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Dear sir/madam,

I am assuming that you are a tenant to have thought about such scenarios.

In most tenancy agreements, I believe the arrangement is for the landlord to provide an apartment with all appliances, furnitures and fixtures to be in working conditions when handed over. In addition, there is usually a warranty period provided by the landlord to make good or repair any damages found during the first 30 days of taking over the apartment.

Unless you foresee yourself to be damaging all these items over the 1 or 2 years period, I honestly do not see major issue over the minor repair clause as it is mostly intended to ensure that tenant takes good care of the premises and furnishings provided as their own, instead of trashing up the whole place. If you are not a tenant of such nature, and takes good care of the premises, such minor repair clause is unlikely invoked unnecessarily.

If concern is still valid, I will advise you to look into renting an apartment which is bare so that you can furnish up the apartment with your own appliances and furniture. A brand new apartment would probably be best option for you, as it is likely that most items within the apartment still comes under supplier warranty.

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Geryl LIM
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Hi,

I totally agreed with Geryl comments over this.
$150 per item per repair, in order to be fair to both landlord & tenant. It is always advisable to have them listed each and every item in the TA to avoid/minimise any misunderstanding.

This is the main reason landlord is selectively in tenant, & tenant also choosing the right landlord before signing the TA.

There are 2 main clauses in a TA which both parties had to clarify before inking the dotted line.

(a) "$150/item per repair" and,
(b) Wear & tear.

If windows never open/close, not touching it, not even cleaning during the stay, and it breaks, this should be consider wear & tear, but landlord might has different understanding.

Some of the item, you have to move it daily, and it breaks, does this consider wear & tear or suppose to be repair such as leakage of shower hose.

For all the examples posted, those are daily usable item and movable, bound to be certain degree of wear & tear, it can't be fully new when handover.

Both parties have to agree to which items should be under wear & tear, and which item consider as wear & tear, and if possible up to which degree.

Although not possible to list everything in detail, but this will greatly reduce a lot of misunderstanding. And both parties do not need to inccur unnecessary cost at the end of TA.

Of course, the best option is to buy your own apartment to remove all this hassle. If the circumstance does not permit this option, it really worth taking effort to list all doubts down before signing TA.

P.S. an item means each and one only. If 10 window panes break all at same time, each window pane is consider as an item. Therefore cost of replacement is 10*$150 for all the 10 window panes.

Hope the above answer to your main concerns, but if there are more queries, please feel free to contact me at 90110636  , or email: ling.ck7@gmail.com if more information is needed.
I'll be glad to assist.

Best regards
Ling CK
 90110636 
ling.ck7@gmail.com

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You're right, "per item" in a tenancy agreement repair clause can be open to interpretation. Here's a breakdown to help clarify:

**What "Per Item" Often Refers To:**

* Generally, "per item" refers to **a single functional unit** within a larger component.

**In Your Examples:**

* **10 Window Panes:** This would likely be considered **10 separate items**. Each pane is a distinct functional unit.
* **4 Kitchen Cabinet Sections:** This could be interpreted in two ways:
* **4 Items:** If each section is a self-contained unit with its own doors and shelves, it could be considered 4 items.
* **1 Item:** If the sections are all part of one larger cabinet structure and share functionality, it might be seen as 1 item. **It's best to clarify with your landlord beforehand.**
* **Kitchen Cabinet Doors:** This depends. If the doors are **essential for the functionality** of the cabinet (protecting contents), they might be considered part of the same item as the cabinet section. However, if the doors are **decorative or non-essential**, they could be separate items. **Again, discuss this with your landlord for clarity.**
* **3+2 Sofa:** This would typically be considered **1 item**. It's a single piece of furniture even though it has separate sections.

**Tips for Avoiding Disputes:**

* **Communicate with Your Landlord:** Discuss your interpretations of "per item" for these scenarios with your landlord before any repairs are needed. This helps establish expectations and avoid disagreements later.
* **Be Specific in the Agreement:** If possible, **amend the tenancy agreement** to clearly define what constitutes an "item" for repairs. This can be done by specifying a list of items or including a sentence like "A single functional unit within a larger component shall be considered one item."

By having clear communication and potentially revising the agreement, you and your landlord can ensure a smoother experience regarding repairs and financial responsibility.

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