Only I and the renter would live in the home. If we both use common areas such as kitchen, living areas, laundry room, porch, deck, yard, garage, can I depreciate major appliances such as refrigerator, dishwasher, washing machine? Since we use them equally, can I depreciate them at 50%, or should I calculate it by 1/5th (5 BR home) or by percentage of the square footage of the home, and at what age of the appliances do I have to stop depreciating them? Do I have to use whatever percentage that I decide to use to depreciate things such as home improvements or capital expenditures that I would use for calculating expenses? Someone indicated to me I could cause a problem if I did not use a consistent method. Is it just that I have to use a consistent method for depreciation, but I can use a different percentage for expenses? Also, if I put in new carpet in the rental bedroom when it is available for rent, is that a 100% of cost expense that I claim, or is it a capital expenditure that I would depreciate? If I painted solely in the rented room would it be a 100% expense to deduct, and could I deduct painting and drywall repair expense by the method I choose (1/5th due to 1 out of 5 BRs, or by square footage)? Since we share the same amount of the house, other than the personal use bedroom/s, can I deduct as an expense 50% of the cost of the utilities, since we would use the same water, electricity, etc, as the 2 of us would use that equally? What can I depreciate or deduct for improvements or repairs in the common areas of the house that we both use or could use equally?
