24Jul2020
What Can Landlord Deduct From Your Security Deposit?
One of the biggest concerns of any tenant moving out of a rented property is to receive his/her security deposit or bond money which is submitted at the start of the tenancy. It is generally one month’s rent or more according to the agreement between the landlord and lessee.
Getting the entire bond back is the goal of tenants for which the property has to be returned in the same condition it in at the time of occupancy. Normal wear and tear are acceptable, but if the damage or the end of lease cleaning is inadequate, then the landlord can deduct money from the deposit to make up for the loss or pay for cleaning services.
Therefore, tenants should know for what things a landlord can deduct from their security deposit. Having this knowledge is crucial to plan for the move and manage the expenses of packing, hiring end of lease cleaning experts in Perth, travel, and other moving-related tasks.
Have a look below to know about the things for which deductions can be made and other useful information to get your bond back.
What is not included in Normal Wear & Tear?
It is necessary for tenants to understand the difference between damage and normal wear & tear to prevent deductions being made for the bond money. Here is a list of things for which you can have money deducted from your deposit.- Broken fixtures, lights, tiles, appliances, security systems, smoke detectors and other instalments
- Walls with excessive stains, holes, or damage
- Heavily soiled, torn, missing or burnt carpets, upholstery, and curtains
- Non-functioning toilets, appliances, fixtures, etc. due to negligence
- Clogged drains or plumbing issues caused by lack of maintenance and negligence
- Rectifying a paint job by the tenant
- Broken windows, doors, locks, and handles from misuse
- Shattered or cracked glasses or mirrors
- Missing items like blinds, home decor accessories, appliance parts, etc.
- Mould or mildew remediation
- Pest control
- Inadequate or additional cleaning of carpets, kitchen, bathroom, along with any other internal or external areas of the house
What is Considered Normal & Tear?
During a tenant’s stay in a rented property, it is expected that property will have natural wear and tear for which the landlord cannot hold the tenant accountable and make deductions from the security deposit.- Fading or chipping of paint due to exposure to sunlight and natural exposure
- Plumbing issues due to general use
- Gradual wear of door and windows from age, environmental factors, and moisture
- Indentations and traffic marks on carpets
- Wearing of appliances from general usage and not misuse or negligence
How to Get Your Bond Back?
Tenants who live in the rented properties responsibly keeping in mind what is required to maintain the property and perform the end of lease cleaning correctly, usually don’t have problems with getting their bond back. It helps to be aware and know what is expected from a lessee and what criteria to meet to secure your deposit entirely. If you are at the end of tenancy, here are some tips for getting your bond back.- Hire end of lease cleaning experts in Perth to get the bond cleaning done because they are experienced, have the right tools, and know what is expected from the cleaning jobs by the landlords. They have an approved cleaning checklist to follow and manage the purging within a few hours. What’s more, most reputed end of lease cleaning company in Perth offer bond back guarantee and have a period in which re-cleans can be managed.
- Read your lease agreement to know what things need to be repaired or cleaned for recovering the deposit. For example, if there is a clause for hiring professional end of lease cleaners in Perth for the bond clean, then you will have to book them to get the security deposit.
- Make sure the property is clear of pests, mould, and other infestations that happened due to negligence.
- Discuss with your landlord about the documentation needed for claiming the bond money and other formalities
