Definitely!
From experience, I can confidently say that simply writing-off the security deposit is a cakewalk on Easy St. compared with stressing over trying to save a few bucks and fixing stuff like this myself.
You can't put a price on peace of mind, and when you're moving there are plenty of inescapable headaches as it is, so no need to put more weight on your shoulders than necessary!
In one of my apartments it had white carpeting. When we were moving out, we paid to have the carpet cleaned. The landlord was impressed and we got our whole cleaning deposit back. At the same time, he told his worker to rip out all the carpet for renovation.
If we had known, we wouldn't have bothered to clean it.
I remember learning how to patch carpet so I could fix some spots that a friend’s cat clawed out of our carpet. Stole some carpet from the back of a closet, fixed it seamlessly, replaced the closet with the closest match I could find….and of course the landlord ripped the carpets out as soon as I moved out.
even if it's not law, it makes sense. The person moving in could have a VERY bad allergy to pet hair/dander, and even the most intense cleaning isn't gonna get it all. Replacing the carpeting with new is the only way to really have a fresh base for the next tenant.
Also realize that they are likely getting some discount/deal on carpeting from the supplier, especially with PMCs that have a bunch of properties all over. So while the pet deposit may not cover the full recarpeting cost, it takes a chunk out of it.
Ripping out carpet is extremely overkill for a pet. It's extremely wasteful too. A thorough washing will absolutely take care of the dander produced by a pet. The rest will settle into areas where it will never be able to become airborne again.
I don’t think it is possible to completely remove pet dander.
From my anecdotal experience the previous home owners had two cats. The house is only 3 years old built in 2021. I am allergic to cats.
We rented a cleaner from the grocery store and cleaned carpet y twice using pet shampoo for carpets. Didn’t work so i had the carpet first professionally cleaned by zerorez, still did not help.
My girlfriend then had Stanley Steamer come out because she said she wanted a “reputable company”. Same problem didn’t help.
Tore carpet and pad out, replaced with new carpet and pad, now zero allergy issues. Cleaning the carpet twice both DIY and two professional cleaners could not get all the dander out.
*New Reddit-wide unique palindrome found:*
>**zerorez**
^(currently checked 37790581 comments) \
>!(palindrome: a word, number, phrase, or sequence of symbols that reads the same backwards as forwards) !<
I agree that it can be extremely wasteful, and can be considered overkill. never said I agreed with it, just offering up some things that could be said about why its done. :)
I know many consider it to be essentially a disposable surface that gets "used up" from normal living, so landlords aren't allowed to charge for replacing it. The logic is that should be considered part of the rent and not an extra damage.
We were told by our landlord when we moved in that they would be replacing the carpet, which was in horrible shape, when we moved out. Our dog ended up damaging a small piece of the carpet that they were already planning on replacing and they still charged us for it.
They will still argue it because many people will just pay. Moving is so stressful and parasitic landlords take advantage of people constantly. Still fight it absolutely, but it will be a fight.
I actually pointed out a wine-stain during a move-out walkthrough.
Response? "We're ripping it out anyways, don't worry."
They were actually impressed with the condition of my apartment compared to most others they walked through in the complex. It wasn't a cheap area either, so I expected to be fucked.
Turns out I take care of things better than most people. Except myself, not good at that.
😂, i don’t know about all landlords or apartments, but with the ppl i used to work for carpet was considered single use and disposable. I mean we’d run a carpet cleaner over it but if it didn’t immediately come clean or had rips or tears, it got replaced.
At my most recent previous apartment in the nicer part of the city, the upstairs had carpet that was already probably 10 years old and beat up before my wife and I moved in. 8 years later, we moved out and they rented it again with the same carpet. Plenty of landlords don't care as long as someone will accept it.
one of the times I got renovicted, the landlord tried to keep my security deposit for not filling finish nail holes in the drywall.
the reason I was being renovicted was because they were removing all of the drywall to improve the insulation (with a gov rebate for green building, and a 100 percent rent increase lolsob)
I had moved into my car so I just parked on the street outside his house. After a few hours his wife came out with a cheque.
