How to Use the Move-Out Restoration Cost Predictor
When a lease ends, one of the biggest questions on any tenant's mind is how much will be deducted from the security deposit for restoration costs. Normal wear and tear items like paint and wallpaper are generally the landlord's responsibility, though shorter tenancies often mean the tenant covers a partial share. Damage items like nail holes or scratched floors, on the other hand, are usually charged entirely to the tenant. This calculator takes your residence period, full repaint cost, and damage item details to predict your total expected restoration cost.
The math assumes a standard 3-year useful life for paint and wallpaper: if you lived there 3 years or more, your share is $0, and for shorter stays, you cover a prorated share based on the remaining useful life. For example, after just 1 year, you'd owe two-thirds of the repaint cost. This is then added to the damage item cost — calculated by multiplying the number of items by the average repair cost per item — for the total predicted amount.
This result reflects a common depreciation convention and is meant as a planning estimate — the actual amount deducted depends on your lease terms and any agreement reached with your landlord. Taking move-in and move-out photos for comparison is one of the best ways to prevent disputes, and if the estimated amount seems significant, consulting a tenant rights resource is a reasonable next step.
Frequently Asked Questions
Paint and wallpaper are typically treated as having a 3-year useful life for normal wear and tear. If you lived there 3 years or more, the landlord usually covers the full cost; for shorter stays, tenants often cover a prorated share based on the remaining useful life.
Add up the repair cost for each item caused by tenant negligence, such as nail holes, floor scratches, or a broken door — normal wear and tear should not be counted as damage.