When the lease ends, property condition and move- out inspection report may create many questions or even disputes between Landlords and Tenants. While every state is different, Mila Realty Property Managers put together some factors to consider when one manages a security deposit to avoid potential mistakes.
What is Normal Wear and Tear?
- Walls: The scuffs in the paint would be considered normal wear and tear. Faded paint or slightly torn, faded wallpaper. A few small nail holes, chips, smudges, dents, scrapes, or cracks in the walls
- Flooring: Carpets: Flat, worn or discolored carpet. Vinyl flooring worn thin. Scuffed wood floors from regular use
- Rust in an oven
- Grease in a stove hood
- Interior doors not properly closing. Doors sticking from humidity
- Bathrooms: Toilets leaking. Loose grouting and bathroom tiles. Rusty shower rod, drain and tub. Worn or scratched enamel in bathtubs, sinks, or toilets
- Worn countertop
- Loose hinges or door handles.
- Dirty or faded lamp or window shaded
- Warped cabinet doors
- Mold due to lack of proper ventilation
- Any worn appliances due to use over time
What is Life Expectancy?
As a landlord, you can’t charge a tenant the full replacement cost of the item unless it was brand new at the time it was damaged. For instance, if a tenant’s pet damaged five-year-old carpet beyond repair, and its life expectancy is an average of 10 years, then the landlord can only charge the tenant half of the cost to replace the carpet. Also, HUD has a list (https://www.hud.gov/sites/documents/HSG-06-01GHBGUID.PDF 5D) of various items and their life expectancy:
- Hot Water Heaters: 10 years
- Plush Carpeting: 5 years
- Air Conditioning Units: 10 years
- Ranges: 20 years
- Refrigerators: 10 years
- Interior Painting – Enamel: 5 years
- Interior Painting – Flat: 3 years
- Tiles or Linoleum: 5 years
- Window Shades, Screens, and Blinds: 3 years
Examples of Property Damage
- Gaping holes in the wall or dozens of nail holes
- Unapproved paint colors, wallpaper, or unprofessional paint jobs
- Holes, stains, or burns in carpet
- Chipped or gouged wood floors
- Water stains on wood floors or windowsills
- Broken doors or windows due to abuse
- Mold, mildew, and grime left behind in bathroom or kitchen
- Missing or cracked bathroom tiles
- Damaged or cracked mirrors
- Any damaged appliances due to abuse or neglect
