Ripped or torn carpeting, gaping holes in the walls, doors hanging off the hinges — when a tenant moves out, some damage goes above and beyond the usual. But as most landlords know, these things are rarely straightforward.
What do you do about scuff marks on the hardwood flooring? Or nail holes from hanging pictures? What about dirty appliances? Can you charge a tenant to bring the property back into the same condition it was in before they moved in?
Of course, tenants want their security deposit back in full, but as a landlord, you must retain the deposit to apply toward any damage that the tenant is responsible for. When it comes to assessing what issues were caused by normal use and which problems are more excessive, it can get complicated. READ MORE