An end-of-tenancy inspection should establish what has changed, not begin with an assumption that the home must look new. Keep cleaning, damage and ordinary deterioration separate so the record is fair and understandable.
Compare like with like
Use the check-in record as the starting point. Work through the same rooms and items at check-out, noting their condition and cleanliness. Photographs are more useful when the location, date and subject are clear than when they form an unexplained collection of close-ups.
Record missing information honestly. A photograph taken at the end does not by itself establish the condition at the beginning.
Allow for normal use
The Tenancy Deposit Scheme explains that fair wear and tear must be considered. Age, condition and use matter when assessing deterioration. Avoid treating an older carpet or fitting as if it had been new when the tenancy began.
Cleaning is a separate question from physical damage. Describe the actual difference in cleanliness and the evidence for it rather than applying a standard charge automatically.
Explain any proposed deduction
Set out the item, the evidence, the proposed remedy and the amount being sought. Keep invoices or quotations relevant to that issue. Do not assume a full replacement cost is appropriate whenever an item has a defect; a claim should not provide an unjustified improvement at the tenant's expense.
Give the tenant a clear opportunity to respond and follow the applicable deposit scheme's process where agreement cannot be reached. This guide does not decide whether an individual deduction is lawful or justified.
Keep the record usable
Retain the comparison and correspondence together, with access limited to those who need it. Use recurring findings to improve future check-in records and maintenance planning rather than to create automatic penalties.
Editorial review: 14 October 2026. This original Property Perpetuity guide replaces the imported text; the original archive publication date is retained.