Renter asks to DIY removing carpet & refinishing hardwood fl

San Francisco, CA · Member since 2017 · 18 posts · 12 votes

Hi all,

So my long term renter (rent-controlled apartment) is asking if she and her bf can remove the carpet throughout the apartment themselves and refinish the hardwood floor underneath. She has a dog, and I do have other renters in the apartment under theirs so noise could be an issue. I also worry they may mess up the project since they aren't professionals.

Is this a good idea or no? What should I suggest instead?

0 Reply

31 views

Most Popular Reply

Greg M.

Rental Property Investor · Los Angeles, CA · Member since 2017 · 2k+ posts · 5k+ votes

No, a non-professional cannot refinish your hardwood floors.

No, a non-insured person cannot do work on your unit.

No, carpet cannot be removed to have hardwood on a second floor apartment.

If they don't like it, they can move and you can raise rent to market (assuming SF allows that).

5 Reply

See this reply in the discussion

12 Replies

Jump to latestLatest

Sort by

Greg M.
Rental Property Investor · Los Angeles, CA · Member since 2017 · 2k+ posts · 5k+ votes
4y
No, a non-professional cannot refinish your hardwood floors.
No, a non-insured person cannot do work on your unit.
No, carpet cannot be removed to have hardwood on a second floor apartment.
If they don't like it, they can move and you can raise rent to market (assuming SF allows that).
5 Reply
Sergey A. Petrov
Real Estate Consultant · Seattle, WA · Member since 2022 · 1k+ posts · 784 votes
4y
What @Greg M. said plus…
Is the carpet past it’s useful life?
If no, take no action and tell the tenants you’ll take it under consideration once the carpet reaches the end of its useful life.
If yes, do you, as owner, prefer carpet or hardwood in there? I always prefer hardwood. Regardless of your choice, you should hire a professional to get the job done.
1 Reply
Kristina MeyersPro Member
Member since 2022 · 2 posts · 0 votes
4y
Do they have any experience with this? Have they done it before? How long have they been tenants? Have they done any DIY stuff for the apartment before? If you talk to them and they understand your dilemma (YOU are on the hook to pay if things go wrong,) then……
I’d lean toward letting them do it.
if it comes out terrible you may have to replace the carpet when they leave, but If they do a good job or even a job that needs a touch up it may end up being ok. And the more work they put into it the more likely they are to be long term tenants.
Would they be comfortable signing a contract saying they will owe you for the cost of replacing if it doesn’t work out? Make sure to write in what happens if the floor already has boards that need to be replaced.
0 Reply
Scott Mac
Austin, TX · Member since 2019 · 5k+ posts · 5k+ votes
4y
No...
0 Reply
Henry T.
Member since 2022 · 1k+ posts · 1k+ votes
4y
Definate no. If the couple have a profession of refinishing floors, then its a maybe worth consideration.
0 Reply
Kristy F.
OP
San Francisco, CA · Member since 2017 · 18 posts · 12 votes
4y
@Kristina Meyers @Sergey A. Petrov The tenant says her boyfriend (not a tenant but living with her) has contracting experience. I don't know how much experience that would be because she last told me he is a musician.

The tenant has been here since 2015. They are decent enough for SF rent-controlled tenants. The carpet has been there for at least 7 years. I would have to replace it anyway if they ever leave. Currently, they are paying around $400 a month below market rate. If they do leave, I would need to remodel the apartment a bit before I can rent it out.

I'm leaning towards no, but may say yes only if they sign something releasing me from all liability and paying to replace the carpet if anything goes wrong.
0 Reply
Sergey A. Petrov
Real Estate Consultant · Seattle, WA · Member since 2022 · 1k+ posts · 784 votes
4y
Quote from @Kristy F.:

@Kristina Meyers @Sergey A. Petrov The tenant says her boyfriend (not a tenant but living with her) has contracting experience. I don't know how much experience that would be because she last told me he is a musician.

The tenant has been here since 2015. They are decent enough for SF rent-controlled tenants. The carpet has been there for at least 7 years. I would have to replace it anyway if they ever leave. Currently, they are paying around $400 a month below market rate. If they do leave, I would need to remodel the apartment a bit before I can rent it out.

I'm leaning towards no, but may say yes only if they sign something releasing me from all liability and paying to replace the carpet if anything goes wrong.

“Contracting experience” does not always translate to a carpet installer. That is a specialty trade. Refinishing hardwood is even more of a specialty. As for having them sign something to reimburse you for a mistake, you likely won’t see a penny of it especially if they mess up the presumably original hardwoods (whether by refinishing or re-laying carpet on top). That original hardwood is very expensive these days…
0 Reply
Ned J.Pro Member
Investor · Manteca, CA · Member since 2017 · 1k+ posts · 2k+ votes
4y
NOPE.... policy should be NEVER let a tenant do work on the unit beyond the most basic stuff.
IF/WHEN they jack it up, its now on you...... NOPE
When they move out or stop paying rent they will use it as leverage.... remember when we did all the work on the place for next to nothing?
They want hardwood floors..... they can pay a pro.... or move to another unit. NOPE
0 Reply
Henry T.
Member since 2022 · 1k+ posts · 1k+ votes
4y
Tell the experienced contractor to write a description of what he intends to do. Sand, or chemicals? Paint or Polyurethane, or Swedish? If sanding, how will they solve the dust problem. Are they gonna move all the furniture into the yard? Removing moulding or not? What if the floors have already been sanded and you can't go any deeper? What if you pull out all the carpet and padding and find a big portion of the floor is repaired plywood? Then what? I'm sure I left out a few things but you get the idea.
0 Reply
Nathan GesnerBusiness Member
Moderator
Real Estate Broker · Cody, WY · Member since 2010 · 28k+ posts · 41k+ votes
4y
Definitely not. It will increase noise between levels. Finished hardwood looks nice, but then the tenant may scratch it up with their dog. And what if they don't finish it properly?
Too much risk. They rented it with carpet, they keep the carpet in.
The DIY Landlord Book4.7247 Reviews
Website View Page
0 Reply
Jason Maguire
Investor · Troy, NY · Member since 2020 · 120 posts · 93 votes
4y
Definitely don't want to be on the hook for that if something goes wrong. If you want this done, just have a professional do it & as others have said, what happens when the dog messes up the floors after you finish them? We re-did my hardwood floors 2 years ago and my nice 90 pound black lab has already destroyed them again :(
I let one of my tenants paint their living room & bedroom last year, but that's the furthest i'd ever go with tenant DIY. I probably wouldn't of even considered it but they had lived in the units for over 30+ years so i decided to throw them a bone.
0 Reply
Bruce WoodruffPro Member
Contractor/Investor/Consultant · San Diego / Phoenix · Member since 2021 · 12k+ posts · 15k+ votes
4y
No. Never. Are you planning on buying a Workers Comp policy on them?
Have you ever run a floor sander? I'd bet your tenant has not. Let's say it gets away from him and gouges the heck out of the floor, and then runs over his foot and tears it up. You'll be sued, have to pay hospital bills and possibly face more civil/criminal charges.
And your nice wood floor is ruined beyond repair.
0 Reply

Join the conversationCreate a free account to reply, vote on answers and follow this thread.