Rental Property Wear and Tear Versus Damage (2024)

Real Property Management’s informative series on rental home management answers many of your questions about being a landlord and this very important topic,Wear And Tear, What Is Normal?

Security deposit funds belong to the tenant, and the landlord must return this money when the tenant leaves the property in acceptable condition, minus normal wear and tear, as required and defined by state law.

Wear And Tear

Normal wear and tear is the physical deterioration that occurs with normal use. Wear and tear generally excludes occupants’ or their guests’ negligence, carelessness, an accident with, or abuse of the premises, fixtures, or chattel property. Normal wear and tear is deterioration or depreciation in value by ordinary and reasonable use.

Other signs of everyday wear and tear are worn electrical switches, frayed pull strings on blinds, lightly scuffed hardwood floors, loose caulking, peeling wallpaper, faded curtains, and dirty window screens. Time and regular daily use can cause any of these items to become worn, which does not constitute damage.

Damages

When a tenant causes damage beyond normal use, a landlord has cause to charge the tenant for the damages. This may include damages inflicted by the tenants, their guests, or pets.

• Matted carpet or furniture impressions are wear and tear; burned or stained carpeting is damage.
• A few small nail holes are wear and tear; large holes in the walls constitute damage.
• Fading or yellowing of paint is wear and tear; large stains on the walls and ripped wallpaper is damage.

One way to mitigate permanent and expensive damage is to stay on top of regular maintenance issues as they arise, rather than allowing them to go unaddressed. For instance,

• If you have a leaky window that allows rain to blow in, have it repaired before it damages the woodwork around the window or the flooring.
• If you have a dripping kitchen pipe, have it repaired before it causes the wood under the sink to rot.
• If the wall behind a door is missing a doorstop, expect that the doorknob may punch a hole into the wall.

Expectations and Documentation

Proper maintenance and clear tenant expectations can help prevent wear and tear from turning into damage. Walkthrough the property with your tenants prior to move in and make note of any existing issues.

Perform another walkthrough with your tenants prior to move out, and critically examine the home, and document any changes. Compare the differences in your notes from the move-in inspection with those from the move-out inspection.

You want to be able to prove that any changes to the home are due to wear and tear, or that the tenants have damaged the property and you can legally (based on local and state law) deduct repairs from the security deposit. You may allow the tenants the opportunity to repair any problems before you deduct the costs from the security deposit.

If you withhold money from the security deposit for damages, you must be able to prove the conditions before and after occupancy. It is imperative to follow state law to ensure you comply with required notices and deposit the tenants’ refund as required.

Documentation is critical because improperly recording damage or failing to provide the necessary information as required by law may place you in a costly liability situation. You may have to cover the costs involved in making the property habitable and possibly absolve the tenants of responsibility for damages or unauthorized improvements.

Reasonableness of Wear and Tear

State law often defines the reasonableness of wear and tear, which often depends on the tenants’ length of residency. For instance, if the tenants lived in the property for three years, it may be reasonable to expect to paint the walls and clean the carpets. If the tenants lived in the property for six years, it may be reasonable to expect to replace the carpeting. The property owner typically bears the costs for normal wear and tear maintenance.

Many courts will allow you to prorate the useful life of a damaged item. If the court believes that the useful life of carpeting in a rental dwelling is five years, then the cost of replacing the carpeting would have to be prorated over a five-year period. You cannot charge the former tenant the full replacement amount if items are past or well into their life expectancy.

Keep in mind that the security depositbelongs to the tenants, and you act as an escrow agent to hold and care for the tenants’ deposit. However, the funds may revert to you at the end of the tenancy if you make a successful claim against the deposit (in compliance with local and state laws) or the tenants have otherwise forfeited the deposit through a violation.

You must specify security deposit deductions to pay for damages or cleaning in a letter to the tenants, which also includes a list of deductions and an explanation for each specific item. Some states require copies of itemized receipts for materials or professional services, including your own labor at a reasonable hourly rate.

Real Property Management is the nation’s leading property management business. We know both sides of the security deposit dispute, and we know the processes for settling tenant claims lawfully and professionally, taking out the guesswork for you.

What can a Raleigh property manager do for you?