Normal Wear and Tear

Landlords expect rental units to sustain a certain amount of wear and tear over the course of a lease. But there’s a fine line between what is considered wear and tear, and what can be considered damages.

Everyone will cause some minor damage to a property. Things like worn carpet, scuff marks on walls, loose door hinges as a result of the normal opening and closing of a door, etc. This kind of damage is considered to be normal wear and tear.

Damages are more significant and may include torn or severely stained carpet, pet stains, cracked counter tops, holes in the walls, etc. These are the items you would likely be charged for, and some portion of your security deposit may be used for the repairs and not returned to you. Leaving behind excessive amounts of furniture, trash, etc, may also fall into the damage category and the cost of removal and cleaning be charged against your security deposit.

It’s important to do a detailed inspection of the property with your agent prior to accepting it for occupancy. Annotating the condition of the premises and the personal property and appliances in the property, taking pictures, and making notes is the best protection against unreasonable charges to your security deposit on move out day. Ideally, the owner or their agent should also accompany you during the inspection. Make sure that the owner or property manager sign the inspection form and keep a copy in a safe place along with any photos / video taken during the inspection.