Renting a furnished apartment brings convenience — and a significantly higher deposit risk. With more items in the unit that could theoretically be damaged, landlords have more opportunities to claim deductions. Many furnished apartment deposit disputes come down to a simple question: was this damage or was this normal use? Knowing the answer — and proving it — requires extra diligence at move-in.
Why Furnished Apartments Are Higher Deposit Risk
- More items to inspect means more potential deduction claims at move-out
- Furniture condition is subjective and easier to dispute than structural damage
- Inventory disagreements — 'that lamp was missing when I moved in' — are common
- High per-item replacement costs for furniture and appliances inflate potential deductions
- Normal use of furniture over a tenancy looks different from damage, and the line is often contested
What Should Be in Your Move-In Inventory
A thorough inventory is your most important protection in a furnished unit. At move-in, document every single item and its current condition. Do not rely on the landlord's pre-printed checklist alone — add your own notes and photographs.
- Every piece of furniture: sofas, chairs, tables, beds, dressers, desks
- Condition of upholstery: note any existing stains, fading, wear, or loose cushions
- Appliances: refrigerator, stove, microwave, washer, dryer — inside and outside
- Electronics if provided: television, sound system — confirm they function on day one
- Window treatments: curtains, blinds, rods — note any broken slats or missing pieces
- Kitchen items if included: dishes, pots, utensils — photograph any chips or cracks
- Decorative items: lamps, mirrors, artwork — note any existing damage
Get the landlord to sign the inventory on move-in day. If they refuse, date-stamp your photos and email them to the landlord immediately so the timestamp creates an independent record.
Normal Wear on Furniture: Not Chargeable
The same normal wear and tear doctrine that protects tenants from carpet and paint charges applies to furniture. Faded upholstery after years of sun exposure, cushions that have compressed with regular use, minor scuffs on wooden furniture from normal movement — these are not chargeable. Courts and housing tribunals consistently find that furniture depreciates with use, just as carpets and walls do.
What IS Chargeable
- Broken furniture legs or structural damage from misuse or accidents
- Burn marks on tables, upholstery, or countertops
- Torn fabric or leather from cuts, pets, or deliberate damage
- Missing items that were present at move-in per the signed inventory
- Severe staining beyond what cleaning can address
- Electronics damaged through misuse rather than normal use
How to Protect Yourself
- Photograph every item in the unit before you place any of your belongings
- Get a signed inventory list at move-in — sign it only after you have added your own condition notes
- Report any pre-existing damage to the landlord in writing within 48 hours of move-in
- Photograph items again at move-out and compare directly to move-in photos
- Return the unit in the same condition — clean, with all items present and accounted for