What Exactly Is “Normal” Wear and Tear?
Normal wear and tear is damage that naturally occurs in an investment property due to aging. It typically results from a tenant living in the property and is considered normal depreciation.
Wear and Tear is NOT caused by neglect or abuse of the property. But “normal” depreciation to a tenant might not be so normal to a landlord. There are slobs and neat freaks in this world - and everything in between - and almost ALL of them think the way they live is “normal.” Knowing this, it is no wonder why there is often tension between landlords and tenants!
Our explanation to a renter about how “normal wear and tear” is different than tenant caused damage is this:
- Normal wear and tear occurs naturally over time; from the sun bleaching curtains, to tracks in the most used areas of the carpet, or caulking peeling around the bathroom tub.
What we consider damage caused by tenants isn’t a result of aging but is a result of negligence, carelessness, or abuse. Examples include a broken fence post from playing tackle football in the yard, or scratched molding around the window from the dog, or a grape juice stain in the middle of the carpet.
Normal wear and tear is required to be paid for by the landlord while damage caused by a tenant is not.
An easy rule of thumb is to leave a place you rent in the same or better condition than when you moved in. This almost guarantees your deposit and makes for a painless move-out process.
To help control normal wear and tear, you can do things like lay carpets in high traffic areas, keep the blinds pulled up if you know the cat looks out between them, or put coasters on surfaces. These are all actions you take to mitigate normal wear and tear that occurs in a house BEFORE it turns into damage from abuse or neglect.
As with many landlord-tenant matters, clear communication can minimize misunderstandings and conflict.
At Duerksen and Associates, we provide our tenants with a list of examples of “normal wear and tear” and “damage,” along with a cleaning checklist, at both move-in and move-out.
When you move into a home, we also give all our tenants a sheet to fill out, giving them the opportunity to note specific damage or wear and tear they want us to be aware of.
As a resident, we encourage our tenants to report any needed repairs via our Tenant Portal , and we respond promptly to such requests. To learn more about Normal Wear & Tear vs. Tenant Damage click here .
