What are Normal Tenant Responsibilities and
Repairs a Renter Needs to Fix Before Moving Out?
Maintaining a comfortable home should be high on everyone’s list of priorities. For a tenant renting someone’s home, though, the demands of home maintenance and cleaning routines take on a different meaning. Tenants are responsible for taking care of their living space, just like anyone else. They encounter an extra burden when they are preparing to move out. A homeowner can pick and choose upgrade projects and repairs that they may want to do. A tenant, on the other hand, can be forced to return a property to its original state at the end of their lease.
There are certain costs that landlords cannot impose on a tenant. Those include a fresh coat of paint on the walls. The exception to this is if the tenants were given permission to personalize the home by painting the walls. This is also the case if there is damage to the walls that require repairs. The tenants may be required to return the home to its original paint colors and pay for the repairs. Paint on the walls becomes dull over time. This is considered normal wear and tear and is not something that a landlord can charge against a tenant. If tenants make unauthorized changes to the home, they may be required to repair or restore before they move out.
Tenants should not make permanent alterations to the walls or any other part of the home without getting the owner’s written approval in advance. One of the biggest potential tenant responsibilities that could impact their security deposit are excessively damaged walls, floors, windows, and other fixtures. The standard deductions that tenants will see come off their deposit are for fixes to walls, windows, floors, and other parts of the home that go beyond normal wear and tear.
Damage and breakages occur due to typical use on a regular basis. For example, after years of service, the clothes dryer might break down. This is unavoidable and generally falls to the landlord to replace or repair. On the other hand, if a problem with the clothes dryer or any other appliance is the result of something a tenant does, the tenant will be paying for the cost of the repair. The contractors that we use in Our Homeowner Concierge Repair Service program can usually determine the cause for issues. Obvious damage caused by a tenant, either intentional or accidental, is the responsibility of that tenant. It may be a good idea to quote a few prices before you plan to move out so that you have a ballpark understanding of the cost. Flooring and carpets that are burnt or excessively scratched, chipped countertops, and stained furniture are all damages that a tenant will typically be required to resolve.
Property Damage Caused by Pets
Replacing furniture, flooring, or other features in the home that dogs or cats have ruined is also a necessity. Pets may chew on banisters, scratch doors, or relieve themselves on the couch or carpet. These damages always the responsibility of the renter. If you have pets, taking steps to prevent them from damaging the home is crucial. Using a couch cover, putting up barriers to parts of the home, or taking training seriously can help reduce your out-of-pocket expenses upon any decision to move.
Damage from Tenant Installations in the Property
The other categories of repair that a tenant is required to resolve is returning any alterations to their original conditions. Some people may love art and want to introduce their own mural on the bedroom wall. This is a substantial change to the property and will need to be painted over. Similarly, adding shelves screwed into the walls will require the holes to be repaired.
A renter can handle these repairs themselves or leave the work to their landlord. The repairs will be paid for out of their security deposit. However, it is possible that any repairs a tenant makes on their own may require an improvement by a professional. This means that the tenants may spend time fixing the problem only to be forced to pay for another fix down the road. Caution is the best option in these situations.
The security deposit is designed to protect the financial health of both a tenant and landlord. Tenants pay this money to the landlord or property manager. It is held in an escrow account and is held as a buffer for both individuals if repairs are required. The security deposit gives landlords easy access to funds to make necessary repairs, and it prevents tenants from having to pay out of pocket.
In addition to the security deposit, tenants should keep records and notify the landlord or property manager of any defects or damages in the home. No property is ever perfect, so there will certainly be some issues to note. Documenting them might be a painstaking process, but taking the time at the start makes the move out much smoother.
As part of our job as property managers, we document the condition of the home before tenants move in so we know exactly how the home looked. We will also provide the tenants with a Move-Out Check List that explains their responsibilities for returning the property.