Rental Property Damages:  How can a Landlord Determine charges?

One of the most important aspects of holding a tenant accountable for damage happens before the tenant even moves in. The move-in inspection records the state of the rental home when a tenant moves in and any issues that may already be present.

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You can utilize a rental property walk-through checklist to find any property damage brought on by a renter. This form should be filled out at the beginning of a tenancy so that you and your renter have a record of the property's state.

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Considerations For Determining Damage

Knowing how much to charge for property damage is a crucial next step. In any case, you should look into each repair to determine how much it will cost. Here are some things you can consider. 

• Age of the item: Was the damaged item recently purchased or had it been a part of the home for a while?

• Original Cost: Understanding the initial cost of a product will give you a better idea of how long it might take to fix it.

• Repair or total replacement: Will the object only need a tiny portion of it fixed, or will the entire thing need to be replaced? Will you only be changing the vanity top, or will the entire unit require replacement?

• Time required for repair: Small-scale repairs could be simple, but larger chores might take a long time.

• Skills required: Can you repair it yourself or contact a professional, such as a certified electrician or plumber?

• Materials for repairs: Is it simple to locate the required materials? Or will you have to buy it elsewhere and incur additional shipping costs?

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Can a Landlord Recoup Costs for Usual Wear and Tear?

In most situations, a landlord cannot charge for wear and tear. In most cases, landlord-tenant rules forbid making tenants financially liable for wear and tear. However, the precise demarcation line can differ from one state to the next.

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Damage vs. Wear and Tear

Take a look at these examples of damages versus wear-and-tear.

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Wear-and-Tear

• Wood flooring scratches
• Unstable doorknob
• The cabinet door won't shut all the way
• Recaulking the shower is required.

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Damage

• Large crack and damaged tiles
• Large spots on the carpet
• Large drywall holes
• Broken cabinet glass door

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The Bottom Line:

Being a landlord will probably mean cleaning up renters' messes or fixing incidental damage to your units now and then. Still, if you're prepared to figure out how much to charge tenants for repairs or replacements, you should be able to solve the issue. 

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There are numerous things to consider; therefore, figuring out how much a landlord might expect in damages might be difficult. However, Marble's Move-in/Move-out Walkthrough checklist, Maintenance tracking tool, 24/7 support line, and other features help landlords stay organized and aware of any damages to their rental property.

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