About 80 per cent of tenants think that their landlords should pay for damage they have caused when their tenancy ends.

That is the result of a survey this month of 500 tenants by the online letting agency PropertyLetByUs. 

The research also shows that the most common damage caused by tenants is stains to carpet from food, wine and paint (69 per cent), followed by pet damage to curtains and floorcoverings (51 per cent); cigarette burns to soft furnishings and carpets (47 per cent); damage to kitchen cabinet doors (33 per cent); scratches and dents to doors, door frames and skirting (28 per cent); and burns and marks to kitchen surfaces (19 per cent).

“It is so important for landlords to make regular checks on the property during the tenancy so that they can see the condition of the property and speak with the tenants about any damage. If many tenants are left unchecked, they can cause costly damage to the property which often exceeds any deposit held” says a spokesperson for the agency.

“It is also vital that landlords have a full, independent and professional inventory, with a check-in and check-out, attended by the landlord and the tenant. Finally, all tenants should be thoroughly referenced to ensure that landlords illuminate potential bad tenants.”