In any apartment, normal wear and tear will take its toll as the months and years pass. It is often the responsibility of the tenant to remedy these problems as they occur or to keep them from getting worse (like replacing a broken door stopper or cleaning bathroom mildew.) Sometimes though, it is the landlord’s responsibility to pay for wear and tear maintenance.

What is normal wear and tear in an apartment? Pretty much any damage that a tenant couldn't be reasonably expected to prevent, like a broken window latch, rusty door hinge, or leaky faucet. Plumbing issues in general are almost always the responsibility of the landlord unless caused by major negligence on the part of the tenant.

Many long-term wear and tear damages can be blamed on a tenant for not keeping the apartment clean or breaking lease terms. You may think that smoking and using incense or candles inside of your apartment is fine as long none of your neighbors complain, but it could cost you thousands of dollars when you move out. Smoke stains the paint, carpets and blinds, all of which will typically need to be replaced when you move out.

Holes in the wall caused by hanging pictures are the responsibility of the tenant to fix. If you're lucky enough to have walls that are white or off-white, these kinds of repairs can be made easily using spackling paste or, in a pinch, even toothpaste. If you have colored walls, bring a small chip of paint to your local paint store and have them match it for you, then paint over the spackle. Don't use too much: The less you have to cover the more likely it will appear to match.

Appliance maintenance is usually spelled out in the terms of the lease. Refrigerators, stoves, dishwashers, washer-dryers, etc., are usually repaired at the expense of the landlord. But if the damage was caused by the tenant as a result of negligence or if the appliance isn't mentioned in the lease it won't be covered.