1. Create a Clean Slate
It is essential that you (landlord) and your tenant do a full joint inspection of the property before and after the tenant moved in. This will be the start to a clean slate, I urge all Landlords and Tenants to take photos and videos. Remember to save them for your move out date, otherwise there was no point in conducting the joint inspection in the first place. The photos and videos are purely to be able to make a fair comparison as well as to give proof of the conditions before and after.
Landlords I suggest you get yourself a flash drive and save all the photos of each tenant on the disk. This way if your laptop gets stolen or formatted you aren’t at a risk of losing these photos – which is in the end your only recourse if things goes bad.
2. Manage the Rental Deposit fund
Tenants always complain that landlords never return their rental deposit as they should, never mind actually getting the interest on their rental deposit. Sadly this is true, I remember when I still rented I hardly got my deposit back, never mind in full and I never even asked for the interest.
This is an area in which South African Landlords should improve, stop making your tenants fear if they will ever see any of the rental deposit back. Instead be upfront and honest about your actions with their rental deposit.
Be legal and keep yourself from getting into any legal trouble.
Landlords need to be aware that they have to place the deposit money into a interest bearing account – meaning it needs to earn interest. Your tenant has the full right to ask for the interest amount at anytime, as such just go open an account and keep the money separate. Don’t think about it, don’t use it for personal issues, just leave it until you need it.
3. Typical deductions from the Rental Deposit
These are generally allowed to be deducted from the rental deposit, as they go beyond normal wear and tear.
- Excessive holes in walls
- Sticky cabinets and interiors
- Broken tiles or fixtures in bathrooms
- Clogged Drains and Toilets due to misuse – Pads, Nappies and Tampons
- Broken walls
- Removing paint, painted by the tenant
- Tears, holes or burn marks on carpets, curtains or wooden floors
- Animal stains in the carpet caused by domestic animals or leaking fish tanks
- Broken windows and window screens
- Broken doors and locks
- Broken appliances due to negligence
- Excessive filth in over or on stove by burners
- Broken or missing window blinds
- Flea and pest extermination
- Excessive mildew and mold in bathroom
- Excessively filthy bathtub, shower, sink, mirrors or toilet
- Missing outlet covers.
- Missing or damaged smoke or carbon monoxide detectors.
- Cracked kitchen or bathroom countertop.
- Broken bathroom vanity.
- Keys not returned at end of tenancy.
- Any missed payments of rent and utilities
4. Normal Wear and Tear to a Rental Deposit
These items are considered in the realm of normal wear and tear, thus you as landlord may not deduct these items from the rental deposit.
- Faded paint or wallpaper due to sunlight
- Broken plumbing caused by normal use
- Dirty blinds and curtains
- Rug wear caused by normal use
- A few small stains on the carpet.
- Furniture marks in carpet
- Warped doors caused by age, temperature or moisture
- Warped windows caused by the flow of the glass
- Dents in walls from door handles
- Broken appliances, if not from misuse
- Dusting
- Faded curtains
- Broken lightbulbs
- Replacement batteries for smoke detectors
- A few small nail holes in the walls from hanging pictures.
- A small amount of mildew forming in grout lines in the shower tiles.
- Dirty grout.
- Tarnish on bathroom fixtures.
- Loose handles or doors on kitchen or bathroom cabinets.
The general rule of thumb is that a landlord can make pro-rated cost deductions if an item’s life span has been shorten excessively for the time period of the lease, meaning the wear and tear is excessive.
The landlord should consider:
- how old the item were,
- how long it would have lasted with normal wear and tear and
- the actual cost of replacing the item.
An Example from Property 24:
“For example, if a tenant has damaged beyond repair an eight-year-old carpet that had a life expectancy of ten years and would cost R 1 000 to replace, then the landlord could charge only R200 for the two years’ worth of life (use) that would have remained in the carpet had it not been damaged.”
R 1000 / 10 Years – R 100 per Year
10 – 8 years = 2 Years
R 100 * 2 Years = R 200
Landlords are allowed to deduct a cleaning fee, however this does not imply that you as landlord may use a tenants rental deposit in preparation for your next tenant – washing carpets and curtains don’t fall part of this.
