7 Reinstatement Mistakes That Cost Tenants Their Deposit

After thousands of handovers, the same mistakes cost tenants their deposits again and again. Here are the seven that do the most damage, and the simple fix for each.

1. Leaving it to the last minute

The single most expensive mistake. Late booking means rush premiums, no time for paint to cure, and a unit that fails inspection. Fix: start 4-6 weeks early.

2. DIY painting to "save money"

Uneven coverage, visible patches and missed prep get rejected, then the landlord charges for a professional redo. Fix: for any repaint that must pass inspection, use a professional.

3. Ignoring the reinstatement clause

Tenants who never read the clause guess at the scope, and guess wrong. Fix: read it early; know whether it's "original condition" or "bare shell" and what's mandatory.

4. No move-in record

Without a dated inventory, you can't prove what was already there, so pre-existing flaws become your bill. Fix: photograph everything at move-in (too late this tenancy? Document now and at move-out).

5. Over-doing the works

6. Repainting the wrong colour

Painting "a white" instead of the original white leaves a mismatch the landlord will spot, and charge to redo. Fix: match the original colour; check the inventory or ask the landlord.

7. Skipping the final clean

A perfectly reinstated unit still fails if it's dirty, most leases require it returned clean. Fix: include an end-of-tenancy clean (see cleaning vs reinstatement) and run a documented inspection.

The one habit that prevents all seven