Damaged Vinyl Floot

[TomD]

Damaged Vinyl Floor

What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? NJ

This is related to a previous post of mine... I just wanted to ask my question in a different way...

I have a townhouse that I purchase new in 1988 and lived in until 1995... from 1995 to Dec 2008 no one live there... In Jan 2009 it was turned in to a rental... so it has been a rental for only 2 years.

My tenant (who just moved out), thought it was OK to put a hot frying pan in the middle of the (original) kitchen floor... thereby ruining it with an 8in in diameter burned/melted circle. The cost to replace the floor including the least expensive vinyl floor Home Depot sells, along with labor and materials is $800.00.

When the tenant moved in, the floor was in good to very good condition.

How much of the new floor and I 'safely' charge them for?

I refuse to believe that the tenant can walk away without responsibility just because my floor is 23 years old... which is what some people have told me. The tenant says they will sue me if I deduct anything from their Security Deposit... and since I'm in NJ, and the tenant is awarded double the amount of anything the court feels is unjustly deducted, I need to be spot-on with what I deduct.

Note: Since the entrance hallway, bathroom, and kitchen all share the same floor, I'm also forced to replace them as well... I know I can't charge them, but their actions are forcing me to spend money that I wouldn't have had to spend.

Any help would be greatly appreciated!!... I'm really stuck.

Thanks


TomWhat is the name of your state (only U.S. law)?

 

[BL]

I refuse to believe that the tenant can walk away without responsibility just because my floor is 23 years old... which is what some people have told me

Then consult and pay for a consult with a local LL/Tenant attorney .

It is vinyl BTW .

Your choice to replace it all .

 

[divona2000]

...Vinyl floor 23 yrs old -- likely the pattern is not available to replace 6 squares...$5/sq ft for tile...keep the damaged tiles & a few of the undamaged tiles...

OP seems to be replacing a vinyl sheet floor, not tile...but 23 yr old vinyl flooring? Probably $0 value.

Since the entrance hallway, bathroom, and kitchen all share the same floor, I'm also forced to replace them as well

Why? If they are not damaged, don't replace them.

 

[xylene]

23 year old vinyl flooring only looks like new in your eyes.

Home Depot is expensive.

You should consider putting down a more durable floor in the kitchen of a rental, because I assure this will happen again and again...

 

[TomD]

OP seems to be replacing a vinyl sheet floor, not tile...but 23 yr old vinyl flooring? Probably $0 value.

Why? If they are not damaged, don't replace them.

When you walk into the townhouse there is a short hallway, and then the kitchen is immediately to the left... no door. I can get away with not replacing the bathroom, but to have different vinyl in the hall and the Kitchen just wouldn't look right.

To eveyone that says the floor is 23 years old... I understand that... but it still had a good 3 to 5 years of use left (I guess no one understands my point), it was well taken care of and was in good condition... Are you saying that if you have something that is useful but old, that the tenant can do as they please and you’re out the cost??... they have no responsibility? They have a license to destroy my floor because it’s old? My refrigerator is 13 years old and still going strong.... Are you saying that if they tear the door off they have no responsibility and I have to eat the cost of replacing an appliance that was functioning perfectly well?

If that's what being a landlord is all about, I really need to rethink this whole thing... because it's far from lucrative.

Thanks for all the feedback...


Tom

 

[xylene]

If that's what being a landlord is all about, I really need to rethink this whole thing... because it's far from lucrative.

TomD, if I didn't have my own reasons for my present signature line, this would be my signature.

Good luck, and look into some nice durable, easily serviceable, long life spanned tile, and write the service cost into the lease at a per tile basis.

 

[BL]

TomD, if I didn't have my own reasons for my present signature line, this would be my signature.

Good luck, and look into some nice durable, easily serviceable, long life spanned tile, and write the service cost into the lease at a per tile basis.

Oh and always make sure to purchase extra tiles if some ever needs replacing .

Or just go with sheet again .

And yes a court would look at depreciation of a fridge , even if the tenant broke it .

You would only be entitled to what it is worth today used.

 

[John_DFW]

This may depend on the size of the flooring needing to be replaced (a 8' by 8' as opposed to a 16' by 16'). Example: For an 8' by 8' (64 sq. ft ~ $5/sq ft for tile + $5sq/ft for labor~ $640 to replace ~ 20% life left ~ $128 recoverable).

$5sq/ft for vinyl would be on the high end for material. Sounds high on labor as well, it's a quick and easy install in most cases.

You can get the press and stick tiles for 69-79 cents sq/ft, and install is fast and easy. The press and stick tiles are more repairable if you buy extra as others have mentioned, but can get damaged a little more easily as the corners can peel up or get nicked, especially when sliding furniture or appliances around.