Deduction Validity Checker

Depreciation Benchmarks (Educational)

Many disputes come down to whether a charge reflects the item's age/condition or tries to charge full replacement cost. This tool uses rough useful-life benchmarks to estimate depreciation (your state may have different standards):

Note for California: deposit deductions are generally expected to account for depreciation and avoid charging full replacement for old items.

Example: If carpet was 7 years old when you moved in and you lived there for 2 years, the carpet is now 9 years into its 10-year life. The landlord can only charge you for 10% of replacement cost.