Permanent flooring, ie hardwoord, glued down carpet, vinyl, tile etc will be treated as part of rental property thus requiring you to write off those cost over 27.5 years.

@Kevin Allen - These are for Chicago, but likely very similar for other local housing authorities...MOST COMMON FAIL ITEMSInoperable light fixtures and improperly wired electrical outlets (reverse polarity, open ground, hot neutral reverse, etc.)Deteriorated and unstable paint on surfaces (peeling, cracking, chipping, etc.) in units built prior to 1978 where children under the age of six reside or will resideMissing, inoperable or incorrectly mounted smoke and carbon monoxide detectorsBroken or inoperable windows (cracked glass panes, broken locks, drafty frames, etc.)Exposed electrical wires/connections (light fixtures missing globes, electrical junction boxes missing cover plates or knockout plugs, breaker boxes with open sockets, etc.)Broken/faulty door locks and drafty doorsCutting hazards, including protruding sharp nails pipes/metals objects with jagged edges,deteriorated sheet metal, cracked glass blocks on windows,etc.

In some homes the vin is on a sheet of paper glued inside the door of one of the kitchen cabinets, to the door covering the electrical panel or on the door by the furnace.

Much appeciated,StephenSomething I didn't think of until after I had my contract signed is TV wall mounts.

Maybe us a commercial type carpet that you can loose lay. ie, not glued down and not over padding.

The door can be pulled, cut, 2x4 glued and then clamped. 

Would be awesome for college rental.basement has 12' ceilings. 3 gas meters w mounts for a 4th. 3 electric meters.

Now I have no deposit and a mounting loss.

I was (in my head) thinking about a scenario where a tenant took me (the landlord) to court for extortion...then the burden would fall on you, the evil landlord, to prove the mount charged was "reasonable and customary"I agree taking to court would be foolish, but never underestimate the potential folly of certain tenants.

I pick up these 12 x 12 mesh-mounted mosaic glass tiles at Home Depot for around $5 a sheet; easy to trim with a scissors to fit as needed.