Typically, landlords may charge tenants for any cleaning or repairs necessary to restore the rental unit to its condition at the beginning of the tenancy. Landlords may not, however, use the tenant's security deposit to cover the costs of ordinary wear and tear. Ordinary Wear and Tear: Landlord's Responsibility Damage or Excessive Filth: Tenant's Responsibility Curtains faded by the sun Cigarette burns in curtains or carpets Water-stained linoleum by shower Broken tiles in bathroom Minor marks on or nicks in wall Large marks on or holes in wall Dents in the wall where a door handle bumped it Door off its hinges Moderate dirt or spotting on carpet Rips in carpet or urine stains from pets A few small tack or nail holes in wall Lots of picture holes or gouges in walls that require patching as well as repainting A rug worn thin by normal use Stains in rug caused by a leaking fish tank Worn gaskets on refrigerator doors Broken refrigerator shelf Faded paint on bedroom wall Water damage on wall from hanging plants Dark patches of ingrained soil on hardwood floors that have lost their finish and have been worn down to bare wood Water stains on wood floors and windowsills caused by windows being left open during rainstorms Warped cabinet doors that won't close Sticky cabinets and interiors Stains on old porcelain fixtures that have lost their protective coating Grime-coated bathtub and toilet Moderately dirty mini-blinds Missing mini-blinds Bathroom mirror beginning to "de-silver" (black spots) Mirrors caked with lipstick and makeup Clothes dryer that delivers cold air because the thermostat has given out Dryer that won't turn at all because it's been over-loaded Toilet flushes inadequately because mineral deposits have clogged the jets Toilet won't flush properly because it's stopped up with a diaper © 2000 Nolo.com