Charging Tenants for Damage

Ever wonder what you should charge for in your rentals? What size nails did your tenant use? Are they even mentioned in your lease?? Make sure you go through your lease at your initial lease signing. You might have to have your tenant sign and initial the rules and regulations if you think you might have a problems in the future.
Take a look at this table from Nolo Press. It clears up the grey areas and puts it into focus.






































































Ordinary Wear and Tear:
Landlord's Responsibility
Damage or Excessive Filth:
Tenents Responsibility
Curtains faded by the sun Cigarette burns in curtains or carpets
Water-stained linoleum by shower Broken tiles in bathroom
Minor marks on or nicks in wall Large marks on or holes in wall
Dents in the wall where a door handle bumped it Door off its hinges
Moderate dirt or spotting on carpet Rips in carpet or urine stains from pets
A few small tack or nail holes in wall Lots of picture holes or gouges in walls that require patching
as well as repainting
A rug worn thin by normal use Stains in rug caused by your leaking fish tank
Worn gaskets on refrigerator doors Broken refrigerator shelf
Faded paint on bedroom wall Water damage on wall from hanging plants
Dark patches of ingrained soil on hardwood floors that have lost
their finish and have been worn down to bare wood
Water stains on wood floors and windowsills caused by windows
being left open during rainstorms
Warped cabinet doors that won't close Sticky cabinets and interiors
Stains on old porcelain fixtures that have lost their protective
coating
Grime-coated bathtub and toilet
Moderately dirty mini-blinds Missing mini-blinds
Bathroom mirror beginning to "de-silver" Mirrors caked with lipstick and makeup (black spots)
Clothes dryer that delivers cold air because the thermostat has
given out
Dryer that won't turn at all because it's been over-loaded
Toilet flushes inadequately because mineral deposits have
clogged the jets
Toilet won't flush properly because it's stopped up with a
diaper

Comments(5)

  • JackS24th February, 2002

    This is great. I have been needing a guide. Don't forget to include mentioning the rules and regs in the lease

    • IndependentEW9th December, 2003 Reply

      I can't view this guide. That HUGE advertisement square is in my way. What a HOT mess.

      • joel9th December, 2003 Reply

        Click on the Printer Friendly Page.

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