According to The Association of Independent Inventory Clerks (AIIC); ‘landlords have unrealistic expectations of wear and tear’. They have found more and more landlords are attempting to include additional damage into check-outs without any photographic or written evidence to support it.
It’s thought when deposit disputes are independently adjudicated, the tenant wins in 90% of cases. According to depositclaim.com landlords win only 8% of deposit disputes.
So what is deemed as ‘wear and tear’ and what is deemed as ‘damage caused by the tenant’? As you can imagine it is a very subjective issue, but common sense must prevail.
Pat Barber, Chair of the AIIC comments, “There is a distinct difference between fair wear and tear and actual damage – for example carpet tread will flatten over time, where there has been foot traffic, but cigarette burns, stains or soiling will require a charge”.
Pat Barber goes on to say, “Normal wear and tear is a fact of life with rental properties, just as it would be at home. The best way to landlords and agents can ensure that the property’s condition is fully recorded, is by having a comprehensive inventory in place at the start of any new tenancy, and that a thorough check-in and check-out report is completed.”
Rental Housing Online has compiled a useful list to help landlords distinguish between ‘wear and tear’ and ‘tenant damage’:
|
Wear & Tear |
Damages |
|
Worn out keys |
Lost keys |
|
Loose or stubborn door lock |
Broken or missing locks |
|
Loose hinges or handles on doors |
Damage to a door from forced entry |
|
Worn and dirty carpeting |
Torn, stained or burned carpeting |
|
Scuffed up wood floors |
Badly scratched or gouged wood floors |
|
Lino worn thin |
Lino with tears or holes |
|
Worn countertop |
Burns and cuts in countertop |
|
Stain on ceiling from rain or bad plumbing |
Stain on ceiling from overflowed bath |
|
Plaster cracks from settling |
Holes in walls from kids or carelessness |
|
Faded, chipped or cracked paint |
Unapproved (bad) tenant paint job |
|
Loose wallpaper |
Ripped or marked-up wallpaper |
|
Faded curtains and drapes |
Torn or missing curtains and drapes |
|
Heat blistered blinds |
Blinds with bent slats |
|
Dirty window |
Broken window |
|
Loose or inoperable tap handle |
Broken or missing tap handle |
|
Toilet runs or wobbles |
Broken toilet seat or tank top |
|
Urine odour around toilet |
Urine or pet odour throughout unit |
|
Sliding door off track |
Damaged or missing sliding door |
