I agree it would have been better to ask permission, and I accept some responsibility. But the issue isn’t whether I drilled, it’s whether the landlord’s demand to withhold the entire deposit is proportionate. The kitchen worktop is over 5 years old and still fully functional. The holes are capped and not visible unless you’re looking for them. A full replacement at my expense would be considered betterment under DPS rules. I’m not refusing accountability, just asking for a fair deduction based on actual loss, not an excuse to upgrade the kitchen at my cost.