Normal Wear and Tear vs. Property Damage: What’s the Difference?

One cannot expect their house to look the same when they first rented it out. Once the tenant moves out, you will have a ton of renovations, and that’s normal.

It’s almost usual for landlords to make minor repairs or hire a cleaning service after a tenant’s lease expires to keep a unit in good condition. However, it can sometimes be really difficult to distinguish between normal wear and tear and property damage when inspecting a unit between tenants.

Read on to know the difference between normal wear and tear and property damage to avoid landlord and tenant disputes.

Wear and Tear

Normal wear and tear is the gradual deterioration of a property due to everyday use. When living in a space, gradual wearing out of furniture and equipment is inevitable. Therefore, no tenant can be held responsible for an old faucet that stopped functioning or the living room carpet not looking its best anymore.

Examples

• Worn or faded carpets
• Scuff marks on linoleum floors, hardwood or curtains
• Faded curtains and blinds due to the sun
• Warped windows and door frames
• Dirty or loose cement around floor tiles
• Scuffs on walls due to chairs, sofas, or door handles

Property Damage

Broken doors, windows, curtain rails, countertops, more are some examples of property damage. If the damage done is too severe, landlords are allowed to cut the cost to fix it from the security deposit. Worst-case scenarios may result in a notice for eviction issued to the tenants or potential eviction itself.

Examples

• Ripped or missing curtains and blinds
• Broken curtain rails
• Holes in the furniture, door, or walls
• Unapproved paint or wallpaper
• Missing screens and broken windows
• Broken sinks, toilets, or tubs

Detailed Inventory

It’s the right of every tenant while all landlords are responsible for providing a detailed inventory on what is considered normal wear and tear compared to property damage to avoid landlord and tenant disputes. As this topic is rather subjective, landlords are advised not to have unrealistic expectations.

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