Understanding Orlando security deposit deductions is crucial for all tenants. As a tenant, you likely had to pay a security deposit before moving into your rental home. This deposit protects the owner by covering costs if you cause significant damage to the property. But even if you’re not partying like a rock star in the rental, don’t automatically assume you’ll just get your deposit back. Below are a few maintenance tips to help you avoid common Orlando security deposit deductions and keep your money in your pocket.
More than Normal Wear-and-Tear
If a tenant damages items or parts of the property, they should repair or replace them before moving out. Failing to do so means bringing in an outside vendor to handle problems, which increases costs due to labor charges. These costs are passed on to the tenant and can lead to additional Orlando security deposit deductions.
Bear in mind that property managers expect some normal wear and tear on Orlando rental properties. Nearly every property will require a paint touch-up or deep cleaning of carpets. The things we note below are above and beyond the normal wear and tear.
Paint and Walls
Tenants are not liable for “normal” wear and tear of walls. Bear in mind normal wear and tear is also relative to the condition of the property at move-in and tenancy duration. However, tenants are responsible for any damage to walls or issues requiring a total repaint. One item to note: sometimes touching up smaller rubs and nicks might not be possible if the current paint code is unavailable.
Cleaning
Per the lease agreement, tenants must clean the property before vacating. Some tenants fail to adequately clean the rental before moving out, resulting in claims made against the security deposit. Pro tip: many paint blemishes can be rectified with proper cleaning or a Magic Eraser.
Blinds
For some reason, window blinds can see a lot of abuse. They get yanked on or slammed around resulting in broken slats, cords, or brackets. Depending on the type of blinds in the rental, the slats may be replaceable. If not, often there is no way to fix the blinds without replacing the entire unit. Either way, tenants are responsible for any damage to the property’s blinds.
Screens
We have no idea why you’d want to open a window in Central Florida without a screen to keep the bugs out, you do you. That said, screens are designed to be removable from the window frame. Whatever reason a tenant may have for removing a screen, they must reinstall screens upon moving out. And they need to be in good order (no large holes in the screens or bent frames) to avoid additional Orlando security deposit deductions.
Door Stops / Door Handles
Neither of these items should break easily. Breakages indicate rough handling and will result in security deposit deductions as this falls outside normal, wear and tear.
Abandoned Property
Even if you didn’t cause damage to the actual structure, leaving personal belongings at the property is considered tenant damage. Someone has to deal with these items. That means hiring a vendor for the removal and disposal of your personal belongings. Those services are not cheap. Guess who pays for them?
Watch to learn more: Prepping for a Move-Out to Save Money
Summary
Some tenants believe Orlando property management companies are out to “scam” them out of their security deposit. That is untrue. Property managers prefer finding a property with no damages when tenants move out, allowing for a quicker relisting, minimizing vacancy time, keeping owners happy. To ensure a fair assessment, tenants are required to complete a move-in walk-through checklist to document the initial condition of the rental.
If you have questions about how to properly maintain your rental to avoid security deposit deductions, reach out! Call us at 321-947-7653 or send a message through the tenant portal.