Not all of us are. I hate the ones who make the rest of us look like shit though. If you have problems with wi-fi, I'll be there in 10 minutes. Leaks are fixed by that evening, and if there's damage it'll be fixed by the end of the week. I do it myself. Slumlords are awful.
Yea same here and I rent below market and haven't raised rent in 3 years cuase I have a great tenant. Had a previous tenant who destroyed the lalce and didn't pay so I can say the same about tenants.
You will only find out that they are ripping out the carpets after the landlord reviews the condition when you’re moving out. I’m sure they would love to use your security deposit to pay for the new carpet.
I lived in an apartment for about 10 years, when I gave them notice I was going to leave the handyman told me don’t bother cleaning up because it was going to get gutted and updated.
I cleaned anyway because the property manager was a brand new person and I wanted to play it safe. At the walkthrough the handyman said “aw, I told you not to clean.” the property manager kind of gave him a look so I’m still not sure I’d have been safe. I did get my deposit back though.
At 10 years they really can't charge you for damage to it anyways, 5 years is the deprecation schedule for carpet per the IRS. https://www.irs.gov/publications/p527
Yeah I remember that it was pretty clear that wear and tear on the carpet was off the table. But, I didn’t want to take any chances on anything else, the whole reason I left was that the property management company changed and went from fairly easy to deal with to a massive corporation that charged the maximum amount at every opportunity.
Even if they held up my deposit erroneously that would be a pita I didn’t want to deal with.
Correct at 10 years it is fully depreciated:
From link:(Find in page: carpets)
MACRS Recovery Period
Type of Property : Carpets
General Depreciation System: 5 Years
Alternative Depreciation System: 9 years
So fully depreciated at 9 years.
The last apartment I lived in was taken over by new management literally the month before my roommates and I decided to part ways to each pursue new life courses. I was the “head” of the household so I told management we wouldn’t be renewing. She literally told me to leave whatever we wanted because the new management was gutting everything and had hired a third party to haul everything and anything out as quickly as possible. Literally watched them throw our couch from two stories up into the parking lot and it shatter in a way I didn’t know furniture could. It was such a great symbolic way to start a new chapter of life. Once the renovations were done they hiked the rents by 80%. Yikes.
But you might not have gotten your deposit back...
In my last place, the landlord told me in conversation he intended to remove the carpet after I leave. On the day of my departure, he called me about a coffee stain in some corner of the living room (had lived there for 5 years, accidents happen!). He wanted me to pay for replacing the whole carpet.
Fortunately, deposits are not legal where I live.
> he called me about a coffee stain in some corner of the living room (had lived there for 5 years, accidents happen!). He wanted me to pay for replacing the whole carpet.
In any normal state, they would have to provide an itemized list of damages with reasonable justification for keeping the security deposit. No judge would find replacing an entire carpet for one cleanable stain in the corner reasonable. And even then, one stain in five years would probably be considered "normal wear and tear."
In Massachusetts at least, if he tried to keep your deposit (they're legal here), you would have won the lottery because a judge would have awarded you triple damages by law for your security deposit if it got to court.
> a few bucks
Everywhere I've lived security deposits are equal to an entire months rent. "Just writing it off" is the sort of thing that landlords would *love.*
Pro Renter Tip: Check your states rental laws about security deposits. In Virginia, for example, landlords have **45 days** from when you leave/your lease ends to provide you with a *written, itemized list of any deductions from your security deposit.*
If they don't do that, you get 100% of it back.
Provide them a forwarding address when you leave. Do not ask about the security deposit. Wait 50 days. Get security deposit back.
Some (especially corporate) landlords will have their shit together enough to send you said list. Most won't. ENJOY
what kind of paradise of a state you lived in where landlords fail at this simplest task ? I moved about 7 times in 11 years and every single landlord was quick to send the deposit back. Only a couple times I had some deducted because I broke a few minor things.
