Ordinary wear and cumulative effects are excluded by § 1950.5.
It may be charged only when reasonably necessary to restore the starting condition, excluding ordinary wear.
The DRE guide describes prorating replacement cost over remaining useful life as a common practical approach, not a statutory hard-and-fast formula.
Wear versus damage
The Department of Real Estate guide describes ordinary carpet wear as normal wearing down through use or aging and notes that moderate dirt or spotting may fall within normal wear. Large rips or indelible stains can support a repair or replacement deduction when replacement is reasonably necessary.
Why the carpet’s age matters
The DRE guide describes a common method that prorates replacement cost so a tenant pays only for the remaining useful life of an item damaged beyond repair. The guide explicitly characterizes these deduction approaches as practical suggestions rather than hard-and-fast rules of law.
What to request for a carpet charge
- The carpet installation date, age or prior replacement invoice if available.
- Move-in, pre-repair and post-repair photographs.
- The replacement or cleaning invoice and the scope of work.
- An explanation of why cleaning or spot repair was insufficient if full replacement was charged.
Official sources
Use these links to verify the rule directly. RentBillCheck prioritizes California statutes, courts and state-agency guidance over secondary summaries.
Primary law for residential security deposits, deductions, inspections, photographs and return/accounting requirements.
California Department of Real EstateCalifornia Tenants Guide — Moving Out ↗Official practical guidance on deductions, normal wear, carpet, painting, cleaning and inspections.