{"id":218,"date":"2025-04-24T11:29:49","date_gmt":"2025-04-24T11:29:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/rtb.ie\/ga\/?page_id=218"},"modified":"2025-07-04T13:55:58","modified_gmt":"2025-07-04T13:55:58","slug":"wear-and-tear","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/rtb.ie\/ga\/renting\/rights-responsibilities\/wear-and-tear\/","title":{"rendered":"Caitheamh agus cuimilt"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div class=\"translation-notice no-print\">\n        <div class=\"inner container\">\n            <p><strong>Cuirfear aistri\u00fach\u00e1n ar f\u00e1il go luath<\/strong><\/p>\n            <p>\u00c1r leithsc\u00e9al as an m\u00edchaoithi\u00falacht. Cuirfear aistri\u00fach\u00e1n Gaeilge ar an leathanach seo ar f\u00e1il go luath. Go raibh maith agat as do chuid foighneachta agus muid ag obair ar leagan uasd\u00e1taithe.<\/p>\n        <\/div>\n    <\/div><section id=\"block-block_b52cad0f4cdfe350333431735f19d3bb\" class=\"header-block rtb-block colour-teal margin-top-none margin-bottom-default\">\n    <div class=\"container\">\n        <nav class=\"breadcrumbs\" aria-label=\"breadcrumb\">\n    <span property=\"itemListElement\" typeof=\"ListItem\"><a property=\"item\" typeof=\"WebPage\" title=\"Go to Bord um Tion\u00f3ntachta\u00ed C\u00f3naithe.\" href=\"https:\/\/rtb.ie\/ga\" class=\"home\" aria-current=\"page\"><span property=\"name\"><i class=\"rtb-home-icon\"><\/i><\/span><\/a><meta property=\"position\" content=\"1\"><\/span><i class=\"rtb-chevron\"><\/i><\/nav>\n        \n        <div class=\"wrapper\">\n            <div class=\"content\">\n                            \n                <h1 class=\"heading-xl\">Caitheamh agus cuimilt<\/h1>\n                <p>Wear and tear is the gradual deterioration of things in the rented property over time.<\/p>                            <\/div>\n            <!-- Temporary image: Remove after migrating illustrations to the illustration_selection field -->\n            \n                                    <div class=\"illustration fade-up\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n                                                    <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/rtb.ie\/ga\/wp-content\/themes\/rtb\/assets\/images\/illustrations\/header-block\/header-illustration-teal-a.svg\" alt=\"\" \/>\n                                            <\/div>\n                                    <\/div>\n\n    <\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n<section id=\"block-block_80bfd79eb15c9717b38f61c097b264ff\" class=\"navigation-block container rtb-block margin-top-default margin-bottom-none\">\n    <div class=\"content\">\n        <header>\n                            <h2 class=\"heading-s\">On this page<\/h2>                        <i class=\"rtb-arrow down\"><\/i>\n        <\/header>\n                    <nav class=\"navigation\">            \n                                    <ul>\n                                                                                    <li><a class=\"text-link\" href=\"#what\" target=\"\">What is wear and tear?<\/a><\/li>\n                                                                                                                <li><a class=\"text-link\" href=\"#normal\" target=\"\">Deciding what is normal wear and tear<\/a><\/li>\n                                                                                                                <li><a class=\"text-link\" href=\"#beyond\" target=\"\">Deciding what is beyond normal wear and tear<\/a><\/li>\n                                                                                                                <li><a class=\"text-link\" href=\"#pets\" target=\"\">Pets in rental properties<\/a><\/li>\n                                                                        <\/ul>\n                                    <ul>\n                                                                                    <li><a class=\"text-link\" href=\"#withholding\" target=\"\">Withholding deposits for wear and tear<\/a><\/li>\n                                                                                                                <li><a class=\"text-link\" href=\"#avoid\" target=\"\">How to avoid disputes over wear and tear<\/a><\/li>\n                                                                        <\/ul>\n                            <\/nav>\n            <\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n<section id=\"what\" class=\"header-paragraph-block rtb-block  margin-top-s margin-bottom-xs\">\n\t<div class=\"container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"content\">\n\t\t\t<article class=\"cms-content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2>What is wear and tear?<\/h2>\n<p>Tenants are responsible for leaving the property in good condition but are not responsible for normal wear and tear to the property.<\/p>\n<p>It is tricky to identify what is normal wear and tear and what is excess wear and tear.<\/p>\n<p>Use the guidelines below to help.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/article>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<aside class=\"related-content\" data-js=\"related-content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"\">Related content<\/h2>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<ul>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li><a class=\"text-link\" href=\"https:\/\/rtb.ie\/ga\/renting\/ending-a-tenancy\/\" target=\"\">Ending a tenancy<\/a><\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li><a class=\"text-link\" href=\"https:\/\/rtb.ie\/ga\/renting\/rights-responsibilities\/minimum-standards-for-rental-properties\/\" target=\"\">Minimum standards for rental properties<\/a><\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li><a class=\"text-link\" href=\"https:\/\/rtb.ie\/ga\/renting\/ending-a-tenancy\/notice-of-termination-guide\/\" target=\"\">Notice of Termination guide<\/a><\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/ul>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/aside>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n<section id=\"normal\" class=\"header-paragraph-block rtb-block  margin-top-xs margin-bottom-xs\">\n\t<div class=\"container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"content\">\n\t\t\t<article class=\"cms-content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2>Deciding what is normal wear and tear<\/h2>\n<p>The level of acceptable wear and tear depends on the length of the tenancy and the number of occupants. For example, a property occupied for ten years to a group of occupants will naturally show more wear and tear than one rented for a few months to a single occupant.<\/p>\n<h3>Examples of normal wear and tear<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>Flooring getting worn<\/li>\n<li>Taps and washers wearing out or leaking<\/li>\n<li>Cooker element wears out from normal cooking<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/article>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<aside class=\"sidebar-note\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"\">Important note<\/h3>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"cms-content\"><p>This page provides a simplified, easy-to-understand summary about wear and tear written in plain language.