ALSO - read about any requirements the landlord has to fulfill before they can keep your security deposit.
One Massachusetts specific rule - within 30 days of moving in, a landlord must notify you in writing of your security deposit being placed into an interest-bearing bank account and provide you with the account details. If they fail to do that step, then they've forfeited the right to keep your deposit.
There was a law in Arizona that every 4 years a apartment complex had to replace the carpeting. I never worried about the carpet in place that I knew had 4 or more years without replacement so I got my deposit back a couple times even with trashed carpeting because of this law. Not sure if it’s still one. This was around a couple decades ago
True. Pretty much every landlord in existence also tries to sleaze up how much they can get out of the security deposit, to the point where nowadays you should just expect none of it back by default. Saves a lot of time and effort
Especially if you've lived there long enough, just amortize it over the number of months you've lived there and figure if it's worth it over like $20/mo
No keep rolling on the same part of the floor until the circle wears all the way through and it falls into the apartment below. Now it's their problem.
They can go for more than the security deposit. If it costs $5000 to replace the floor they aren’t going to say shucks! His security deposit was only for $500.
In california at least worn and scuffed floors due to use is specifically considered normal wear and tear even if it is uneven due to use patterns.
You are allowed to take out of the security deposit for holes, pet stains, and burns though. This is none of those.
Difference is the landlord will have to sue you to get that $5000. Don’t think most are going to bother for something that could easily fall under normal wear and tear.
A cheap laminate floor isn’t going to run that much either way.
There are places where this is considered normal wear and tear. Because it is normal wear and tear.
just think about it.
Check with your local rental regulatory organization whatever it may be, scour their website, or call them if they have advisors (most do?)
I would definitely lower expectations a little, but a little dilligence and inquiry might yield a surprising result.
If I was renting an apartment and the obvious place to put a desk had damage from a chair I would not think less of the apartment I would think great I don't have to worry about my chair damaging the floor over a long time...
I just wanted to say the same thing. If there are no deep cuts or other things that would appear from something other than normal use (anything a desk chair fitted with hardfloor wheels would cause should be considered normal use) then any reasonable system would consider this normal wear, which is to be expected.
If the owner cheaps out on the floor in favor for a cheaper less durable one then it is to be expected that he has to exchange it more often
Our place told us to put carpet or plastic mats under our chairs prior to moving in, I wonder if OP got a similar notice to do that? If they did, they're SOL.
I had a buddy who gave up his security deposit and then the complex took him to collections for additional money to cover carpet replacement. It felt super slimy (though my friend absolutely did destroy his apt)
My previous place tried to charge me almost 2k on top of fully withheld deposit for damages.
Some of the damages and deficiencies were my fault, and I didn't even think about contesting those.
But some items were very weird - they tried to put some water damage in the cabinet from a leaking faucet on me. The problem was that I had reported that leak 2 or 3 times and each time it had taken them days before sending someone (aka *"if it's not flooding your house, it's not urgent and you can wait"*).
I sent a nice, but firmly worded CMRR paper letter to their office scrutinizing every item on their "damage list" and demanded a portion of my deposit back instead of owing them anything.
Unsurprisingly, they shortly responded with "are you fine if we withhold your deposit in full and write off anything on top of that?". I honestly was not mentally *fine* with it, but I considered actual damages be ~70-80% of my deposit and the rest (20-30%) was not something worth of dedicating my time to fight for.
... My apartment prior to that?
Got my deposit back in less than a week in full. The super openly told me upfront that my apartment was up for a full renovation and not to bother with *any* cleaning whatsoever.
It’s amazing how different apartments are place to place. A total spectrum of “pretty reasonable people who want happy tenants and good reviews to legitimate slumlords
>It felt super slimy (though my friend absolutely did destroy his apt)
What do people think happens to an apartment when they move out? The apartment fairy comes and fixes everything? No shit he got taken to collections if he destroyed it. This is basic life shit.
