Household Life Expectancy - 10/4/2021
October 5, 2021
One of the many challenges of managing rental property is performing the resolution of security deposits, determining the chargeability of damages, and assigning the appropriate charge for items deemed tenant chargeable. Everything has a life expectancy, and renters and owners are often at opposite ends of the spectrum when it comes to the estimated cost and the life expectancy of household items. We have encountered some renters that believe a full interior painting and complete flooring replacement should occur every time a renter vacates, which for some residents is a very convenient belief if they badly damaged their walls and flooring in twelve short months. On the other hand, some property owners have been shocked upon hearing the news that their eighteen-year-old flooring needs to be changed out or that their twenty-year old water heater has finally died. The National Association of Homebuilders (NAHB) provides a useful and reliable life expectancy chart for most household items. Here are some examples:
Interior paint – 5 to 10 years Garbage disposal – 10 years Microwave ovens – 11 years Carpet – 8 To 11 years Garage door opener – 10 years Toilets – 50 years
Central air conditioners – 15 years Water heater – 15 years
It is important to note that these are averages. The life expectancy of household items can vary depending on use, quality, environmental conditions, etc.
“Autumn is a second spring when every leaf is a flower.”-Albert Camus
David Gerke
Broker
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