<\/p>\n<p>It is not a substitute for the full and definitive information, which can be found in the\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/revisedacts.lawreform.ie\/eli\/2004\/act\/27\/front\/revised\/en\/html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-saferedirecturl=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/url?q=http:\/\/revisedacts.lawreform.ie\/eli\/2004\/act\/27\/front\/revised\/en\/html&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1747818016511000&amp;usg=AOvVaw01O8umz-uZOD8mDvXM8BsR\">Residential Tenancies Act 2004, (as amended)<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/aside>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n<section id=\"beyond\" class=\"header-paragraph-block rtb-block  margin-top-xs margin-bottom-xs\">\n\t<div class=\"container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"content\">\n\t\t\t<article class=\"cms-content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2>Deciding what is beyond normal wear and tear<\/h2>\n<p>While landlords can expect some deterioration in the property, tenants are responsible for damage to the property that is beyond normal wear and tear.<\/p>\n<h3>Examples of excess wear and tear<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>Burn marks<\/li>\n<li>Excessive stains on the carpet<\/li>\n<li>Drawing on wallpaper<\/li>\n<li>Holes in walls and doors<\/li>\n<li>Missing fixtures<\/li>\n<li>Broken glass<\/li>\n<li>Smoke damage (if smoking was banned)<\/li>\n<li>Torn curtains<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/article>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n<section id=\"pets\" class=\"header-paragraph-block rtb-block  margin-top-xs margin-bottom-xs\">\n\t<div class=\"container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"content\">\n\t\t\t<article class=\"cms-content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2>Pets in rental properties<\/h2>\n<p>Before the tenancy begins, you should agree with your landlord whether you are allowed to have a pet in the property. Any terms around pets should be included in the rental agreement.<\/p>\n<p>If your pet causes damage beyond normal wear and tear, you must repair the damage or compensate the landlord for the damage.<\/p>\n<p>Disputes about pets should be discussed first. If unresolved, they can be referred to our dispute resolution service.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/article>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n<section id=\"withholding\" class=\"header-paragraph-block rtb-block  margin-top-xs margin-bottom-xs\">\n\t<div class=\"container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"content\">\n\t\t\t<article class=\"cms-content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2>Withholding deposits for wear and tear<\/h2>\n<p>Your landlord can deduct repair costs from your deposit if damage beyond normal wear and tear has occurred. However, your landlord must give you evidence to justify the deduction.<\/p>\n<h3>Evidence to support claims<\/h3>\n<p>If a dispute arises, we recommend that your landlord provides the following evidence:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Photographic evidence of the damage (preferably before and after tenancy).<\/li>\n<li>Invoices or receipts showing the original age and condition of items.<\/li>\n<li>Quotes or invoices for repairs.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Your landlord cannot charge you for full replacement costs if an item was already significantly worn. For example, if a nine-year-old sofa is damaged, the landlord cannot claim the cost of a brand new sofa.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/article>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n<section id=\"avoid\" class=\"header-paragraph-block rtb-block  margin-top-xs margin-bottom-default\">\n\t<div class=\"container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"content\">\n\t\t\t<article class=\"cms-content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2>How to avoid disputes over wear and tear<\/h2>\n<p>If you are a landlord, take the following steps to prevent disputes over wear and tear:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Take photos (preferably date stamped) and complete an inventory list at the start of the tenancy.<\/li>\n<li>Make sure both you and the tenants sign and date the inventory and attach it to the lease agreement.<\/li>\n<li>Conduct regular property inspections (recommended every 3 months).<\/li>\n<li>Arrange a pre-move-out inspection 3 to 4 weeks before the tenancy ends.<\/li>\n<li>Document any damage and give the tenant a chance to fix it before withholding any deposit.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>If you are a tenant, take the following steps to prevent disputes over wear and tear:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Tell your landlord as soon as you know something needs to be repaired or maintained.<\/li>\n<li>Allow your landlord the access they need to carry out repairs.<\/li>\n<li>Allow a reasonable amount of time for repairs or maintenance work to be completed.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/article>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/section>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":10,"featured_media":0,"parent":172,"menu_order":4,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"inline_featured_image":false,"_relevanssi_hide_post":"","_relevanssi_hide_content":"","_relevanssi_pin_for_all":"","_relevanssi_pin_keywords":"","_relevanssi_unpin_keywords":"","_relevanssi_related_keywords":"","_relevanssi_related_include_ids":"","_relevanssi_related_exclude_ids":"","_relevanssi_related_no_append":"","_relevanssi_related_not_related":"","_relevanssi_related_posts":"","_relevanssi_noindex_reason":"","_trash_the_other_posts":false,"editor_notices":[],"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-218","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"publishpress_future_action":{"enabled":false,"date":"2026-04-27 18:01:08","action":"change-status","newStatus":"draft","terms":[],"taxonomy":"","extraData":[]},"publishpress_future_workflow_manual_trigger":{"enabledWorkflows":[]},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/rtb.ie\/ga\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/218","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/rtb.ie\/ga\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/rtb.ie\/ga\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rtb.ie\/ga\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/10"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rtb.ie\/ga\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=218"}],"version-history":[{"count":18,"href":"https:\/\/rtb.ie\/ga\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/218\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":51537,"href":"https:\/\/rtb.ie\/ga\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/218\/revisions\/51537"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rtb.ie\/ga\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/172"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/rtb.ie\/ga\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=218"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}