Understanding what constitutes “fair wear and tear” versus tenant damage is one of the most common sources of dispute between landlords and tenants in the UK. Surface damage sits at the heart of many deposit disputes — and knowing what you can and can’t charge for, and what repair options are available, is essential for any UK landlord.
Fair Wear and Tear vs Tenant Damage
Fair wear and tear is the natural deterioration of a property through normal use over time. It is not chargeable to tenants. Examples include: minor scuffs on walls from furniture, light carpet wear in traffic areas, and slight fading of surfaces from sunlight.
Tenant damage goes beyond normal use. Surface damage that is generally considered chargeable includes: chips to baths, sinks or tiles from impact (a dropped object, for example), burns on worktops, deep scratches on floors from moving furniture without protection, and damage from DIY that has gone wrong.
What Can You Realistically Deduct?
Under the Tenancy Deposit Scheme (TDS) and similar deposit protection schemes, deductions for tenant damage must be reasonable and proportionate. You cannot deduct for like-for-like replacement of a 10-year-old bath — you’d be expected to deduct the cost of repair, or proportionate replacement taking into account the remaining lifespan of the original item.
This is where professional surface repair makes landlords’ finances work: instead of a deduction claim for a new bath (which a tenant can dispute based on age and expected remaining life), you have an actual repair bill that is clearly proportionate and harder to dispute.
Surface Damage Typically Seen at End of Tenancy
- Bath chips (from dropped toiletries, shaving products, soap dishes)
- Scratched shower trays
- Chipped bathroom tiles
- Worktop burns and scratches
- Scratched or gouged laminate or hardwood floors
- UPVC door and window frame chips
- Sink chips (from dropped items)
Using Repair Rather Than Replacement for Deposit Deductions
Professional surface repair provides a documented, receipted repair cost that is reasonable and proportionate. It leaves the property in excellent condition for the next tenancy. And it costs significantly less than replacement — meaning more of the deposit remains available for other remediation.
Shazam Repairs works with landlords and letting agents across the UK on end-of-tenancy surface damage repair. Contact us for a rapid turnaround quote →
