Frisco, TX asked in Landlord - Tenant for Utah

Q: Can a Utah landlord require us to pay for a custom-made door?

We used a stopper on our pantry door so that the doorknob would not keep slamming into the fridge. Eventually the stopper put a 1-2" hole in the door. Instead of just patching the hole, the landlord is insisting on buying a new door. And even worse, he insists it be a $300 custom-made door because they don't make that exact door anymore. It is nothing special, just a pantry door you can get from anywhere! Can he make us pay for the custom-made door?

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1 Lawyer Answer
Kenneth Prigmore
Kenneth Prigmore
Answered
  • Spanish Fork, UT
  • Licensed in Utah

A: If you can install another door of matching quality and color to when you moved in the home, the landlord will have real difficulty trying to sue or press you for anything else. This becomes much more difficult to do if you have already moved out of the home. If he has already purchased and installed a replacement and you are trying to get your deposit back, you can argue the matter in small claims court, but you will pay at least $100 to file a claim.

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