As a Landlord you will have no doubt have heard the phrase ‘wear and tear’ at some point when it comes to property condition, but what does it mean and how do we determine what damage falls within this definition?
Everything in a house has a lifespan, and this normal deterioration is a Landlord’s responsibility to maintain and renew when needed. Over time carpets will become worn, paintwork will become scuffed and appliances will become more unreliable. This is the same for any house, whether rented or owned, and is something that all Landlords should expect to see happen with their properties as they’re tenanted.
When we carry out condition checks wear and tear is one of our biggest considerations so we can establish responsibility for issues. Some of the things factor in when doing this is the age of an item, the quality of the item and where it is situated. For example, if we find a carpet is worn, but it was fitted eight years before, was not an expensive carpet at the time and is located in a heavy-traffic area (such as a stairway) it would be difficult to deem a Tenant as responsible for the condition.
