Tenant Offered to Pay for Flooring

[EJ Miller]

Hello Everyone, 

I had a tenant move into my rental property roughly 4 months ago. While they were touring they asked if I could replace carpet in one of the bed rooms with vinyl plank and I agreed. Below is how it was written into the lease. 

"Lessee is requesting the one carpeted room be changed to a hard floor surface at Lessors’ expense with-in the first year of lease." 

I haven't gotten the flooring installed yet and my tenant wants it in asap. They offered to pay for half of the installation costs. Could this void the lease somehow? Could there be any consequence for letting them pay for half? 

Thanks!

[Nathan Gesner]

Your written agreement says it will be installed; it does not say who pays for it or when it will be done. Therefore, having the Tenant pay for half of it would not void the contract in any way. HOWEVER...I would write something up that says the tenant agrees to pay for 50% of the flooring costs with no expectation of reimbursement and that the floor becomes your property after they terminate.

In the future, your agreements should be a little more detailed. What material, who pays for it, when it will be complete, etc.