Items that fall within the “cleaning deduction’ realm:
- eliminating flea infestations left behind by the tenant’s pets
- oven cleaning
- removing decals from walls or windows
- removing mildew in bathrooms
- defrosting the refrigerator
- Cleaning does not mean repair.
- Landlords needs to be reasonable.
- What is the actual cost of a cleaning lady for the day?
Repaint formula/principle:
The matter of Re-Painting is always a difficult one too. However we have an answer there is a formula – who knew….
Lets say you had a tenant who rented your rental unit for 1 year. Before the tenant moved in the unit was newly painted, expecting the newly painted interior walls to last for 3 years. However in present day the tenant moves out and you realise you will have to repaint again, in preparation of your new tenant.
How Much can you deduct from the rental deposit?
The Calculation:
3 years – 1 year = 2 years
The tenant has to pay two thirds of the cost that you will have to endure to repaint the unit. This includes the labour, the time it takes from you and also the material cost.
Consider our, Should tenants paint article.
5. Paying back the Rental Deposit
If you have no repairs to make to the property the rental deposit must be paid back within 7 days.
If you have some repairs, then you will have 14 days to repay the rental deposit.
If the tenant refuses to have a joint inspection of the property, the landlord will have the right to pay the rental deposit back within 21 days after the expiration date of the Lease Agreement.
A 30 day pay-back period of the deposit is illegal, even if it is stipulated within the contract.
As such you have 3 options:
- No Repairs – 7 days to return the deposit
- Some repairs – 14 days to return the deposit
- Tenant never committed to the joined inspection – 21 days to return the deposit
If the repairs exceed the deposit, the landlord has the right to ask the tenant (now previous tenant) to pay the outstanding amount. If the tenant refuses, then the landlord has the right to take legal action.
Asking for the repairs exceeding the rental deposit as well as any legal cost endured in order to obtain the required amount.
The rental deposit debacle will always be a sticky one, your tenant felt they were good to your place and you as landlord feel they partied on all night. The best advice I can give you is take many photos before and after the tenant moves in and out. Keep all your receipts and get the quotes.
The landlord and tenant relationship is nothing other than a normal business transaction, treat it as such and you should be fine as a landlord or tenant. If you still have a particular problem with your rental unit then consider contacting Mafadi for some assistance – this is after all what we do:)
Related Articles
Landlord Related
- Landlords should understand Wear and Tear
- 10 Landlord questions for a Reference Check
- 10 Mistakes New Landlords Make - Part 1
- 10 Mistakes New Landlords Make - Part 2
- Landlords need to manage their Property Maintenance
- Your A team property vendors list
- 6 Tips to renting out your home
- 5 Traits of a Profitable Landlord
- Should tenants paint, why yes Sir
Legal Matters for Landlords
- How to effectively vet a Property Management Company
- Lease Agreement for landlords
- Ending a Lease Agreement
- Move In Checklist for landlords and tenants
- Evictions, as sad possibility
- Security Deposit - Don't Gamble with it
Marketing Interests for Landlords
Tenants Related
- I can’t make rent, what now?
- 10 Things new tenants need to know
- Property Management rentals VS individual Landlords
- Taking your security deposit back
Property Management
- Hiring a Property Management company
- 32 Questions for your new property manager. Part 1
- 32 Questions for your new property manager – Part 2
- Tenant Screening, that leads to quality tenants
- How to make your commercial property more attractive
- 10 Reasons to Hire a Property Manager
- Top 10 Features of a Profitable Rental Property
- Your different investment property options
- Property Management Companies and their Rental Services
- Is it time to hire a Property Manager?
- 5 Reasons why you need a Property Management Company
- Selecting a Quality Property Management Firm
- What are Property Management Services?
- Property Managers
- Selecting a Property Management Company
Real Estate
- Adapting to a green Property Portfolio
- What Millennials want in their rental properties
- Is a professional real estate photographer worth it?
- Choosing the correct property for you
- Furnished or Unfurnished, the pros and cons
- Which Home Remodeling adds value?
- 10 Home Improvements that will pay off.