Is the tenant obligated to repair defects that occur in the rented house as a result of normal use or children's play, and is he absolved of this responsibility if the owner intends to renovate the house after his departure?
The hand of the tenant is a hand of trust (yad amanah), so he is not liable for damage to the leased property unless he commits an act of transgression (ta'addi) or negligence (tafrit). Transgression is the violation of what is permitted by Sharia, custom, or common practice, by doing something more severe. Negligence is the failure to fulfill the duty of preserving the property. It is not permissible to stipulate that the tenant is responsible for maintaining the property, as this leads to an unknown rental price (jahalat al-ujrah). Damage resulting from normal use (such as dirtying walls or wear and tear of facilities) is not guaranteed. However, damage resulting from abnormal use (such as breaking a sink or damaging the floor due to a heavy object falling) is guaranteed by the tenant.
Summarized from the full answer at Ftawy · reviewed Sep 2, 2026
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