In my mind unit turnover is different then tenant damages.

My primary approach is to screen and select those tenants that can and do pay, take care of the property and pay for damage that might occur.

The tenant that you place in this property for a short period of time can do a lot of damage to your newly renovated property, negating your rehab effort and killing the property value.

Can I claim that not fixing it could cause more damage to the property?

And why is the date the 'damages' occurred so long ago?

I’m an investor and property manager and what we see is that ongoing maintenance items that bother the tenant or that will do damage to the home need to be proactively addressed.

So, no accountability for these tenants.7) Around 2020, all S8 inspections in Michigan stopped making tenants accountable for damages they obviously caused.

Update on the above, the vacant side was in great condition minus a hole in the ceiling from water damage from the bathroom above.

RCW59.18.260 ...No deposit may be collected by a landlord unless the rental agreement is in writing and a written checklist or statement specifically describing the condition and cleanliness of or existing damages to the premises...Return it quickly to avoid any further action from them that could cause you more grief. 

- between the cleaning, some of the damages, and the unpaid rent and utilities...