Fair wear and tear vs damage: what’s the difference?

This is general information to help you record a property accurately. It isn’t legal advice, and the rules on deposits differ between countries and tenancies. For a dispute, speak to a qualified professional.

Everything in a home wears with normal use. In many places a tenant isn’t expected to return a property in the condition it started in, only in the condition you’d expect after normal use for that length of time. A good inventory makes the difference between wear and damage easy to see.

Usually wear

• Carpet slightly flattened along the main walkways.
• Light scuffs on walls behind doors and furniture.
• Faded curtains or paint where the sun falls.
• Loose door handles or tired hinges after years of use.
• Minor scratches on well-used worktops.

Usually damage

• Burns, large stains or tears in carpets.
• Holes in walls, or unapproved redecoration.
• Broken furniture, glass or appliances.
• Damage from leaks or neglect that wasn’t reported.
• Missing items listed at the check-in.

What decides it

• The starting condition: without a check-in record, it’s hard to show anything changed.
• How long the tenancy was, and how many people lived there.
• The age and quality of the item at the start.

How an inventory helps

Record every item’s condition at the check-in, with photos that carry the date and time. At the check-out, compare each item with its check-in record. DIY Inventory does this side by side, so normal wear and real damage are easy to tell apart.

Updated 22 October 2026