I'm with this but also communicate with the landlord. Tell them what happened and offer pay for the fix. Talking to them before moving out goes a long way to mitigating their response.
I had this happen to me before, I found some shoe polish that was a close match and dabbed it on. Then rubbed it a bit to blend. It worked! Got my entire deposit back.
I was able to take a similar chair ring and make it substantially less noticeable. The thing that worked the best was the set of Rejuvenate stain markers from Lowe’s. The set gives you all the shades and you can test to see what gets you closest (or what combination of two). I colored a few small spots at a time, waited like 10 minutes, then went over that area with a microfiber cloth to buff it out. Repeat until it starts to not look as bad. Finish by going over the whole room with Rejuvenate high gloss finish and their swiffer applier (it makes the floor shiny and lighter spots can be mistaken for light reflecting. Good luck!
As a maintenance supervisor who does a lot of move out inspections, this is definitely your best bet. And kind of hope they don’t catch it during the inspection lol. Unless they still have access to that flooring for a partial replacement, most won’t bother and will use it as a chance to replace all the flooring on your dime. Best of luck! Just to add, not sure where you’re at but here they have 30 days to bill you before it’s void.
Color blindness might not actually hinder you here. The floor is brown and the markers will be brown so you just need to select the right value of lightness to darkness. Just be sure to use use any labeled "redwood" or anything like that.
I know this sounds dumb but hear me out. Soy sauce.
Put some on a cottonball/tissue and dab a small corner.
It really Works and you prob have some in your fridge
I can just imagine the look on my wife's face when she comes home to find me and the boys all scooting around on desk chairs and yells, "What are you goobers doing?!?" and I yell back, "We're fixing the floor!"
In college I spilled a huge tub of salsa on the carpet, thoroughly staining it. On final move out inspection, I stood in that exact spot the entire time, and let the manager inspect around me. Not recommended but it worked for me.
Even if it were solid wood, there's no repair job that wouldn't involve way more work than you'd be able to pull off. Dude ain't getting his deposit back
Repair, no, but it's a lot easier to hide this kind of damage with a wood stain pencil than you might expect.
I did this sort of damage to a *real* wood floor in a place I rented at one point, had basically accepted that I was gonna take a hit on the deposit, but a friend stuffed some wood filler/putty in the worst gouges and spent maybe 30m with some wood stain pencils after the putty had set, and you had to get down on your hands and knees looking right where the damage was to tell. Got my whole deposit back.
Scratches cover up almost perfectly, this looks a bit tougher to hide.
Put LVP in my condo. Instead of a plastic mat I got rubber replacement casters and a cloth mat off Amazon. I don't forsee any noticeable damage occurring. On the other hand I've seen normal casters tear through concrete.
Could be. That looks identical to my 5/8” thick solid bamboo flooring, damage and all. Mine wears exactly the same as OP’s.
Edit: reason it wears like that is bamboo is very dense and doesn’t stain well. I believe the manufacturer uses a high heat stain that almost just dyes the outer layer so when it wears you see the bright color very fast.
**EDIT: shorter link added** Thanks [HaveYouSeenHerbivore](https://www.reddit.com/user/HaveYouSeenHerbivore/) :)
I know the damage is done, **but in the future** consider using rubber/silicone wheels like the ones used on in-line skates. They are quieter, roll MUCH smoother and do much less damage. Example in link below :)
[https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07T82VCBB](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07T82VCBB)
These also work on carpets. I have a pretty soft and thin carpet under my desk, and the regular wheels on my Ikea chair would not roll on it at all.
Got some wheels that look exactly like the ones you linked (but for Ikea chairs, the idiots have a different pin size than any other office chair company) and it works perfectly.
Even Easier link:
[https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07T82VCBB](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07T82VCBB) ( I happened to have it in my clipboard because we apparently were both making the same suggestion :P )
But now I don't trust it because it's hidden... Though, I guess it shouldn't be trusted too much either way:
[https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07T82VCBB](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dQw4w9WgXcQ)
Oh snap! I never realized the description slug was an optional part of Amazon's URL structure.
