenancy, so while the tenant can clean it themselves when they vacate the property, and aren’t required to use a cleaning company, landlords expect the same level of cleanliness as documented in the inventory at the start of the agreement. To avoid any disputes, landlords should take photos at the start and end of the tenancy to use as evidence.

Tenants are also expected to maintain the property they’re renting; which includes keeping gardens in the same state they were in when they moved in. However, 44% of letting agents claim that lack of maintenance is another major reason why deposits are often held back.

Other reasons included direct damage to the property and/or its contents (39%) and unpaid rent (31%).