Landlord v. Former Tenant: Liability for Leasehold Damage and Restoration Costs

A dispute arose concerning the responsibility for damages to a leased property following the termination of the lease agreement due to non-payment of rent, where the landlord sued the former tenant for the cost of mandatory renovations stipulated in the lease. The tenant argued that the damages were due to normal wear and tear and were not their responsibility under the terms of the lease, which required restoration to the original condition. The appellate court affirmed the lower court's decision, ruling that the contractual clause obligating the tenant to return the premises in their original state, beyond normal use, placed the burden of proof on the tenant to demonstrate that the damage resulted solely from ordinary aging, which the tenant failed to establish, thus holding the former tenant liable for the cost of the required renovations.