It's very simple in Singapore too, arguably simpler. You go to the Small Claims Tribunal (you can get a date within days, anecdotally), the Registrar decides the claim in a few minutes, and it costs you a total of 5 quid to file the claim. The whole thing takes a couple of weeks at most [edit: or a day - see 1].

I think something similar exists in Switzerland, but the (German) landlady correctly guessed that as a non-German-speaking foreigner, I would not take the time and expense to attempt it. Imagine attempting to contest the necessity of "dusting the sides of books on bookshelves" to an arbitrator in a foreign language...

[1] "For a tourist claim, the Tribunals may fix both the consultation/mediation and the hearing within 24 hours of filing of the claim." - https://www.statecourts.gov.sg/SmallClaims/Pages/GeneralInfo...

It's even simpler in Ontario: security/cleaning deposits are not allowed.

My guess is they would be factored into the rent price.