TENANT MOVING OUT?

Tenants in Washington State are responsible for returning the rental to the condition it was in at the beginning of tenancy, minus normal wear and tear? The Landlord Tenant Act does not define normal wear and tear so tenants and landlords often disagree on whether work needed at move out is damage or normal wear and tear. Wear and tear will be greater over time. For example, wear of carpeting in a property where a tenant has lived for six years will be greater than wear after only six months. If a carpet is worn after months or years of normal walking, but there is no damage, it is just normal wear and tear. If the tenant spills something and stains the carpet, this can be considered damage. If the lease requires that the tenant complete certain work at move out, such as having the carpets professionally cleaned, the requirement is regardless of whether there is damage.

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