Wear and Tear
The phrase, "normal wear and tear," can be a heart-rendering one. A tenant will normally find it in the very small print of the standard lease in relation to the security deposit. In general, the security will be returned at the end of the lease period less payment of damages - normal wear and tear being excepted. According to definition, normal wear and tear is that physical deterioration which occurs with the normal use of property, without negligence carelessness, accident or abuse. The tenant is not responsible for normal wear and tear.
An important element in determining wear and tear is the length of the tenant's residency. If an apartment has been inhabited by the same renter for three years, it may be reasonable to expect that the walls need to be painted and the carpeting needs to be cleaned. A missing refrigerator door or a gaping hole in the wall from an ax-throwing contest would clearly be construed as damages.
