Letting agents and landlords now face an ‘unfair’ and ‘outdated’ system of gauging wear and tear when tenants exit properties, it has been claimed.

Inventory Base says current rental regulations remain stuck in a pre-Covid approach despite widespread changes caused by remote working.

The firm reckons that additional use of fixtures and furnishings in homes means that their expected average lifespan has fallen by 30%.

Government data shows that before the pandemic, 26% of the UK workforce had worked from home in the previous 12 months, compared to the current 41%, which is causing greater daily wear-and-tear on carpets, sofas, walls, and other fittings.

For example, a medium quality carpet in a rental home was once expected to last about eight years, but this has dropped to 5.6 years.

Damage

Inventory Base says that under current rules, tenants are being penalised for ‘damage’ that is normal use while landlords are facing more frequent replacement costs.

It is estimated that the cost to a landlord for a medium quality carpet with an expected lifespan of eight years was previously £138 per year, but this has increased to £196.

The firm suggests that the Housing Act 1998 should redefine ‘normal use’ in a way that recognises remote work while courts should broaden their interpretation of ‘reasonable use’ in tenancy disputes.

Tenancy deposit schemes should also adjust depreciation schedules to reflect increased usage in properties where tenants work remotely, says the firm’s operations director Siân Hemming-Metcalfe, who also believes the situation is causing confusion, disputes, and unnecessary friction between landlords and tenants as well as the property manager and inventory clerks who manage the dispute process.

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