All terms
Normal Wear and Tear
What does it mean?
Normal wear and tear is the natural deterioration that occurs in a home through daily use. It includes scuffing on floors, faded wallpaper, worn door handles, and minor marks on walls. The landlord cannot charge tenants for normal wear.
The boundary between normal wear and damage is often disputed at move-out. As a rule of thumb: if the damage occurred through normal use, it's wear. If it required negligence or intentional action, it's damage.
Key Points
- Natural deterioration through daily use
- Landlord cannot charge for normal wear and tear
- Examples: floor scuffing, faded wallpaper, worn handles
- Boundary with damage assessed at move-out inspection
- Disputes decided by the Rent Tribunal
Practical Tip
Document the apartment's condition at move-in with photos. At move-out: challenge if the landlord charges for normal wear. The Rent Tribunal decides disputes free of charge.
Based on content from Bofrid's Knowledge Bank