Lessee Responsibility for Normal Wear and Tear in Lease Agreements

A lessee, having signed a lease containing a clause obligating them to maintain the premises in good repair and return them in the same condition, sued the lessor for damages after the lease termination, arguing that the deterioration was due to normal wear and tear, which they were not responsible for, despite the contractual clause. The court quashed the lower court's decision, reasoning that a contractual clause imposing on the lessee the obligation to return the premises in perfect condition, regardless of the nature of the deterioration, is void as it deprives the lessee of the legal benefit concerning deterioration resulting from normal use, which the lessor is legally obligated to bear.