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Claim Tenant Wall & Door Damage ProperlyClaim Tenant Wall & Door Damage Properlylandlord money claim?landlord money claim?
If a tenant has left holes, broken doors, or damaged fixtures behind, this guide helps you separate fair wear from genuine damage and build a clearer repair-cost claim.
Start here if you need the main guide on this issue. If your situation is narrower or you want the next practical step, go to tenant not paying rent in the UK.
If you want the wider background first, read landlord money claim guide.
Ready to act? The quickest route from here is money claim pack for unpaid rent.
Claim for Wall & Door Damage from Tenant
When tenants leave holes in walls, damaged doors, or broken fixtures, recover professional repair costs through the courts.
What Wall & Door Damage Can You Claim?
Picture hook rule: Small picture hook holes are generally accepted as fair wear and tear in most tenancies. Check your AST for specific clauses about wall fixings.
Claimable Damage
- Large holes from TV mounts or shelving
- Punched or kicked holes in walls/doors
- Cracked or split door panels
- Broken door hinges from slamming
- Crayon, pen, or paint marks
- Damaged skirting or architraves
- Removed fixtures without permission
Fair Wear & Tear (Not Claimable)
- • Small picture hook holes (typically 1-2 per wall)
- • Slight scuff marks at normal height
- • Minor marks around light switches
- • Small cracks from building settlement
- • Light fading from sunlight
- • Door hinge wear from normal use
- • Normal key/handle marks around locks
Not sure if your wall damage is claimable?
Use our free Ask Heaven landlord Q&A tool to get instant guidance on fair wear vs tenant damage.
Typical Repair Costs
| Repair Type | Typical Cost |
|---|---|
| Small hole fill + paint (per hole) | £30 - £50 |
| Large hole repair + match paint | £50 - £100 |
| Internal door replacement | £100 - £250 |
| Door hanging (labour only) | £50 - £100 |
| Plaster repair (per sqm) | £40 - £80 |
| Full room repaint (avg room) | £200 - £400 |
| Skirting board repair (per metre) | £15 - £30 |
| Door lock replacement | £50 - £120 |
Betterment Note
If claiming for full room repainting, you must account for when the room was last painted. Example: Room painted 3 years ago with expected 7-year life = 57% remaining value. Maximum claim = total cost × 57%.
Evidence You Need
Photo Evidence
- • Check-in wall/door photos
- • Check-out damage photos
- • Close-ups with ruler for scale
- • Location context shots
Documentation
- • Check-in/out inventory reports
- • Tenancy agreement (fixing clauses)
- • Last decoration dates
- • Correspondence about damage
Cost Evidence
- • Decorator/handyman quotes
- • Material costs
- • Door replacement quotes
- • Betterment calculations
Wall & Door Damage Evidence Checklist
- Dated check-in photos of walls/doors
- Check-out photos showing damage
- Signed inventory reports
- Tenancy agreement with fixing terms
- Professional repair quotes (2-3)
- Last decoration date evidence
- Letter before action sent
- Betterment calculation document
Start Your Wall & Door Damage Claim
The Money Claim Pack includes all court documents, pre-action letters, and guidance for recovering repair costs.
Start Your Claim — £49.99Court fees from £35 extra (based on claim amount)
Wall and door damage FAQs for landlords
Frequently Asked Questions
Plain-English help, the right documents, and checks that stop avoidable mistakes before they cost you months.
- We flag problems before you generate anything, so you do not waste time on the wrong route.
- Answer plain-English questions and we build the documents that fit your case.
- Preview first, fix anything that changed, and regenerate without starting from scratch.