Ordinary wear and tear is not deductible in New Jersey. The security deposit is not supposed to pay for the normal cost of owning, aging, cleaning, and turning over a rental.
The line is practical: normal use is different from damage beyond ordinary wear.
Normal wear
Normal wear can include ordinary signs of living in a place:
- light scuffs
- gentle fading
- worn paths from normal use
- small marks from ordinary occupancy
- fixtures and surfaces aging over time
The exact facts matter, but the idea is simple: if it happened because the apartment was used normally, it is not the same as tenant-caused damage.
Damage
Damage is stronger for the landlord when it is specific, documented, and beyond ordinary use:
- broken fixtures
- large holes
- heavy stains
- missing parts
- damage connected to the tenant, guest, or lease violation
If the landlord claims damage, ask for a clear itemized list and records connecting the charge to your tenancy.
Use your photos
Move-in and move-out photos are often more useful than arguments. Save:
- move-in condition photos
- move-out photos
- videos if you have them
- messages reporting prior conditions
- repair requests and landlord responses
- inspection or walkthrough records
Then compare the claimed charge to what the photos actually show.