Understanding Tenant Damage vs. Normal Wear & Tear: A Property Owner’s Guide

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If you own a rental property, you know it can sometimes be challenging to distinguish between regular wear and damage by the tenant. That’s why Advanced Solutions Property Management in Salt Lake City has been helping property owners with strategies to protect their investment.

We put this guide together based on our combined 65 years of experience managing properties around the Salt Lake valley.

Understanding Tenant Damage vs. Normal Wear & Tear: A Property Owner's Guide

What is considered wear and tear?

According to the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), there are a few examples of normal wear and tear:

  • Faded, cracked or peeling paint
  • Torn wallpaper
  • Small nail holes in wall
  • Faded or worn carpet
  • Loose grout or tiles
  • Worn or scratched enamel in bathtub, sink or toilet
  • Rusty shower rod
  • Dirty or faded window coverings

We know that these issues are just part of renting out your property. If you work with us to manage your rental, we’ll address these issues immediately during tenant turnover, and make sure your property stays in good condition.

What is considered tenant damage in Salt Lake City?

Tenant damage in a rental property typically goes beyond normal wear and tear, and is often the result of accidental damage, neglect, or even intentional damage.

Here are examples of tenant damage:

  • Holes in the walls
  • Drawings, wallpaper or crayon/marker on the walls
  • Chipped wood floors
  • Broken door hinges
  • Broken windows
  • Broken or missing light fixtures
  • Holes in the ceiling from removed fixtures
  • Damage to carpet
  • Missing or cracked tile

At Advanced Solutions, we have detailed and thorough move-in inspections processes designed to identify pre-existing conditions, which makes it easy to identify any tenant caused damage at the conclusion of the lease.

Security Deposits

A security deposit is a safeguard against potential damages for property owners. We manage these and ensure compliance with Utah laws to protect your interests, and provide an itemized list of any possible deductions to avoid disputes and maintain a positive relationship with tenants.

Preventive Steps

We believe that a thorough screening process for potential tenants helps to identify those renters who are more likely to respect your property. We also conduct regular inspections and have a maintenance team who can address any issues before they become bigger problems.

How does ASPM handle tenant damage?

Even the best preventive measures won’t help you avoid future tenant damage. If this occurs, we have a well defined protocol that includes assessing the damage, communicating with tenants about their responsibility, and coordinating the repairs. We also have a client dashboard that provides real-time info and updates, to keep you informed about the condition of your rental property.

What is the financial impact of tenant damage?

When you own rental properties, it’s no surprise that damage can impact your return on investment. We have a data-driven approach to mitigating this financial impact– in fact one of our clients has seen an increase in Net Operating Income (NOI) of 13% in less than a year.

Legal considerations

The difference between tenant damage and wear and tear can sometimes be difficult to determine, and Utah has specific laws that impact these issues. At ASPM we have a team of Certified Commercial Advisors to make sure all of our practices are compliant with local regulations.

We’re proud of our ability to efficiently manage properties in Salt Lake City, minimize tenant damages, and maximize the ROI for our clients, and our proven track record speaks for itself! Just ask our client Russ, who says, “”ASPM has done a great job of managing my 30 Unit Apartment complex. I would recommend them to anyone.”

Have more questions about how Advanced Solutions can manage your property? Check out our Property Owner FAQ here.

Don’t stress about property management. Our team is here to take care of the details so you can focus on being a property owner, not a landlord. Reach out to see how we can help you exceed your real estate investment goals!