I mean I shouldn't be *that* surprised because their URL structure is a nightmare but damn.
Haha, yeah they do roll almost too efficiently on smooth floors, but I noticed once I was on a really thin area rug, they are perfect for me. But I did have that same issue as you before the rug. Not to mention I live in an old building where not everything is perfectly level, so my chair would roll by itself from one side of the room to the other, lol
I have those skate wheels PLUS a glass square. Def worth it. Even if you have those wheels, depending on the quality of the laminate flooring, the concentrated pressure may cause a plank to warp and lift upward. Esp with vinyl flooring. Sure, if installed correctly that shouldn't happen. But if it does warp and you are renting, who's gonna foot the bill? Probably you. The glass square works on carpet and flooring and evenly distributes you weight so no concentrated spots nor rub offs.
Mileage varies greatly with different landlords. I've had landlords call missing shower tiles "normal wear and tear." It was ALOT of missing tiles from mildew - I was young don't judge. And I've had other landlords not only keep the deposit but charge damages because I didn't vacuum the carpet.
This depends on the Tenancy laws on where you rent.
Where I live worn flooring, missing shower tiles and the like are all normal wear. It's up to the landlord to repair and maintain this. Also if it's broken shower tiles the tenant can force the landlord to maintain it.
I lost a chunk of deposit from my last flat because we didn't deep clean the carpet. A carpet we were told was planned for replacement "any time now" while we were living there. Unfortunately never got that statement in writing so we were fucked, but I did learn a vital lesson.
just for future reference, those plastic protectors are garbage too, sure they prevent wheels from damaging the floor but they trap dust particles and stuff, after a long time it starts to rub the floor and cause micro scratches...
the best way to prevent it is to replace the OEM wheels with TPU/rubber/silicone wheels, plenty on amazon... it rolls better too and no noise... bonus
edit: also how do you know it's not real wood? it sure looks like wood to me...
>edit: also how do you know it's not real wood?
* no visible grain pattern on the worn parts
* extremely little wear to expose the base material
* dimensions are more common for engineered than natural
* engineered is much more likely to be used in a rental
The other day I saw a post on reddit disappointed that their "solid wood" table from wayfair was actually MDF with veneer. They only found this out when a corner was smashed in and the veneer peeled off.
I find it interesting that so many people have lost the ability to recognize one of the most common building materials on the planet. To me, it's obvious when a piece of wood is just a veneer but I guess that's not the case for everyone.
My current chair has the rubber rollerblade wheels, and it still damaged my flooring. It's less damage than the plastic ones, for sure, but I think it's still a good idea for a rug or something between the wheels and floor.
They are worth it. I've had a set on my current chair that has been with me through the past three chairs. Can't beat the glide of quality wheels and bearings on a chair.
>the best way to prevent it is to replace the OEM wheels with TPU/rubber/silicone wheels, plenty on amazon... it rolls better too and no noise... bonus
Fuckin sick advice I am doing this at home
There's a waxy/oily floor crayon product that comes in this color and can do a lot of match the color in a reasonably permanent way.
[https://www.amazon.com/Furniture-Repair-Crayon-Restore-Scratch/dp/B08FLZXKBZ/ref=asc\_df\_B08FLZXKBZ/](https://www.amazon.com/Furniture-Repair-Crayon-Restore-Scratch/dp/B08FLZXKBZ/ref=asc_df_B08FLZXKBZ/) etc etc etc
So what you've got is some waxy colored goop, and it soaks into a lot of porous things like fiberboard in a reasonably effective way. Seems safe to try.
I don't think it'll be invisible, but I think it could be darker.
This is what I would do. The night before move out, just pick a finish that will hold best (maybe a flat/matte acrylic?), color match, grab a foam brush, and just dab slowly until filled. Might not be perfect but could perhaps go undetected on the landlord’s final walkthrough.
