A damage claim needs more than a repair bill. Landlords must be able to explain what happened, why the former tenant is responsible and how the amount sought was calculated. This archive article was reviewed on 15 October 2026.
Build a clear record
Compare the check-in inventory with the check-out record. Keep dated photographs, correspondence, contractor findings and invoices together. For pest treatment, ask the contractor to describe what they found; discovering an infestation after a move-out does not by itself establish who caused it.
Separate unpaid rent, damaged belongings, treatment costs and any claimed loss of rent. Record sums already recovered through the deposit or repayments so the same loss is not counted twice. Avoid replacing an evidential gap with an assumption about the tenant.
Check the court route
HM Courts and Tribunals Service’s Money Claim Online guidance sets out eligibility, pre-action considerations, defendant details and the process after a claim is issued. Check the current guidance before paying a fee. Where the former tenant’s address is uncertain, obtain advice on lawful service rather than guessing where papers should be sent.
Weigh recovery against cost
A judgment and payment are separate stages. Consider the evidence, the other party’s response, fees and the realistic prospect of recovering money. An agreement or an appropriate dispute-resolution route may resolve the matter without a contested hearing.
The original Landlord Law Blog question concerned damage and a flea infestation. This is an independent evidence checklist, not a finding that its reported tenant was liable. A disputed claim for consequential lost rent needs advice on the individual facts.
Sources: HMCTS Money Claim Online user guide; Tessa Shepperson’s Landlord Law Blog question of 7 June 2026.