As a tenant, one of the biggest headaches is getting your full deposit back. Landlords often point to “damage” or “extra cleaning” at the end. A simple maintenance habit list protects you and keeps things fair.
Take photos and a short video when you move in—walls, floors, switches, bathroom fittings, kitchen, and any existing marks or damage. Share some of these with the landlord so there’s a record.
During your stay, attend to small issues early. A slowly leaking tap, loose handle or minor stain is cheaper to fix now than after it’s done major damage to wood or walls.
Avoid sticking heavy-duty tapes or drilling many extra holes without talking to the owner. Tiny nail holes are usually acceptable; big wall plugs and rough patches may not be.
Before moving out, schedule a basic clean-up: remove nails or hooks you added (if agreed), fill tiny holes, clean bathroom and kitchen surfaces, and ensure no trash or random furniture is left behind.
Finally, request a joint inspection with the landlord. Walk through together, discuss anything they feel needs attention, and if you repair it, keep invoices. Clear communication plus proof goes a long way at deposit time.