Dilapidations claims often land at the worst possible moment — at lease end, when a tenant is focused on relocating, not on a schedule of dilapidations and a potential six-figure repair bill.
The cost is rarely a surprise to those who plan ahead. A well-advised tenant reviews its repairing obligations, records the property's condition, and budgets for exit liabilities long before the term expires. Equally, a landlord's claim is only as strong as the evidence behind it — and section 18(1) of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1927 caps damages at the diminution in the value of the reversion, not simply the cost of the works.
Whether you are a landlord preparing a claim or a tenant facing one, independent quantum advice taken early can turn a contentious negotiation into a measured one.
