When a tenant moves out of your property, there’s a good chance that they won’t leave it the way they found it. If there’s obvious damage, like holes in the walls, you’ll be able to deduct the cost of the repairs from their security deposit. However, landlords cannot retain any portion of the security deposit to cover repairs or maintenance for normal wear and tear or depreciation of the property.
Normal wear and tear can be difficult to define; in general, it refers to the inevitable decline of a property’s overall condition due to time and usage. All rental properties will experience some deterioration over time, even with the most diligent tenants. It’s normal and to be expected.
Normal wear and tear should never be deducted from the security deposit, but the property should be refurbished before the next tenant moves in. To cover these costs, make sure you’re planning ahead by budgeting for any minor repairs, maintenance, or cleaning that might be needed for each of your properties.
Unlike normal wear and tear, tenant damage is caused by neglect, abuse, misuse, or accidents. Intentional alterations made without your approval would also fall under tenant damage, as would any damage caused by a tenant’s guests.
Webinar Objectives
It can be stressful to enter your property and see new damage that wasn’t there when your tenant moved in. Hopefully, you now have a better idea of how to distinguish between normal wear and tear and tenant damage. If you’re still having difficulty deciding how to classify a broken or worn item on your property, remember to ask yourself whether it was something that could have happened due to continuous use over time, or whether it was caused by neglect, abuse, or misuse. Remember that accidents happen, too—tenant damage often isn’t intentional
Webinar Highlights
- What’s Considered Tenant Damage?
- Normal Wear and Tear: Flooring
- Normal Wear and Tear: Paint & Walls
- Normal Wear and Tear: Appliances
- Normal Wear and Tear: Plumbing & Fixtures
- Handling the Security Deposit
- Discussing Property Damage with Your Tenant
- Steps to Take Before, During, and After Tenancy
- What Happens if There’s a Security Deposit Dispute?
- Taking Steps to Protect Your Property
Who Should Attend
- Property Managers
- Property owners
- Builders
- Developers
- Realtors
- Housing Authorities
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