Outdated 'fair wear and tear' rules are forcing tenants to face unreasonable deductions and landlords to pay higher costs, a proptech firm boss has warned.

Inventory Base reckons that rental regulations remain stuck in a pre-Covid world despite widespread changes caused by remote working. It has calculated that additional use of fixtures and furnishings in homes means that their expected average lifespan has fallen by about -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 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.

Penalised

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

It has 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 jumped 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 to account for increased use of homes due to remote working.

Tenancy deposit schemes should also adjust depreciation schedules to reflect increased usage in properties where tenants work remotely.

Siân Hemming-Metcalfe (main image), operations director at Inventory Base, 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. Rental regulations need to catch up with reality, she adds.

“When we get the basics right, such as clear guidance, open communication and fair expectations, everything else runs more smoothly.”