# Fair Wear and Tear **URL:** \ **Category:** Tenant Discussion\ **Created:** [13 September 2020 14:27 UTC](https://community.openrent.co.uk/t/fair-wear-and-tear/15748 "2020-09-13T14:27:33Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Ellie7](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex031/user_avatar/community.openrent.co.uk/ellie7/32/450_2.png) [@Ellie7](https://community.openrent.co.uk/u/Ellie7)\ **Post date:** [13 September 2020 14:27 UTC](https://community.openrent.co.uk/t/fair-wear-and-tear/15748/1 "2020-09-13T14:27:33Z")
![image](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex031/uploads/openrent/original/2X/a/a44c93c7a9f3bd8373d424914ff5eaf549ddf726.jpeg) We’re being charged by our previous landlord for brand new items - a brand new leather foot rest for £250, as there is a scratch on it, and a brand new sideboard for £350, as there is a minuscule hole. Is this fair? We’re also being charged for professional cleaning of the flat (when we arrived it was not professionally cleaned but ‘to a domestic standard’, though we did struggle to hoover the carpet when moving out) and professional appliance cleaning as we did not ‘properly’ clean the oven (which itself has not been cleaned when we moved in) or the microwave. To keep our entire deposit bar £50 feels a bit extreme (we’ve agreed to sofa cleaning and replacement of a fridge drawer). ---
**Author:** ![Ellie7](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex031/user_avatar/community.openrent.co.uk/ellie7/32/450_2.png) [@Ellie7](https://community.openrent.co.uk/u/Ellie7)\ **Post date:** [13 September 2020 14:31 UTC](https://community.openrent.co.uk/t/fair-wear-and-tear/15748/2 "2020-09-13T14:31:15Z")
![image](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex031/uploads/openrent/original/2X/e/e2984b7a4c1aab651016c6e0648a1f30ed43ea76.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![David114](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex031/user_avatar/community.openrent.co.uk/david114/32/515_2.png) [@David114](https://community.openrent.co.uk/u/David114)\ **Post date:** [13 September 2020 22:43 UTC](https://community.openrent.co.uk/t/fair-wear-and-tear/15748/3 "2020-09-13T22:43:59Z")
At least you got something back. I left my rented flat in good condition and thoroughly cleaned it. Landlord claims that because some marks on the kitchen worktop he had to replace it. No idea how much it cost, but no sign of any deposit being returned more than 1 month after leaving the flat. I think there was fair wear and tear and he should have at least returned half the deposit. In the case of Ellie7, I don’t see that much wear and tear and you should have received a lot more deposit back. ---
**Author:** ![Colin3](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex031/user_avatar/community.openrent.co.uk/colin3/32/450_2.png) [@Colin3](https://community.openrent.co.uk/u/Colin3)\ **Post date:** [14 September 2020 07:18 UTC](https://community.openrent.co.uk/t/fair-wear-and-tear/15748/4 "2020-09-14T07:18:00Z")
That hole is not fair wear and tear ---
**Author:** ![Sam](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex031/user_avatar/community.openrent.co.uk/sam/32/6179_2.png) [@Sam](https://community.openrent.co.uk/u/Sam)\ **Post date:** [14 September 2020 10:50 UTC](https://community.openrent.co.uk/t/fair-wear-and-tear/15748/5 "2020-09-14T10:50:50Z")
Hi Ellie, I would check out my post here about how damage claims are decided by deposit scheme arbitrators. > [@'Wear and Tear' or 'Accidental Damage'?](https://community.openrent.co.uk/t/wear-and-tear-or-accidental-damage/8182/2): > > Hi Simon, Yes happy to help and I’m sure other experienced landlords will want to give their views, too slight_smile Regarding the example of the carpet, this is a great case to illustrate how deposit deductions work. In general, you can ask to deduct any costs for damage if you feel able to evidence the damage and its costs. There may be some negotiation/discussion with the tenant (which should be written, or if oral, then summarised in an email after and confirmed by the other party), but … I think the sideboard hole would be seen as wear and tear by an arbitator. San ---
**Author:** ![system](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex031/user_avatar/community.openrent.co.uk/system/32/11_2.png) [@system](https://community.openrent.co.uk/u/system)\ **Post date:** [9 August 2022 12:50 UTC](https://community.openrent.co.uk/t/fair-wear-and-tear/15748/6 "2022-08-09T12:50:20Z")