Deposit issue

I was recently living as a tenant in a flat for 5 years which got sold to a new landlord. I decided to move out since the new landlord wanted to renovate the apartment and live there. By renovation he was going to break down walls and redo the entire flat. So I asked him that since he will be breaking walls does he want us to repaint the flat before leaving. He said, that it wont be necessary. Now he has returned my deposit after deduction $xxK claiming that it is the cost for not painting the flat. Legally he is right , since it is in the contract, however the amount he deducted is too much. I told him that I am ready to paint the house in 'rentable' condition and return to him as per the contract and then he wouldn't have to deduct anything from the deposit.

The issue is that he has already started breaking walls in the house, and I think he is trying to get some cost of his renovation from us.

Any strategies or anything I can do ?

Lawyer, I think, if it is worth it.

Wow... I didn't know the landlord could write into the contract that the tenant must repaint the walls. That's mean! As a landlady, I usually pay for that myself.

Slammy, all standard contracts say that once you end your lease, you should leave the house as you received it, painting the walls is a standard practice.

Slammy, all standard contracts say that once you end your lease, you should leave the house as you received it, painting the walls is a standard practice.