Rental Property Investor · Northern California · Member since 2017 · 129 posts · 20 votes
Hello,
I had my tenants' move-out walk through yesterday. The carpet was brand new two years ago and it's been kept well. The only two issues are some discoloring by the legs of the bed and some discoloring by the shower, where there is carpet.
I am not planning to charge them for it because they have kept good care of the property. However, it does seem like it could have been avoided. They said they had a rug there, but it happened anyway and it is "wear and tear." However, it looked to me that the rug was not big enough, as the discoloring was on the edges of where the rug must have been. What do you think? (The lighting is not the best, so the blackening doesn't show up as clear as when you look at it, but I hope you can see what I mean.)
Going forward, should I tell the next tenant to have a large enough rug?
Should I consider replacing the carpet in that area by linoleum or something else?
Investor · Clairemont, CA · Member since 2011 · 3k+ posts · 2k+ votes
7y
IMO that is 100% wear and tear, and the rug/mat is a non issue. A floor covering is designed for walking on, and discoloration from walking on is 'normal'. The issue is that carpet is not really a suitable material for outside of a shower, so the solution to the problem is really yours not the tenants....as in I would be hard pressed to expect that a tenant should be subject to an opinion of what is a suitable sized floor mat for outside the shower....
There is a bit of a subjectivity to the discoloration i.e. if they walked inside with motor oil on their shoes, obviously that is not a 'normal' level of soiling. But if it is difficult to get a photo, and on top of that it is a carpet located where carpet is really not appropriate...that's pretty normal.
So like you said, I wouldn't charge them for it....and I would personally look for some closeout Vinyl flooring or someone trying to get rid of 50 SF on craigslist and throw that in on a Sat so you don't end up with a damp floor that damages the framing.
Investor · Clairemont, CA · Member since 2011 · 3k+ posts · 2k+ votes
7y
IMO that is 100% wear and tear, and the rug/mat is a non issue. A floor covering is designed for walking on, and discoloration from walking on is 'normal'. The issue is that carpet is not really a suitable material for outside of a shower, so the solution to the problem is really yours not the tenants....as in I would be hard pressed to expect that a tenant should be subject to an opinion of what is a suitable sized floor mat for outside the shower....
There is a bit of a subjectivity to the discoloration i.e. if they walked inside with motor oil on their shoes, obviously that is not a 'normal' level of soiling. But if it is difficult to get a photo, and on top of that it is a carpet located where carpet is really not appropriate...that's pretty normal.
So like you said, I wouldn't charge them for it....and I would personally look for some closeout Vinyl flooring or someone trying to get rid of 50 SF on craigslist and throw that in on a Sat so you don't end up with a damp floor that damages the framing.
Rental Property Investor · Glendale, CA · Member since 2013 · 685 posts · 334 votes
7y
This is considered wear and tear; I would not charge the tenants as it seems like they too good care of your property if these are your only issues.
I would suggest removing carpet from the bathroom and going with some sort of tile for longevity and steam cleaning all other carpet to freshen it up for the next tenanot.
Thornton, CO · Member since 2016 · 6 posts · 2 votes
7y
Couldn't agree more with the others above. It's definitely bound to happen with carpet in a frequently wet environment regardless of how careful a tenant is. Look at it as a great opportunity to upgrade the flooring to something that makes sense in a bathroom. Linoleum, luxury vinyl tile or plank (LVT/LVP); tile if you're looking spend a little more. This will help protect the subfloor beneath too.
Rental Property Investor · Northern California · Member since 2017 · 129 posts · 20 votes
7y
Thank you, everyone, for your input. I am going to look into changing it. The reason for the carpet by the shower is that the bathroom is part of the master suite (no door in between).
The carpet is in pristine shape otherwise (that and the bed legs), but for sure when it's due to be ripped off, I will not put carpet there.
And yes, like I said, I was not going to deduct this, but I was thinking of mentioning it to my next tenant (to have a good size rug).
Rental Property Investor · Portland OR · Member since 2018 · 2k+ posts · 3k+ votes
7y
It would be interesting to see the layout of the room as it seems to me carpet in the bathroom is a mold/mildew issue and also not so good for your subflooring when it gets damp,,,, so you could put down laminate or vinyl and i bet there is a way to do it so that it looks good.
i would also imagine that this would make the place easier to rent (i would not rent a place with carpet in the bathroom) and save you from possible issues down the road due to water damage etc
Rental Property Investor · Orlando, FL · Member since 2018 · 301 posts · 354 votes
7y
@Maria G. As others have said there should not be carpet in a bathroom, even if there is no door between the bedroom and bath (which I also care for...barn doors are a great solution).
Real Estate Broker · Cody, WY · Member since 2010 · 28k+ posts · 41k+ votes
7y
It's a mistake to put carpet in a bathroom, kitchen, dining room, or any space where there is a high risk of moisture and/or food spills. When it's due to be replaced, install a proper flooring material.
Rental Property Investor · Carrollton, TX · Member since 2013 · 750 posts · 538 votes
7y
My in-laws bought their primary residence a few years ago - an early 80s beast with no updating and carpet in BOTH bathrooms. Drives me nuts. Replace that stuff with tile or vinyl and save yourself the future headaches.
Rental Property Investor · Ankeny, IA · Member since 2017 · 2k+ posts · 3k+ votes
7y
@Maria G.
The idea of carpet in a bathroom makes me want to vomIt in my mouth. Forget whether the tenants should be charged, rip out that bathroom carpeting and put in Luxury Vinyl Plank immediately. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I need to go buy a vat of Purell for cleansing.