Repairs and Maintanance

Cleaning and Repairs Costs Might Be Deducted

Landlords are permitted to deduct from security deposits for damage or excessive filth, but not for ordinary wear and tear.

Typically, landlords may charge tenants for any cleaning or repairs necessary to restore the rental unit to its condition at the beginning of the tenancy. Landlords may not, however, use the tenant's security deposit to cover the costs of ordinary wear and tear.

Here are examples of wear and tear versus damage or excessive filth:

Ordinary Wear and Tear: Landlord's Responsibility

Curtains faded by the sun

Minor marks on or nicks in wall

Dents in the wall where a door handle bumped it

Moderate dirt or spotting on carpet

A few small tack or nail holes in wall

Faded paint on bedroom wall

Toilet flushes not working

Damage or Excessive Filth: Tenant's Responsibility

Cigarette burns in curtains or carpets

Broken tiles in bathroom

Large marks on or holes in wall

Door off its hinges

Lots of picture holes or gouges in walls that require patching as well as repainting

Water damage on wall from hanging plants

Sticky cabinets and interiors