Renter Tools / What Can You Be Charged For
You should know before you move out what costs can be deducted from your security deposit. Landlords can charge you for damages and or necessary repairs to get the dwelling back to its original condition at the beginning of your tenancy. However, you should note that a landlord may not charge for “ordinary wear and tear” Below is just a sample list to give you an idea of the difference between ordinary wear and tear and damage.
| Ordinary Wear and Tear: Landlord's Responsibility |
Damage or Excessive Filth: Tenant's Responsibility |
| Curtains faded by the sun | Cigarette burns in curtains or carpets |
| Water-stained linoleum by shower | Broken tiles in bathroom |
| Minor marks on or nicks in wall | Large marks on or holes in wall |
| Dents in the wall where a door handle bumped it | Door off its hinges, holes or the hardware broken off |
| Moderate dirt or spotting on carpet | Rips in carpet or urine stains from pets. Strong pet odor or heavy stains. |
| A few small tack or nail holes in wall | Lots of picture holes or gouges in walls that require patching as well as repainting |
| A rug worn thin by normal use | Stains in rug caused by a leaking fish tank or rust marks from furniture |
| Worn gaskets on refrigerator doors | Broken refrigerator shelf or missing parts |
| Faded paint on bedroom wall | Water damage on wall from hanging plants |
| Dark patches of ingrained soil on hardwood floors that have lost their finish and have been worn down to bare wood | Water stains on wood floors and windowsills caused by windows being left open during rainstorms |
| Warped cabinet doors that won't close | Sticky cabinets and interiors |
| Stains on old porcelain fixtures that have lost their protective coating | Grime-coated bathtub and toilet |
| Moderately dirty mini-blinds | Missing or broken mini-blinds |
| Bathroom mirror beginning to "de-silver" | Mirrors caked with lipstick and makeup (black spots) |
| Clothes dryer that delivers cold air because the thermostat has given out | Dryer that won't turn at all because it's been over-loaded |
| Toilet flushes inadequately because mineral deposits have clogged the jets | Toilet won't flush properly because it's stopped up with a diaper |
