Can Painting Be Deducted From a Rent Deposit?

Normal Wear and Tear

Whether you are renting a house or an apartment, you are typically allowed what is called “normal wear and tear.” This means that it is expected that when you leave the home that it will show a little wear and tear from you living there. This generally includes things such as a few small nail holes in the wall or some wear on the carpet. Usually, you are not charged for normal wear-and-tear expenses. What is considered “normal” varies by rental agreement.

When you sign your rental lease, it should specifically list the things that you can and cannot be charged for when you move out. The rental agreement also generally describes what is and is not considered normal wear and tear. While you will not see a breakdown of charges that can be deducted on the lease, you usually can see those on the form you receive before your move-out. Typically, the landlord will provide you a list of things that should be cleaned before you leave the apartment along with a price sheet on what you will be charged if those things have to be cleaned by the landlord once you leave. If painting is something that is considered normal wear and tear, you will see it listed.

Rental agreements usually note that your apartment or house rental must be in the same condition when you move out as when you moved in. If the move-out condition is worse than when you moved in, you can usually expect to see some cleaning expenses deducted from your rent deposit. For example, if the walls were white when you moved in, but you painted them blue, the you must repaint the walls back to white to avoid being charged.

When you move out of your rental home, your landlord will walk through the unit to assess any damages. If the move-out condition is not clean enough, you can be assessed fees. The fees are generally taken out of the deposit. While specific laws vary by state, the landlord is generally required to provide you with a detailed statement for all of the things deducted from the deposit. And the remaining deposit amount is generally paid to you within 30 days of your move-out.