What does “reasonable wear and tear” mean for payment of repairs from the security deposit?
Reasonable wear and tear refers to deterioration of the premises caused by the normal and reasonable use of the property. Just because something is broken that does not mean that the tenant is responsible for the repair because items can break with normal use. The following are examples that illustrate the difference: • Damage to rugs or curtains from age or sun is reasonable wear and tear. Cigarette burns or large stains are not. • Minor nicks or holes in the walls are reasonable and incidental to normal use. Large holes are not.
