The Golden Rule of Useful Life Depreciation

Under uniform landlord-tenant law, a landlord can never put themselves in a better financial position than they were before the tenancy began. If a carpet has a 5-year expected useful life and was installed 4 years ago, only 20% of its residual value remains. If a tenant burns or severely stains the carpet, the landlord is legally entitled to charge only 20% of the replacement cost—never the full 100% price of a brand-new carpet.

What Constitutes "Normal Wear and Tear"?

• Ordinary Wear (Landlord's Responsibility): Minor scuff marks on baseboards, pinholes from hanging small picture frames, faded paint from natural sunlight, worn carpet fibers along high-traffic hallways, loose door handles.
• Actionable Damage (Tenant's Liability): Large holes knocked through drywall, broken windows, pet urine soaked through subflooring, unapproved alterations like repainting rooms in neon colors without permission, gouged hardwood planks.