TENANCY LAW: When you rent a property you are expected to leave it in the...

[Red Cat]

...condition you first found it? ...including fixtures and fittings.

Does this apply even if a contract was never signed?

[stardustlost87]

If you didn't have a contract then it would be hard for the landlord to reasonably charge you for damages/cleaning, but then again if you don't have the a contract the landlord can charge you whatever he likes and say it was agreed as a verbal contract at the start of the letting period! But as a general rule, yes you are expected to leave the property in the condition you found it