Fact Sheets

WHAT ARE MY OBLIGATIONS AT THE END OF A TENANCY?

The tenant must return the premises to the landlord as nearly as possible in the same condition as set out in the ingoing condition report, apart from reasonable wear and tear.

WHAT IS “REASONABLE WEAR AND TEAR”?

Living in a home will cause wear and tear through ordinary day to day use and/or natural forces. This is what is known as “reasonable wear and tear”.

Damage that is caused by your intentional, negligent or careless actions is not reasonable wear and tear.

In determining whether damage to blinds and curtains is reasonable wear and tear, the Residential Tenancy Commissioner will consider a range of factors including:

  • the age, quality and condition of any item at the beginning of the tenancy;
  • the length of the tenancy;
  • the extent and noticeability of the damage;
  • the cause of the damage;
  • the average lifespan of blinds is 10 years, curtains have a lifespan of 6 years according to the Australian Taxation Office.

Please be aware, that you are also responsible for damage caused by guests that you have invited onto your property.

EXAMPLES OF WHAT IS REASONABLE WEAR AND TEAR

None of the following decisions are binding on the Residential Tenancy Commissioner or the Magistrates Court of Tasmania, though they may provide a guide as to how your case may be decided. Any decision will be highly dependent on the specific circumstances of your case.

  1. 16-year-old vertical blinds have exceeded their useful life and any damage was the result of reasonable wear and tear in Archer v Pacific link Community Housing Association (Tenancy) [2008] NSWCTTT 1345

  2. Damage to Venetian blinds was more than reasonable wear and tear but blinds were also five years old, so tenant should only have to pay half of replacement cost in Cancio v Ware (Tenancy) [2004] NSWCTTT 498

  3. A malfunctioning blind that was only able to be either completely open or shut was reasonable wear and tear despite all other functioning as intended. Maintenance not damage as blinds vary in use, orientation, manufacture, quality and installation in Batkin v Kinna (Residential Tenancies) [2018] VCAT 669

  4. Neglect by tenants resulting in water stains and mould on blinds meant not reasonable wear and tear but costs reduced due to being 8 years old in McGuire v Robins (Tenancy) [2013] NSWCTTT 500

  5. No evidence that the venetian blinds not closing properly was the result of intentional or negligent behaviour by tenant. Therefore, more likely reasonable wear and tear in Fournaris v Andrews (Tenancy) [2007] NSWCTTT 583

  6. A stain on the vertical blind, which was approximately the size of a five-cent piece was reasonable wear and tear in Choong v Liu [2013] SADC 76

  7. Minimal damage to the blinds was reasonable wear and tear, especially when the tenant had photographs demonstrating condition prior to moving into the property in Crumbling v Lovering (Residential Tenancies) [2020] ACAT 55

  8. Minor damage to blinds in a children’s bedroom is reasonable wear and tear because blinds not robust, are meant to be opened and closed  daily and appeared to be the result of ordinary use in Tankard v Ogbonna (Residential Tenancies [2017] ACAT 72

  9. If the curtains are more than 6 years old, their value is zero and the tenants do not have to pay any portion of replacement cost in Buckland v Goodwin (Tenancy) [2009] NSWCTTT 685

  10. A small tear in curtain was reasonable wear and tear in Fournaris v Andrews (Tenancy) [2007] NSWCTTT 583

  11. Badly stained and ripped curtains are not reasonable wear and tear in Enna Investments Pty v McNamara (Residential Tenancies) [2016] ACAT 63

  12. Rubber melted into curtains: Curtains which had been tied in a knot with a rubber band that had melted was negligent damage and not reasonable wear and tear in Dowse v Butler [2019] NSWCATD 83

EVIDENCE YOU SHOULD PROVIDE IN A BOND CLAIM OR DISPUTE

As well as arguing that any damage to the blinds and curtains is reasonable wear and tear, you can also defend a claim to your bond on the basis that, for example:

NO DAMAGE

The blinds and/or curtains have not been damaged. Evidence to support this claim may include:

  • Ingoing condition report
  • Outgoing condition report
  • Photos and/or videos from start and end of tenancy
  • Receipt from cleaning company

REASONABLE WEAR AND TEAR

The blinds and/or curtains have been damaged but it is the landlord’s responsibility. Evidence to support this claim may include:

  • Evidence of the length of the tenancy
  • Evidence of the number of people living in the property
  • Evidence of household composition (eg children, pets)
  • The ingoing and outgoing condition reports
  • Photos from the start and the end of the tenancy
  • Photos demonstrating that damage not excessive
  • Evidence such as signed and dated witness statements or statutory declarations, photographs, expert reports that damage occurred during the normal use of the property

LANDLORD’S CLAIM IS UNREASONABLE

The blinds and/or curtains have been damaged and it is not reasonable wear and tear, but the amount of money the landlord is asking for is excessive. Evidence to support this claim may include:

  • Cheaper quotation/s from different suppliers
  • Receipts demonstrating that repair/cleaning was carried out
  • Evidence demonstrating the extent of the damage
  • Evidence demonstrating the impact of the damage on the function of the item
  • Evidence of age of item. The deemed lifespan of blinds is 10 years and curtains have a deed lifespan of 6 years

 

 

We would like to acknowledge and thank the Eastern Area Tenants Service in New South Wales for their assistance. This factsheet was made available through the generous support of the Law Foundation of Tasmania.

 

DISCLAIMER: The information on this website is not legal advice. It is intended as a guide only. It applies only to legislation current in Tasmania as at 1 February 2022. For information regarding a specific tenancy problem please phone the Tenants’ Union on 1300 652 641 or (03) 6223 2641. The Tenants’ Union of Tasmania Inc. accepts no responsibility for actions based on this information, nor for actions based on electronic translations of this information.


Download PDF 199.01KB