Answered by Shaykh Yūsuf Badāt
Question:
Is a tenant islamicaly responsible for accidentally breaking blinds and also stains on walls and mirrors from smoking in a residential rented property?
Answer:
بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمنِ الرَّحِيْم
In the name of God, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.
Jazāk Allāh Khayr/ Thank you for contacting Mathabah Institute.
In response to your question about damage on a property by a tenant, kindly note that if the damage is the regular wear and tear related to the agreed use of the property, then there is no obligation on the tenant for such damage. However, if the tenant caused a severe destruction outside of the regular day to day usage, against the agreed contractual usage, then the tenant is liable for such damage. – (See: Rad-Al-Muḥtār, Page 109, Volume 9)[1]
Only Allāh knows best.
[1] وَعِمَارَةُ الدَّارِ الْمُسْتَأْجَرَةِ (وَتَطْيِينُهَا وَإِصْلَاحُ الْمِيزَابِ وَمَا كَانَ مِنْ الْبِنَاءِ عَلَى رَبِّ الدَّارِ) وَكَذَا كُلُّ مَا يُخِلُّ بِالسُّكْنَى (فَإِنْ أَبَى صَاحِبُهَا) أَنْ يَفْعَلَ (كَانَ لِلْمُسْتَأْجِرِ أَنْ يَخْرُجَ مِنْهَا إلَّا أَنْ يَكُونَ) الْمُسْتَأْجِرُ (اسْتَأْجَرَهَا وَهِيَ كَذَلِكَ وَقَدْ رَآهَا) لِرِضَاهُ بِالْعَيْبِ – رد المحتار – ٩/١٠٩.