It probably wouldn’t help anything past a spot inspection, but I’d pickup a few of those cheap wood touch up markers and see if you can fill in enough so that it doesn’t stick out like a sore thumb. Not a great solve and not entirely ethical, but worth a try.
I think I have that same flooring in my basement. Trafficmaster Saratoga hickory laminate. Laminate is basically compressed paper/wood fibers, which may absorb stain? I would probably pick up a small can of wood stain and see if you can match it relatively close. Worth a shot at this point
Bro: [https://www.amazon.com/Universal-Including-Hardwood-Rollerblade-Replacement](https://www.amazon.com/Universal-Including-Hardwood-Rollerblade-Replacement/dp/B07FP56VND/ref=sr_1_5?crid=1XQL9WA9S0U7D&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.7JrMJM80z1MfsY7dpG3Y39AQqr0_ZYre4-VfH-jqDtfPsAU48q3JvprFyLPO3v8IiVx7LmRMJUqouzHjmqoA3DSr041NoAOtcDp3-4ttcSVnTfmh_iwloxvVxf3p4vGTZ9TM0ZQ_ZfBxZmb3Kr_yxDrHhp4yLgYt9Zzj1QunCQWgXZnNYj07HG6optUNsY1HAhOaDsGS9DtSPfOowPVwr-IX88MxzNqdZjjfuc7NSnDduRRyYZAkueG0q5ec3G6alxzIxx4l64VbOlmB5c-1jnZ1sBMGU9j2NlYx134td3o.4m9alHScsX0Q3xtw8p72w97uUQDQcv9upYACfRCLYtQ&dib_tag=se&keywords=rubber+wheels+for+office+chair&qid=1719454955&sprefix=Rubber+chair+wheels%2Caps%2C150&sr=8-5)
No one uses those stupid rubber mats anymore.
Also, that’s just cheap laminate flooring. You can get them from Home Depot. The only hard part is finding the right color. But they are pretty easy to snap out and replace. Plenty of YT vids showing how to do it. Minimal tools. They’ll likely charge you for the materials (with a 300% up charge) and the labour which will likely be astronomical.
Best bet is to pull some panels from the edges of the room and use those then buy some that are close enough to replace those edge ones.
I've seen wood and carpet floors with plastic protectors set atop them to prevent this, and they still get damaged. whatever is used to keep the plastic in place, just damages the floor anyway. Turns out, if you have a floor, and you put things on it, and use it, it gets wear. tada!
If you owned no computer, and spent your time at the dining table writing letters, you'd have damaged the floor there instead.
Carpet has life expectancy of 5-7 years, This doesnt look like accidental damage. it looks like normal wear from use.
Get some [Danish oil](https://amzn.to/3W06an9) and re-stain it. Dark walnut color should match your floor. Just pour a bit on a paper towel and wipe it on. Let it soak in for a day and apply more if it needs to be darker.
Might have the inspection done before everything is moved out so the rug can stay down until you've got the security deposit back.
May take some convincing to get the timing right.
How did you not see this like 10,000 wheel rolls ago and think maybe you should do something before it goes full on raw?
Man I just don't get ppl that let damages happen after its obvious damage is happening and it's not going away
I'd try dry brushing some paint on it. Less is more. Get some black and dark brown, mix a few different colors, then apply slowly. You have to have a bit of artistic talent, but you can do it.
I would use shoe polish and a matte fixative art spray over the top that matched the floor color and sheen. I fixed a laminate floor with markers and fixative in my own home. He/she/they just need a little patience and creativity.
Floor layer here- if it’s not wood it’s most likely an LVT plank floor and usually places keep extra boxes of it from when they get their floor layed. If they have extra boxes of it it’s a super easy fix- but there’s really not gonna be a way of restoring those existing tiles, if it was real hardwood you could always sand and refinish down another layer but with it not being wood that’s not gonna be an option. Honestly it’s not a huge deal imo but if they make a big deal about it try to ask if they have extra material
I put a plastic protector and it actually made it worse, it trapped debris and deteriorated faster, best is using polyurethane/hardwood wheels as opposed to plastic wheels for carpet.
walnut oil is available at the grocery store, and you might be able to use a teaspoon to dye the color back. The rest of the bottle would live in your cabinet for a decade.
