What is normal wear and tear on a house that is rented?

[Rocker]

I feel that this house is not in the same quality as when I first rented it. Before it was lived in by some retired people. Now I come in with my pets and kids and the walls are scratched up in many spots, and the rugs are dirty. I keep it clean and I clean under the beds, and fridges and stoves. I am a single mom and so I get a little busy, but I do handi-man stuff when things break. Today I just fixed the tap (that indicator of hot and cold fell off and so I fixed it). I keep things up unless they are big things (like shingles, or my daughter's closet stands low and won't close). But mostly I keep things up... but the rugs are dirty, the walls are scratched in places. The baby gate has ripped that wall up because I used a cheap baby gate (but the landlord isn't coming to summer so I am going to train my son about stairs and plaster up the spots nice and smooth).

How much is normal wear and tear? Cause we live hard in our houses. Even my van. We use it hard. But we do take care.


it is clean and I keep on top of things that need to be fixed, but when we move out the house will need to be painted inside to make it look newer and it just feels so lived in compared to when I first came here

[Landlord]

Keep the baby gate, it is easier to fix a wall then a kid.

You will have to pay to clean the carpet, replace it or re-dye it if stained.   The wall scratches need to be repaired, they are not "normal".

Most landlords will not care about this stuff too much and will allow you to repaint yourself when you leave.

[chatsplas]

Well be sure you read your lease carefully.
Regular vacuuming of rugs and annual steam cleaning (more often as indicated) keeps them from wearing out too quickly.  Carpet Stains and tears and spots are not normal wear and tear, nor would be the baby gate holes, etc.  Scratches in floors or walls are not normal wear and tear, although a scuff mark or two might be (depends).  Normal wear and tear on walls could be painted over and not be visible.  LLs normally paint walls after 2-5 years of occupancy.