Home/Answers/Alberta RTA
Alberta Rental Q&A

What counts as normal wear and tear in Alberta?

Quick Answer

Normal wear and tear in Alberta is the gradual deterioration of a rental unit from ordinary use, faded paint, minor carpet wear, small nail holes, and worn cabinet hinges. Landlords cannot deduct from the security deposit for these. Damage caused by negligence, accident, or misuse is the tenant's responsibility.

VG
By Vishnu Gabbula · May 1, 2026

Alberta's Residential Tenancies Act does not define "normal wear and tear" word-for-word, but RTDRS decisions over the last decade have built a clear, consistent line between what tenants owe and what landlords absorb as the cost of doing business.

Key Facts

  • Paint life expectancy: 3–5 years before repainting is considered normal turnover.
  • Carpet life expectancy: 7–10 years in rental properties (CMHC).
  • Appliance life expectancy: 10–15 years depending on type.
  • Roughly 70% of deposit deductions challenged at RTDRS are reduced or reversed.

Examples of normal wear and tear (landlord absorbs)

  • Faded paint on sun-exposed walls.
  • Minor scuffs and small nail holes from hung pictures.
  • Carpet wear in high-traffic paths after years of use.
  • Worn caulking in the bathroom.
  • Loose hinges or worn cabinet handles.
  • Hard-water staining on plumbing fixtures.

Examples of damage (tenant pays)

  • Large holes in drywall from anchors or impact.
  • Cigarette burns, pet stains, or red wine stains in carpet.
  • Cracked countertops or chipped tile from dropped objects.
  • Broken blinds, doors, or windows.
  • Unauthorised paint colours that need to be repainted to neutral.
  • Pet damage, chewed trim, scratched flooring, urine soaking.

The depreciation rule that often wins disputes

Even when damage is clearly the tenant's fault, the landlord can only charge for the depreciated value of the item, not the full replacement cost. If a 7-year-old carpet with a 10-year life is destroyed, the landlord can only charge 30% of the replacement cost. This rule reverses a huge share of overzealous deposit deductions at RTDRS.

Sources: Service Alberta, Residential Tenancies Act; Residential Tenancy Dispute Resolution Service (RTDRS); CMHC Rental Market Report. This article is general information, not legal advice.
VG
Vishnu Gabbula, Associate Broker at PREP Realty

Vishnu Gabbula is an Associate Broker at PREP Realty, a RECA-licensed Alberta brokerage, and the founder of UrbanLease (a Calgary property management website operated by 14463137 Canada Inc.). His practice covers residential real estate, commercial real estate, rural properties, and property management across Calgary, Alberta. He runs Calgary House Rentals Group (105,000+ members) and Edmonton House Rentals Group (65,000+ members), two of Western Canada's largest rental communities on Facebook. He writes on Alberta tenancy law, the Residential Tenancies Act, CMHC MLI Select multi-unit financing, tenant screening, and rental market data, built on day-to-day experience managing rentals across Calgary and surrounding cities.

Published May 1, 2026 · Updated May 15, 2026

Own a rental in Calgary?

UrbanLease keeps you RTA-compliant end-to-end, screening, leases, inspections, deposits, notices, and disputes. Get a free rent estimate.

Get My Free Estimate →

Related Questions

When does a landlord have to return the damage deposit in Alberta?Are move-in inspections required in Alberta?How much security deposit can a landlord charge in Alberta?