What’s actually considered normal wear and tear?

Tygart Media · Security Deposit Guides · Deductions

The test courts use

Think of it this way: would this have happened to any careful tenant over the same amount of time? If yes, it’s wear and tear. Paint fades. Carpet flattens where feet walk. Caulk yellows. Sun bleaches curtains. That’s not misuse — that’s a home being lived in, and the landlord’s business model already prices it in (it’s why rent exists).

Damage is the opposite: things that wouldn’t have happened without carelessness, accidents, or abuse — holes, burns, pet urine, broken fixtures, unauthorized paint jobs, doors ripped off hinges.

Common examples, side by side

Time in the unit changes the line

Carpet has a useful life. Paint has a useful life. A landlord who charges you full carpet replacement after you lived there four years is charging you for carpet that was already near the end of its life — many judges prorate the charge, or throw it out entirely. The longer the tenancy, the more the “damage” looks like aging. The carpet replacement fight, specifically →

How landlords blur the line

The classic move is labeling wear and tear as “excessive” or “beyond normal” without explaining why. Watch for itemized lists that say things like “paint — $800” with no photos of actual damage. A vague line item isn’t an accounting; challenge it in writing and ask for the specific damage each charge corresponds to, with photos. How to dispute the deductions →