Explaining "normal wear and tear" can be tricky—most definitions are somewhat ambiguous.
Typical examples include the following
Unavoidable deterioration in the dwelling and its fixtures resulting from normal use
The lessening in value of an asset due to ordinary and normal use
The inevitable physical decline of the condition of a property from time and usage
The natural deterioration of the rental that occurs during normal conditions
Three of the four definitions listed above contain the word “normal”—and we all know that “normal” can be subjective. Defining "damage" can be equally subjective as well as shown in the following examples:
The loss or harm to property caused by excessive abuse or misuse
Misuse or neglect that results in reduces value, usefulness, etc.
The landlord's goal, however, is to make sure the rental property is maintained in good condition. After inspection, if it appears the tenant has abused the condition of the rental property in any way, we will make deductions from the tenant's security deposit in order to fix this damage. We encourage our tenants to report any needed repairs and respond promptly to their requests. Finally, provide tenants at move-in and move-out with a list of examples of "normal wear and tear" and "damage" along with a cleaning checklist.
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