Fair wear and tear vs plain dirty – what's the difference?
It’s just as hard to define “fair wear and tear” as it is “reasonably clean and tidy”.
Remember, tenants don’t need to pay for any fair wear and tear. That’s the landlord’s responsibility and was paid for as part of the rent.
So there is a grey area between what’s the tenant’s responsibility to clean and what is just part and parcel of living in a home.
Here’s a basic breakdown of where the line is usually drawn:
- Fair wear and tear: This is the natural deterioration that happens to a property over time through ordinary, everyday use. If it’s fair wear and tear, the landlord pays.This is something like the carpet flattening over time because it has been walked on.
- Dirty: Food stains on the carpet that haven't been cleaned properly.
Remember, it’s not about what the landlord or tenants thinks is fair – it’s what the Tenancy Tribunal decides.
Is fly poo fair wear and tear?
If you walk into a house, you might notice fly spots on the ceilings. This typically happens in open-plan living areas.
But what are these fly spots? It’s fly poo. And this is a common bone of contention between tenants and property managers.
Tenants often say: “It wasn’t me – I’m not the fly.” That’s just part of living in the house.
But fly poo is dirt, not wear and tear. And “reasonably clean and tidy” means removing dirt. That includes the ceiling.
If the mess happened during your tenancy, the new tenants shouldn’t inherit it.
If you need to clean these fly spots, don’t worry, you don’t have to hire a ladder. A standard mop will often reach the ceiling.
