What Is Reasonable Wear And Tear On Carpet

Reasonable wear and tear refers to damage caused by everyday use of a rental home.

What is reasonable wear and tear on carpet.

Typically landlords may use a tenant s security deposit for any cleaning or repairs necessary to restore the rental unit to its condition at the beginning of the tenancy landlords may not however use the deposit to cover the costs of ordinary wear and tear. What does high traffic carpet wear and tear look like. Carpets wear because the particulate soils that we track on to it every day are abrasive to the carpet fiber. Normal wear and tear refers to gradual damage that you would expect to see in a property over time.

For a better understanding of the difference between the two and when you can deduct the tenant s deposit let s take a look at the two most common examples which are normal wear and tear vs damaged carpet and normal wear and tear vs damaged paint. If you like to steam clean the carpet between tenants then you can t charge the prior tenant since you normally clean the carpet anyway. Carpeting has a limited lifetime especially if it s a light color. A landlord checklist can help you figure out what s normal wear and tear vs damage by forcing you to document all of the above.

Wear and tear what is fair. Light stains which are expected over a period of a few years. For example a carpet worn thin due to normal traffic is ordinary wear and tear while a cigarette burn in the carpet is preventable negligence. The better quality your evidence the higher your chance of success if a dispute is brought against you.

Conclusion wear and tear is a topic that is open to interpretation and is decided on a case by case basis based on the facts. What amounts to reasonable wear and tear must be judged bearing in mind the purposes. High traffic areas see more feet coming and going and are going to be dirtier more stained and become worn faster. It s not your job to fix issues related to reasonable wear and tear.

Reasonable wear and tear is generally defined as unavoidable deterioration in the dwelling and its fixtures resulting from normal use. For example carpet wear due to normal traffic is wear and tear while a cigarette burn is avoidable and constitutes damages. The important thing to know is this. But if the tenant stained the carpet so badly that normal carpet cleaning doesn t work you can probably charge to replace the carpet or at least the cost to replace the remaining life.

Shoe markings in the halls and main walkways. And the longer a tenant has lived in a place the more wear and tear can be expected. For example worn carpets faded curtains and minor scuffs and scrapes on the walls are all things that are extremely difficult if not impossible to avoid over a period of months and years. Additionally a tenant may be charged for cleaning where the tenant has caused filth beyond ordinary use.

Highlighted within a reasonable time. It s the sort of thing that happens when a place has been lived in for a while.