The keys made a hollow clink as they dropped onto the kitchen counter, signaling the end of one chapter. The tenant cast a final glance around the empty flat: a scuffed hallway, a faint shadow on the wall where a mirror once hung, and a carpet flattened by the weight of a sofa. These were merely signs of life lived, nothing more.
Weeks later, her inbox buzzed with a new kind of sound: an angry email from the landlady, demanding hundreds of dollars for painting, “deep cleaning,” and returning the place to “perfect condition,” as though the last three years had never existed.
The dispute ended up in court, and the judge delivered something many renters quietly hope to hear.
When “Normal Wear and Tear” Becomes a Legal Battle
The courtroom setting was ordinary: strip lighting, pale walls, and the faint hum of an old air conditioner. On one side stood the landlady, with piles of folders and printed photos, determined to be compensated for every mark and scratch. On the other side, the tenant, holding a thin file, quietly confident she had not damaged the property.
The landlady demanded a full repaint, professional deep cleaning, and the replacement of worn carpet sections. She argued she was entitled to receive her flat back “as new.” The judge paused, flipped through the file, and then simplified the matter with a clear statement: a home that has been lived in will show signs of life.
Drawing the Line: Wear and Tear vs. Actual Damage
This case, which mirrored many rental disputes across Europe and beyond, drew a definitive line. Yes, tenants must return the property in good condition, but that doesn’t mean every wall must look freshly painted or every floor completely undisturbed.
The landlady showed photos of small nail holes, light scuffs near doorways, and slight discoloration where furniture had once stood. She considered these damages; the court saw them as signs of normal use. The ruling was clear: the tenant couldn’t be charged for painting or deep cleaning just to make the place look like new again. That cost is part of maintaining the property and should not be passed on to the departing tenant.
The “Normal Wear and Tear” Principle: Key to Rental Disputes
Judges often rely on the straightforward principle of distinguishing between normal wear and tear and actual damage. Normal wear happens when people live somewhere: light marks, worn carpet paths, faded paint, or loose door handles. In contrast, damage includes things like holes in doors, broken tiles, burns, stains, or smashed fixtures.
Once this distinction is clear, the reasoning follows: landlords can’t expect a home to look like no one ever lived in it. Repainting or deep cleaning to prepare for the next renter is a regular part of property upkeep. Charging tenants for these tasks without actual deterioration is more about profit than fairness.
How to Move Out Without Paying for Unnecessary Renovations
The most effective way to avoid paying for your landlord’s renovation comes long before you move out: document everything and live normally. On day one, take photos of everything—walls, floors, ceilings, inside cupboards, and around windows. These may not be glamorous shots, but they’ll be invaluable when years later someone points to a scratch that was there all along.
How to Protect Yourself as a Tenant: Before and After Photos Matter
As your tenancy draws to a close, repeat the process. Same angles, same rooms, same calm approach. This “before-and-after” photo trail tells a story that the court will understand: yes, the home has aged, but it hasn’t been abused. And that story is what can prevent a landlady’s repainting bill from landing on your doorstep.
When it’s time to pack your boxes, do a solid clean, but don’t feel compelled to restore the place to hotel-grade perfection. Wipe surfaces, clean the bathroom and kitchen, vacuum or mop, and clear out cupboards—the basics.
Let’s face it: no one keeps their place spotless every day. A reasonable end-of-tenancy clean should feel like a big step, but it’s not your job to make the property look like new. Many tenants feel guilty and scrub until late into the night, only to accept a hefty “cleaning package” fee because they feel responsible for every imperfection. You’re not. Your responsibility is to return the property in a reasonably clean, functional state, not to erase every trace of your presence.
Balancing Tenant and Landlord Responsibilities
Courts are clear about this balance: “Normal traces of careful use do not justify charging the tenant for renovation. A landlord cannot expect an apartment to be returned as though it had never been lived in.” Landlords can protect their investment in other ways, such as:
- Drafting a fair and detailed inventory at the start and end of the tenancy
- Budgeting for periodic repainting and refurbishing as a business expense
- Taking reasonable, not inflated, deposits
- Distinguishing between real damage and natural aging of materials
- Addressing minor repairs early, rather than accumulating complaints
The Importance of Treating Rented Homes as Real Homes
This court ruling speaks to a larger truth: rented homes are still homes. They are not showrooms or storage units. They are places where children drag toys along corridors, where pictures hang, and where chairs scrape the floor during late-night conversations.
When the judge stated that a landlady cannot expect a flat “as if no one had lived in it,” they were not only addressing paint and cleaning costs. They were defining boundaries of power—who gets to decide what “good condition” means. They were also reinforcing that tenants are not guests staying in a hotel room, but people living their lives under someone else’s roof.
We’ve all experienced the anxiety of handing over the keys, anticipating the inspection. We remember every spilled mug, every party, and every piece of furniture that was moved around. However, the law, when applied fairly, focuses on patterns—not panic. Did you treat the place with ordinary care? Did it age, or was it mistreated?
The Deeper Message of This Court Ruling
The deeper lesson from this ruling is simple: homes will always tell the story of the people who lived in them. The goal is not to erase that story, but to prevent it from becoming a bill for someone who was simply living their life as responsibly as possible.
Key Takeaways for Tenants and Landlords
| Key Point | Detail | Value for the Reader |
|---|---|---|
| Normal Wear vs. Damage | Small marks, faded paint, and light scuffs are part of living, not billable renovation | Helps tenants push back against unfair repainting and cleaning demands |
| Documentation is Protection | Photos at move-in and move-out show how the property has aged | Gives concrete evidence if a dispute reaches court or mediation |
| Landlord’s Maintenance Duty | Courts see routine painting and deep cleaning as landlord costs | Clarifies what charges are reasonable and what crosses the line |
