Normal Wear and Tear

During the hopefully pleasant and profitable period of renting your home or investment property, one needs to bear in mind the term “Normal Wear and Tear”. Any home, whether occupied by the owner or tenant (regardless of how meticulous they are in maintaining the property) cannot escape normal wear and tear.

Based upon the perspective of most working professionals in the property management industry, here is a list of examples of what is considered normal wear and tear:

1. Minor scuff marks on walls, trim, woodwork, flooring and doors

2. Minor scratches and dings on appliances

3. Minor stains and visible wear and tear on carpeting in traffic areas

4. Picture hangers

5. Deterioration/staining of caulking

6. Loose fixtures & loose door knobs/locks

One of the goals of Utopia Management is to protect and preserve your rental property in a condition that represents how you left it, taking into account normal wear and tear.

We complete detailed inspection reports before your new tenant moves in, and again after each tenant vacates. We use these reports as the basis to determine damages. An example of normal wear and tear would be window screen fraying from age. However, a large red stain on the living room carpet that was not present prior to the tenant’s occupancy would be considered damage.

Please remember, normal wear and tear should not be deducted from the tenant’s deposit.Carpet, flooring, paint (interior and exterior) appliances, and roofs all age and require periodic maintenance and replacement.