In the District of Columbia, ordinary wear and tear is not a proper reason to withhold a security deposit.
D.C. Code Section 42-3502.17 says a housing provider may not withhold a security deposit for the replacement value of apartment items damaged by ordinary wear and tear.
What ordinary wear and tear means in D.C.
D.C. defines ordinary wear and tear as deterioration from the intended use of the dwelling unit, including breakage or malfunction because of age or deteriorated condition.
It does not include deterioration caused by negligence, carelessness, accident, or abuse by the tenant, an immediate family member, or a guest.
Why the move-in condition matters
Normal aging, light use, and ordinary deterioration are different from tenant-caused damage. The line can depend on the condition before move-in, how long you lived there, what happened during the tenancy, and what the owner can document.
Keep move-in proof whenever you have it. Prior damage, age, obsolete materials, and building conditions should not be turned into your deposit charge without tenant fault.
Good-repair clauses have limits
A broad promise to leave the unit in good repair does not require you to make substantial repairs, replace obsolete materials, or fix defects unless the issue was caused by your negligence or fault.
That can matter when a deduction is really for age, normal turnover, or long-deferred replacement.
What to document
Keep:
- move-in photos and videos
- move-out photos and videos
- any inspection notice or inspection communication
- cleaning receipts or repair records
- messages about condition
- the landlord's itemized statement
- invoices, estimates, or photos used to justify deductions
Why itemization matters
If the owner keeps money, the itemized statement should help you understand what was charged and why. If the charge looks like ordinary use, aging, deteriorated condition, obsolete materials, or routine turnover, that is a useful point to raise in writing.
The system helps organize your photos, timing, itemization issues, ordinary-wear challenge, interest records, and follow-up letters into one D.C.-specific sequence.
Get the District of Columbia Recovery SystemImportant
This page provides general educational information and is not legal advice.