The Deposit Protection Service (DPS) recommended that landlords submit images or copies of invoices, should a dispute about a renter’s deposit arise at the end of a tenancy.
The DPS said that, despite landlords experiencing significant increases in cleaning and repair costs – in some cases up to 30% or more – some are not submitting invoices to support a dispute resolution claim against a deposit.
The DPS said landlords should also consider submitting other relevant documents, such as tenancy agreements and check-in and check-out reports, as evidence in support of their position.
Matt Trevett (pictured), managing director at The DPS, said: “Increasing cost of materials, contractors or property call‑outs means that landlords are experiencing higher than usual expenses.
“Landlords and letting agents should always consider providing invoices to their tenants to enable tenants to understand these rising costs and help avoid disagreements.
“Landlords should also consider including other evidence-based documents in support of a dispute so that an adjudicator can easily understand how they relate back to the tenant’s obligations at the start of the tenancy.”
