Landlords and tenants alike often become confused about what qualifies as normal wear & tear versus actual damage when it comes to tenant turnover.

Renters are typically responsible for damage that is out of the ordinary, which can be deducted from a security deposit. Renters are not held accountable for the normal wear and tear on the property – that becomes the owner’s expense.

The cost an owner incurs for the basic cleaning and repairing of such items necessary to make a unit ready for occupancy by the next tenant are part of the costs of doing business.

Tenant damages usually require more extensive repair or cleaning, at a greater cost than “normal wear and tear”. Tenant damage is often the result of a tenant’s abuse or negligence that is above and beyond normal wear and tear.

Here are a few guidelines for determining whether damages to your property are the result of everyday use.

Normal Wear & Tear

  • Faded paint
  • Minor holes in the wall from thumbtacks or nails from hanging posters
  • Small dent in the wall from the doorknob
  • Dusty blinds
  • Faded curtains
  • Carpet worn by normal use
  • Moderate dirt on the carpet
  • Minor scratches in the wood floor
  • Wood floors requiring a new varnish job
  • Doors that won’t close due to swelling from humidity
  • Warped cabinet doors that won’t close
  • Battery replacement for Smoke Detector/Carbon Monoxide Alarm
  • Slow-draining shower from pipe buildup

Tenant Caused Damage

  • Unauthorized paint job that requires re-painting
  • Major holes in the wall or excessive amount of small holes from tacks/nails
  • Drawings, crayon markings, or wallpaper that was not approved
  • Stained, broken, or missing window blinds
  • Stained, ripped, or burn marks on the curtains
  • Stained, ripped, or burned carpets
  • Chipped or gouged wood floor
  • Water stains on wood flooring from a window left open during a storm
  • Door ripped off its hinges
  • Broken cabinet doors
  • Missing or damaged smoke detector or Carbon Monoxide alarm

Want to share this information with your renters? Download a PDF Tenant Guide to Normal Wear & Tear Here.

A few other things to consider when evaluating normal wear and tear on your rental property.

Hardware

When considering doorknobs, drawer pulls, and appliances, if the items were worn before move-in, it’s unfair to charge tenants for wear or breakage that was inevitable due to age.

Carpet Cleaning

Many landlords include a provision in the lease stating that carpets will be professionally cleaned after move-out at the tenant’s expense, with the cost automatically deducted from the deposit, which can eliminate quibbling over minor dirt and stains.

Just make sure to check with your local and state laws about including this clause in your lease, for example, the state of Wisconsin does not allow landlords to charge for carpet cleanings as a routine part of tenant turnover.

Cleaning Fees

It’s reasonable to request that tenants return the unit to you in a clean condition. Make sure you give them prior notification of what’s expected before a move-out so they have time to clean and make any necessary repairs before the walk-through inspection. If the home is left in a dirty condition, it’s reasonable for you to charge a cleaning fee.

How to get your full security deposit refunded?

A rental property owner wants to refund the entire security deposit to their vacating tenants. This means the property was returned in pristine condition and no funds are needed to restore the unit to pre-lease condition.

The best way to ensure that the renter gets a full refund, and the landlord is happy with the property condition is to conduct a pre-move-out inspection. If a renter is thinking about moving out, he can request that the landlord walk through the rental unit and make a list of all the things that would be deducted from the security deposit upon move-out.

This gives the tenant a chance to clean and repair the property himself, saving the landlord from hiring a professional and deducting the cost from the tenant’s security deposit.

Both renters and landlords are advised to take pictures during the walk-through inspection. Taking photos or videos can help clarify the condition of the property in case there is any dispute. For a landlord, documenting the state of the property will be useful should there be any difficulty in seizing a security deposit. For the tenant, it protects against being unfairly charged for normal wear and tear or pre-existing damages.

Take Care of the Property Throughout the Lease, Not Just at the End

Most tenants aren’t going to intentionally trash your property. Preventing wear and tear is one of the most important parts of protecting your bottom line. By helping your tenants report wear and tear, taking care of it before it becomes a bigger problem, and being easy to do business with, you can protect your investment and be a good landlord.

Want to share this information with your renters? Download a PDF Tenant Guide to Normal Wear & Tear Here.