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Most security deposit disputes come down to one question: is this ordinary wear and tear the rent already paid for, or damage beyond normal use? The line is not a formula, but it is consistent enough to itemize deductions that hold up rather than get disputed line by line.
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Normal wear and tear is the ordinary decline any surface shows from everyday use over the length of a tenancy: faded paint, a worn path in carpet, small nail holes from hung pictures, a loose door hinge, minor scuffs on a wall. It happens no matter how careful the tenant is, and it is generally treated as a cost of doing business -- something the rent, not the deposit, already covers.
Damage is harm beyond that ordinary use: a hole punched in drywall, a burn or deep stain that ordinary cleaning will not remove, a broken fixture or appliance, a cracked window, or pet damage beyond what a professional cleaning would fix. The practical test most landlord-tenant frameworks apply is whether the condition resulted from ordinary, expected use of the unit as intended, or from negligence, abuse, an accident, or simple neglect.
| Condition | Usually wear and tear | Usually damage |
|---|---|---|
| Carpet | Worn traffic paths, flattened pile | Burns, unremovable stains, pet-chewed corners |
| Walls | Small nail holes, minor scuffs, faded paint | Large holes, unrepaired crayon or marker, water damage from neglect |
| Fixtures | Loose hinges, worn faucet finish | Broken fixtures, missing parts |
| Windows | Hard-water spotting | Cracked or broken glass, missing screens |
| Cleanliness | Light dust, faint cooking odor | Trash left behind, heavy grime, infestation from neglect |
These are common patterns, not a legal standard. Any of them can come out differently depending on your lease's own terms and your jurisdiction's rules.
Yes, tenancy length matters, in how a reasonable deduction is judged even where the law does not spell out an exact formula. A five-year tenant's worn carpet is expected wear; the same wear after a five-month lease looks a lot more like damage. Some frameworks explicitly prorate deductions for flooring, paint, or appliances against an expected useful life for exactly this reason -- charging full replacement cost for a ten-year-old carpet nearing the end of its life is a common way a deduction gets successfully disputed. Check whether your jurisdiction or lease requires this kind of proration before charging a full replacement price.
Normal wear and tear is the ordinary decline every surface shows from everyday use over the length of a tenancy -- faded paint, worn carpet paths, small nail holes, loose door hinges. Damage is harm beyond that ordinary use -- a hole punched in drywall, a burn or stain that ordinary cleaning will not lift, a broken fixture, pet damage beyond a stain a carpet cleaner removes. The practical test most frameworks use is whether the condition resulted from ordinary, expected use of the unit as intended, or from negligence, abuse, or an accident.
Generally no -- normal wear and tear is treated as a cost of doing business that the rent already covers, not something a deposit is meant to cover. Actual damage beyond normal use is generally deductible. The exact legal definition, any deposit-return deadline, and whether itemization must be in writing all vary by jurisdiction and by the lease itself, so check local law and the lease before finalizing a number.
Yes, in how a reasonable deduction is judged even where the law does not spell out a formula. A five-year tenant's worn carpet is expected; the same wear after five months looks more like damage. Some frameworks explicitly prorate flooring, paint, or appliance deductions against an expected useful life for this reason -- check whether yours does before charging full replacement cost.
Dated photos or video from both move-in and move-out, a signed move-in condition checklist, and the actual repair invoice or a specific, itemized repair estimate -- not a round number with no backup. A deduction line that names the item, the actual or estimated cost, and points to a photo is far harder to dispute than one that just states a total.
No. This page explains the general distinction landlord-tenant frameworks draw and how to document a deduction so it holds up; it does not state your jurisdiction's specific rules, deadlines, or dollar limits. Check your local law and lease, or a qualified professional, before finalizing what you deduct.