Tenant ripped vinyl, but had a bubble

[Mary Murray]

We have an excellent tenant who is being transferred and moving out. In cleaning they pulled out the refrigerator to clean and ripped the vinyl in the kitchen. The flooring was brand new a little over 2 years ago when they moved in, but the installer had left a bubble in the vinyl and wouldn’t replace it at that time. The installer was not licensed and bonded (our mistake). Anyway the tenant when they had pulled out the frig had caught the frig on this bubble and it tore because of the bubble. We will need to replace all of the vinyl in the kitchen. How much of the cost would you charge to the tenant? We live in Washington State.

[John Underwood]

Is the tear under the fridge?

Could you glue it back down?

Would you charge the tenant for trying to do the right thing and it only tearing because you didn't get it installed correctly? Sounds like you knew of the problem and left it that way.

If you had to clean the place and pulled out the fridge would this have happened to you too?

I think I would classify this as my fault and not charge them. Just my opinion.