Wear and tear costs soar in private rental properties

Since the pandemic, rental property furnishings and fixtures are wearing out 30% faster due to increased home use, particularly from remote work. Before COVID-19, only 26.7% of people worked from home occasionally, but that number has surged to 41%, leading to more wear on carpets, sofas, walls, and other fittings.

• A medium-quality carpet’s lifespan has dropped from 8 years to 5.6 years.
• Sofas now last 5.6 years instead of 8.
• Painting and decorating cycles have shortened from 3 years to 2.1 years.

Tenants are being penalised for “damage” that is actually normal wear, while landlords face higher replacement costs. Inventory Base suggests revising Fair Wear and Tear rules, adjusting tenancy deposit depreciation schedules, and updating the Housing Act 1998 to account for remote work’s impact. The cost of renewing items has also risen—for example, the annual cost for a carpet has jumped from £138 to £196.

The issue has sparked concerns among landlords and tenants, with calls to redefine “reasonable use” to prevent unfair charges.