Normal Wear and Tear on Your Rental Property
It can be stressful and difficult for all parties to inspect your property and determine the cost of repairs and replacements after a tenant has moved out. While a move-in checklist can help minimize disputes by documenting the condition of the unit before the tenant moves in, ultimately it's up to you as the landlord to decide what's normal wear and tear and what the renter needs to pay for.
These guidelines will help determine if damages to your rental property result from everyday use.
Stain Carpets
Even though carpeting is a light-colored material, it has a short life expectancy. The following are normal wear and tear in a rental property:
Shoe markings in main walkways and halls
Over a period of time, light stains are normal
Many landlords include a clause in their lease that states that carpets will not be cleaned by a professional after tenants move out. This can help to eliminate any potential problems with minor dirt or stains.
If tenants leave the carpets heavily damaged, you may need to deduct repairs or replacement costs from their security deposit. Heavy damage might include:
Urine from pets
Paint stains
Staining on a new carpet after a 1-year lease
Walls That Have Been Rubbed
You can easily touch up minor marks on walls, but any damage to the wall beyond what is normal wear and tear could be considered damage for a rental property.
Large nail holes
Gouges
Scrapes
It may be possible to stipulate in your lease agreement that tenants cannot put screws or nails into your walls. Some jurisdictions also require landlords to paint interior walls within a certain time period (at their expense), regardless of their condition.
Broken Hardware And Cracked Tiles
These items may be damaged, and this can lead to a judgment call. Consider whether they were new or old at the time of moving in.
Bathroom tiles that show signs of wear and age may have cracked before your tenant moved in. It would not be fair to charge tenants for damage caused by age. Your tenant will be responsible for any damage to tiles that have cracked within a year or were installed new before you move in. The same applies to appliances, drawer pulls, and doorknobs.
Pets Can Cause Damage
When renting to tenants with pets, most landlords include a pet agreement in the lease and require a higher security deposit or a separate non-refundable fee to cover any damages to offset potential.
Some states have laws that prohibit pets from being refunded. Before signing a lease agreement, be sure to verify these regulations.
These are not considered normal wear and tear on a rental property.
Pet stains
Dug-up yards
You can scratch or chew on any surface, even exterior surfaces.
This type of damage can be deducted from your security deposit.
Dirt, Dust, And Grime
It is reasonable to ask tenants to clean their units before they move out. It is a good idea to inform tenants about what they are expected to do so that they have enough time to clean up and make repairs before the inspection.
If the house is not left clean, you can charge a cleaning fee, such as:
Bathrooms that are dirty and odorless
Grimy countertops
Refrigerated food that has been used up
Bottom line: Before a tenant moves into a unit, make sure you know its condition. Before you give the keys to your tenant, take photos or videos of the property. Use the same checklist when they move out to determine what repairs you should make.
