Cleaning was the most common reason for tenancy deposit deductions in 2025 and marking the fifth consecutive year it has topped the list, according to new figures from The Deposit Protection Service (The DPS).
The data shows that cleaning accounted for 29.38% of all deposit claims last year, up from 24.57% in 2021 and continuing a steady upward trend.
Whenever tenants leave a property, landlords can request deductions from the tenancy deposit to cover reasonable costs incurred during the tenancy.
While cleaning remained the most common issue, damage to a property ranked second, accounting for 18.42% of claims, followed by rent arrears at 16.45%.
STABLE PATTERN
Redecoration-related claims also continued to rise, increasing from 7.48% of all claims in 2021 to 10.88% in 2025.
The DPS said the overall pattern of deposit claims has remained relatively stable over the past five years, despite significant changes in the rental market and increasing regulation of the private rented sector.
Matt Trevett (main picture, inset), Managing Director of The Deposit Protection Service, says: “It’s interesting to see that the reasons behind deductions have remained fairly consistent during the last five years.
“We encourage tenants to make sure they understand their obligations whenever they leave a property – and landlords to communicate clearly around expectations at the end of a tenancy.
“Less than 5% of all deposits protected by The DPS end in a dispute and, if a tenant and landlord cannot agree on deductions, our impartial free-to-use dispute resolution service makes sure tenancies are settled fairly.”
The figures suggest that clear communication between landlords, agents and tenants remains key to avoiding disputes, particularly around cleaning standards and end-of-tenancy expectations.
According to The DPS, fewer than one in 20 protected deposits ultimately result in a formal dispute.
Cleaning tops deposit claims for fifth year
| Claim reason | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
| Cleaning | 24.57% | 26.72% | 27.70% | 28.66% | 29.38% |
| Damage | 14.60% | 16.68% | 17.70% | 18.16% | 18.42% |
| Rent arrears | 17.71% | 19.74% | 18.74% | 17.31% | 16.45% |
| Redecoration | 7.48% | 8.95% | 10.02% | 10.47% | 10.88% |
| Other | 26.30% | 17.04% | 13.93% | 13.66% | 13.31% |
Source: The DPS
