Investment and property

Rental repairs and maintenance

Costs that restore a worn or damaged part of an income-producing rental property without replacing or reconstructing the relevant entirety.

Who can claim

This deduction is available to individuals and companies.

  • The work remedies wear, damage or deterioration in an existing income-producing asset.
  • Replacing a subsidiary part can be a repair where the work does not replace or reconstruct the relevant entirety and does not materially improve it.

What you cannot claim

  • Replacement or reconstruction of the relevant entirety is capital, even if the new item performs the same function.
  • Initial repairs, improvements and structural alterations are generally capital and may be treated as capital works or cost-base items.
  • Private or non-rental use must be excluded.

How the amount is worked out

Claim the deductible repair portion. Separate any improvement, initial-repair or relevant-entirety replacement for capital treatment.

Records the ATO expects

  • Itemised invoice
  • Before-and-after description
  • Evidence identifying the asset and subsidiary part repaired
  • Rental availability records

Where this rule comes from

Primary source: ATO TR 97/23 repairs (TR 97/23). Reviewed 30 July 2026. Covers the 2025-26 and 2026-27 income years.

Next steps