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Claim Tenant Wall & Door Damage ProperlyClaim Tenant Wall & Door Damage ProperlyStart a Money ClaimStart a Money Claim
Create a solicitor-grade, compliance-checked damages claim backed by evidence and clear cost schedules.
N1 claim form, PAP-DEBT letter, interest calculation, and structured particulars of claim included.
Trusted by UK landlords
Recover repair costs
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
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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 — £34.99Court fees from £35 extra (based on claim amount)
Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
Unlike generic form builders, we validate 20+ legal requirements before generating court-ready documents — reducing the risk of rejected claims.
- Compliance checks included before documents are generated
- Jurisdiction-specific documents for UK landlord workflows
- Step-by-step guided wizard built to reduce mistakes and rework
Yes, you can claim for holes that are larger than picture hook size or weren't there at check-in. This includes: large holes from TV brackets, holes from shelving, punched or kicked holes, and damage around door handles. Small picture hook holes are typically fair wear and tear.
Fair wear and tear includes: small picture hook holes, slight scuff marks at normal height, minor cracks from building settlement, light fading from sunlight, and small marks around light switches. It does NOT include large holes, drawings, deliberate damage, or excessive marks.
Yes, if the door was damaged by the tenant through misuse, impact, or deliberate damage. Claimable damage includes: holes punched or kicked through, broken hinges from slamming, cracked or split panels, and removed or damaged locks. Normal hinge wear is not claimable.
Typical costs include: filling and painting a small hole £30-50, larger hole repair £50-100, full wall replastering £150-400, door replacement £100-300 plus hanging. Get professional quotes for your specific damage.
You can only claim for repainting if it's necessary due to tenant damage (not general wear) AND you account for when the room was last painted. A room painted 5 years ago can't claim full repainting costs - apply betterment.
If tenants had permission to put up shelves, small screw holes may be fair wear. Large holes from heavy-duty brackets, or holes made without permission, are claimable. Your tenancy agreement should cover this.
Yes, if the damage is beyond fair wear. Claimable damage includes: chunks missing, heavy scratches or gouges, water damage from tenant neglect, and removed sections. Normal scuffs at floor level are typically fair wear.
Key evidence: dated check-in photos showing wall condition, check-out photos showing damage, inventory reports, and any correspondence about damage during tenancy. Video walkthroughs are particularly effective for wall damage.
Be cautious. DIY repairs may not be to professional standard. Consider getting a professional quote first. If you agree to tenant repair, inspect thoroughly before returning the deposit and reserve the right to professional correction.
Yes, if fixtures were present at check-in and are now damaged or missing. This includes: curtain poles pulled from walls, broken blind mechanisms, damaged picture rails, and removed light fittings. Document all fixtures in your inventory.
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