Is it ok to charge ex tenants for broken deadbolt?

[Tom R.]

I had some tenants move out recently and the deadbolt on the front door is messed up. I replace the lock every time a tenant moves but I always save the locks to use later. The deadbolt looks fine but its very difficult to get the key in all the way and back out. Should I charge the cost of the deadbolt to the tenants deposit? Its part of a 2 door set with knob and deadbolt. Should I charge for the cost of the set or just the value of the deadbolt?

[Kyle J.]

@Tom R. This is just something that happens with locks sometimes. Try squeezing some graphite powder in the keyhole and then using the key to slowly work it into the lock to see if that helps.

If that doesn’t work, maybe it’s time for a new lock. But I personally wouldn’t charge the previous tenants for it since you haven’t described anything that they did to damage it. Sounds more like normal wear-and-tear for a lock to me.