When it comes to renting out a property, one of the biggest concerns landlords have is the condition of the property. That’s understandable really, it’s probably the most expensive asset you own, and you want to make sure it’s taken care of and retains its value. But when you have people living in a property, especially if they are there for a long time, then there will be a certain amount of damage they do – even if they’re very careful every minute of every day. It’s called wear and tear damage, and we warn our landlords to expect this from the outset.
The tricky thing is deciding what counts as wear and tear, and what strays into the realms of damage that you need to repair (and use some of the tenants deposit to do it). And we thought the best way we can illustrate this is to show you what would be considered fair wear and tear in a rental property, and what would be considered damage.
Normal Wear and Tear
All of us cause little bits of damage to our homes every day. It’s usually small things, not really noticeable until you move everything out and suddenly there’s nothing to distract from it. Scuffs on paintwork, worn patches on carpets, or the odd scrape and dent here and there. This is something you should take into account when renting out a property, since you can’t charge a tenant for repairs to fair wear and tear. This includes:
Carpet: The average useful lifespan of carpet is around 5 years, and it is one of the things that shows the most wear quickly. Normal wear and tear on a carpet would be a gently worn carpet showing some worn patches, maybe some faded patches from sunlight, but no holes or stains.
Hardwood Floors: Hardwood flooring lasts around 25 years, and it’s pretty resilient to everyday wear. You might notice the floor showing some faded patches due to sunlight exposure, which is absolutely normal.
Tile Floors: Again, tiles last around 25 years, and are pretty rugged when it comes to wear. It would be very normal to see some dirt and discolouration of the grout or even the surrounding tiles.
Windows: Windows should last you a good 20 years, and in reality they shouldn’t come into contact with many causes for wear and tear. But lightly scratched glass, worn or loose hardware or dirty seals are all very normal.
Countertops: Depending on the material your countertops are made of the rate of wear might be slightly different. But countertops are designed to be hardwearing, and should last well over 20 years if taken care of correctly. However, it’s very normal to see scratches or light watermarks on countertops after use.
Walls: The walls of your home should last a lifetime – you should never need to replace them. But that doesn’t mean they will stay pristine either. Walls will often naturally develop cracks from settling, and these should not be considered damage.
Paint: Again, if it’s taken care of properly paint should last around 4 years before it needs touching up or redoing altogether. In that time it’s perfectly normal to see fading of colour, especially in spots where the sunlight hits directly, along with minor scuffs or scratches from daily use.
Damage
It’s also possible that your tenants might cause more substantial damage to the property while they live there. If this is the case, it’s your job as a landlord to put it right, but you can take the costs for repair out of the deposit they paid. Damages would include things like:
Carpet: Staining, rips and tears, or pet damage.
Hardwood Floors: Deep scratches, dents, or pieces of the hardwood missing altogether.
Tile Floors: Broken or chipped tiles, or tiles missing from the pattern. (It’s important to note that some tile, like Travertine, is prone to chipping, so if you use this in your property, you need to take this into account as wear and tear).
Windows: Broken glass, ripped screen, or broken window hardware.
Countertops: Chips, deep scratches, burnt areas, or multiple stains.
Walls: Holes in the walls, significant damage from hanging pictures (beyond a pinhole).
Paint: Paint that has been scribbled or drawn on by tenants, or unauthorised colours.
In order to be able to actually know whether something is wear and tear or damage, you need to have thoroughly documented the condition of your property before the tenants moved in. This way you have a comparison point, and you will be able to identify what signs of wear were present before your tenants move in. So while it might take time to do a complete inventory of your property – it’s worth it!
At Northwood we understand how difficult it can be to manage this whole process, which is why we offer a comprehensive service to all our landlords that includes inventorying and inspecting properties for damage. We will provide you with a detailed report on the condition of your property when a tenant moves out, including fair wear and tear and highlighting any damages that need your attention. If you would like to know more, please just get in touch with us today.
