What Constitutes to Wear and Tear in a Rental Property

Wear and tear is considered the normal state of a property after being occupied for a certain period of time. It is the reason landlords ask for security deposit, which in this case is used to make repairs when a tenant gives notice for moving out. However, being able to differentiate what is considered normal wear and tear and what is considered damages to a property can be a challenge to the landlord or property management in charge. It is important to know the grounds for which your security deposit should be used.

The situations may be different in determining whether a damage or wear and tear has occurred, and it may occur where judgement has to be made on whether the item falls in between the two scenarios. If a court system is needed for a review, a clear presentation would be required on the status of the property before occupation and its status after occupation.

Below are some of the most common comparisons of damages and wear and tear in a rental property:

• A worn out paint is an automatic wear and tear compared with a patched up or touch up paint. The latter may qualify as damages because it changes the condition of the house from its original form. Broken, lost, or unreturned keys to a rental property constitute to damages compared with worn out keys that have been handed over to a landlord, which in this case are wear and tear.

• Large holes drilled into walls from screws are damages to a rental property. Wear and tear in this case is simple nail holes allowed even in lease contracts. Loose wallpaper is normal wear and tear while torn or removed wallpaper is damage to the rental property. Windows, hinges and hooks, detectors, and floors all have a gauge to determine whether they are damaged or simply wear and tear cases.

• When moving into a rental property, it's important to make sure all damages have been taken care of and that you're starting on a clean slate. Even minor repairs need to be done so that your security deposit will only cater for the damages that will occur while you’ve lived there. In addition, having an idea of what constitutes as damages or wear and tear will help you know when the landlord or property management in charge is trying to squeeze out your security deposit for a “no refund” approach.