By Kailey Walters

If you’re moving out of your apartment, it’s important to know what normal wear and tear in the apartment looks like so that you know what you should or should not be held responsible for. Generally, “wear and tear” refers to the expected deterioration that happens over time. Since this definition can be kind of vague, there are a few resources you can consult to figure out what normal wear and tear really looks like in your apartment. For one thing, your lease agreement likely has some terms about what that means. You might also be able to check your state laws to gain a clearer definition. Ultimately, though, your state and your lease agreement might have different definitions of normal wear and tear, which is why we’ve provided a few helpful examples below.

via Pexels

Your floors

Floors are naturally bound to get worn down a little over time since you’re constantly walking back and forth on them, moving furniture, etc. To that end, if you happen to get scuff marks on your wood floor or your carpet is wearing a little thin, that is considered normal wear and tear, which you won’t be held responsible for. However, if there is extensive damage to your floors -- such as holes, burns, or stains on the carpet or gouges in the wood floor -- that is considered actual damage and might cost you when it’s time to move out. Also, if you have a pet and it leaves stains on the carpet, that’s considered damage -- so if you don’t want to be held responsible for that, make sure you clean up after your pet in the apartment.

Your walls

Fading, peeling, or cracked paint on your walls is most likely considered normal wear and tear. The same goes for if you have a wallpaper that is fading or tearing a little. However, your walls could be considered damaged if, for example, you’ve ripped off a large part of the wallpaper, you painted your walls a different color without the landlord’s permission, and/or you did an unprofessional paint job. Also, if you have any writing on the walls (markers, crayon, pen, etc.), that would be considered damage and not normal wear and tear.

Your bathroom

Figuring out what constitutes normal wear and tear in your bathroom can sometimes be a bit tricky, but there are ways to distinguish it from genuine damage. Normal wear and tear could constitute, for example, a rusty shower rod, faded tiles, loose grouting in between tiles, worn enamel in the bathtub, or a door that sticks. However, if mold develops in your bathroom, you could potentially be held responsible if the mold was preventable, such as if you never opened the bathroom window or turned on the vent. Similarly, if a tile comes loose on its own, that would be considered normal wear and tear, but if you crack it by accident, that might be considered damage.

Your windows and fixtures

Some things that would be considered normal wear and tear include a dirty and faded window or a cracked windowpane due to the building’s faulty foundation. Any structural repairs would most likely be the landlord’s responsibility, which means it shouldn’t impact your security deposit. However, things such as broken windows, broken doors, missing fixtures, missing or bent shower rods, and torn or missing lamp and window shades would count as damage. Further, if you happened to previously remove any of the original fixtures, window coverings, or lampshades, you need to put them back.

Other factors

If you’re still not quite sure what might be considered normal wear and tear in your apartment, there are a few key factors you should keep in mind.

One is the extent of the damage. The severity of the damage is a good indicator of whether or not it surpasses normal wear and tear. For example, a few light scratches on a wood floor might be okay, but a huge gouge in the wood would definitely be considered real damage.

Another factor is how long you have resided in that apartment. If you’ve been there for five years, it’s reasonable to expect that the carpet would become old and worn during that time. However, if the carpet is showing stains and holes after only a few months, that would most likely be your fault instead of wear and tear that is due to time.

Knowing what constitutes normal wear and tear in your apartment is important. Before you move out, take a careful look around to make sure you know what you could be held responsible for.