All Forum Posts by: Aaron M.

@Aaron M. my neighbor has a 70 pound dog that stopped in my house to visit for 5 minutes. My entry way has ceramic tile and the dog scratched it. At least hard wood floors can be sanded. It is much harder to change out one tile.

I would charge the customer for refinishing. In the future I would put a weight limit on dogs of 20 pounds to greatly reduce any likelihood of damage. I have had 16 pound dogs on hard wood for years and my kitchen chairs leave bigger scratches than they do.

Landlords should never profit from security deposit deductions. Deductions should be used to fix damage and you should have receipts.

I would never try to profit from deductions, I am just trying to address damage caused by the tenant.

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Originally posted by @Rob D.:

Originally posted by @Aaron M.:

I have an SFR rental (in California) that is sustaining damage from the current renters and I am interested in feedback as to how to proceed with one of the issues.

The house had beautiful maple hardwood floors when it was leased to the renters that currently occupy the house. The renters have a 60 pound dog that has done wonderful job of laying deep scratches all over the flooring. The floors had minimal scratches prior to these renters moving in. I've been told hardwood floors can be sanded and stained twice or so during their lifetimes. The damage from to scratches to the floors is extensive and I can prove the scratches weren't there before as I took meticulous pictures prior to renting out the house to these renters.

My options:

1. Not charge the renters at all and chalk it up to this is what happens when you rent out a house with real hardwood floors to renters with a dog

2. Charge the renters to have the floors sanded and use up one of the two times the floors can be sanded (knowing there is not too much I can do to prevent this from happening the next time I have renters - even if they don't have dogs)

3. Charge to have the floors sanded and instead use the money to replace the wood with tile (is this even legal in CA or anywhere else?)

4. ????

I would charge for the repairs needed to bring the rental to original condition. Next time.... tile. I do tile downstairs on all my rentals and carpet on stairs and upstairs. Carpet is relatively quick and cheap to replace. I charge 1.5x monthly rent as a deposit and $500 per pet (regardless of size) additional security deposit. I don’t call it non refundable pet deposit as in California all deposits are refundable. So I’m holding about $35/4000 dollars in deposit money. If they damage beyond that I look at the difference and make a decision as to a court case or let it go. $100 ? Let it go. A additional 900 in damage I’ll go after it.

Personally? I would get quotes to see the cost of fixing the damage. Charge the repair costs against the deposit. Refund the remainder if any. Send a itemized list of charges and the refund within 21 days of their vacating the premises otherwise they can sue you for all their deposit for violating the 21 day rule.

I would use Old English to blend in the scratches and rerent it. If the new tenant causes additional damage you can charge for that damage also. As long as the new tenant accepts the property as is you do not need to do anything. You can charge fir any additional damage the new tenant may do. You cannot charge fir existing damage as you were already compensated for it.

Are you saying to send a bill for what it would cost to repair the itemized damage and not repair it and use Old English instead? I am open to that but is that legal? Meaning, if they pay for repair do you then HAVE TO follow through on the repair or can you instead pocket the money? I would love to know the answer to that.

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Thank you all for the great feedback and next action items for me to use to help in my decision-making process. I appreciate it very much.

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Originally posted by @Thomas S.:

Option #1. Hard wood floors and tenants do not make a good combination.

You should have known the wood floors would be damaged by tenants and severely damaged by a large dog. Price of doing business.

I hear you. I had a tenant break the lease in December and I was stressing about finding another tenant. I didnt have many options and took on a renter with a large dog. Just how much easier is a 20 pound dog on wood floors than a 60 pound dog, anyways?

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I have an SFR rental (in California) that is sustaining damage from the current renters and I am interested in feedback as to how to proceed with one of the issues.

My options:

1. Not charge the renters at all and chalk it up to this is what happens when you rent out a house with real hardwood floors to renters with a dog

3. Charge to have the floors sanded and instead use the money to replace the wood with tile (is this even legal in CA or anywhere else?)

4. ????

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All Forum Posts by: Aaron M.

Aaron M. has started 5 posts and replied 15 times.

Post: Renters damaged hardwood floors: What to do?

Post: Renters damaged hardwood floors: What to do?

Post: How to have a positive Turnkey investment experience

Post: Renters damaged hardwood floors: What to do?

Post: Renters damaged hardwood floors: What to do?