Know the difference between wear and damage

Living in a home leaves marks. Faded paint near a window, light scuffs along a corridor or a worn patch where a chair stood are part of normal use. A broken door handle, a cracked basin or a carpet stained by a spill are different, because something specific caused them. Read what your lease says about the condition expected at move-out, and ask the landlord if the wording is unclear. During the tenancy, fix any damage you cause promptly and ask before repainting or drilling, even for picture hooks. Take dated photos of the main rooms every few months. At move-out, if a deduction is proposed, discuss it against those photos and the move-in record. Clear evidence keeps the conversation about facts, not memories. Prepared by Masterpiece Property. AI-generated illustration, not a photograph of an actual property or project.