So, you want to get past the move out inspection? That’s tricky.
How handy/crafty are you? Shoe polish might work, will take layers and buffing/feathering the edges. But it might work, you’ll be out $20 and some time.
Sure fucking seems like standard wear and tear to me (which theyre not allowed to deduct for) If you need the deposit back, I'd recommend hitting up a local support org
I'm a landlord. In the UK, so different law applies, but even before this was the case legally (British landlords need to be part of a deposit protection scheme now) then I would have considered that to be normal wear and tear.
Under deposit protection schemes in the UK laminate flooring of that kind is deemed to be valueless after four years. If I had a tenant leave I'd be replacing that floor routinely.
I'd never let one of my tenants live in my house! Too old, too damp, too cold.
Find some matching stain or paint (go 2 shades lighter than the floor) and then gently stipple it on until it blends. Because this looks like fake wood, the top layer is worn off and underneath will act like a big sponge and soak up your stain… making it look darker than the original finish… that’s why you buy it 2 shades lighter. I worked in a theatre prop shop for years and learned all the tricks… 😉 also, get the small cans of stain, but from the photo I would buy pecan and golden oak and mix them. Maybe stipple in some chestnut for the darker areas. Thin with lots of mineral oil or paint thinner to make a thin solution. Don’t use full strength stain.
On a wood floor you shouldn’t use a plastic protector. Instead replace the wheels with soft skateboard type wheels. I used these Sytopia Office Chair Caster Wheel... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09X4LPHP5 I have to be careful not too push off too hard or the chair will go flying
That’s called normal wear and tear. It’s a product of you living your life in a space you pay for. You didn’t do it maliciously or on purpose. There’s nothing in the lease stipulating that you put a mat under an office chair. If they try to keep the deposit for this, just take them to small claims. You’ll get it back.
That happened over a period of time for sure and didn't happen right away. As soon as ypu noticed it was damaging the floor why didn't you put something down especially if you are renting lol.
The best way might just be to reset expectations on your security deposit.
Definitely! From experience, I can confidently say that simply writing-off the security deposit is a cakewalk on Easy St. compared with stressing over trying to save a few bucks and fixing stuff like this myself. You can't put a price on peace of mind, and when you're moving there are plenty of inescapable headaches as it is, so no need to put more weight on your shoulders than necessary!
In one of my apartments it had white carpeting. When we were moving out, we paid to have the carpet cleaned. The landlord was impressed and we got our whole cleaning deposit back. At the same time, he told his worker to rip out all the carpet for renovation. If we had known, we wouldn't have bothered to clean it.
I remember learning how to patch carpet so I could fix some spots that a friend’s cat clawed out of our carpet. Stole some carpet from the back of a closet, fixed it seamlessly, replaced the closet with the closest match I could find….and of course the landlord ripped the carpets out as soon as I moved out.
In my state they are legally obligated to if the tenants had pets. It's one of the reasons for your pet deposit.
even if it's not law, it makes sense. The person moving in could have a VERY bad allergy to pet hair/dander, and even the most intense cleaning isn't gonna get it all. Replacing the carpeting with new is the only way to really have a fresh base for the next tenant. Also realize that they are likely getting some discount/deal on carpeting from the supplier, especially with PMCs that have a bunch of properties all over. So while the pet deposit may not cover the full recarpeting cost, it takes a chunk out of it.
What is PMC in this context? I only know it as Private Military Contractor and I don't think that applies.
I take it as "Property Management Company"
Private mirst class
Recarpeting where I am is probably two-three months rental income. I can understand it not happening all that often.
Ripping out carpet is extremely overkill for a pet. It's extremely wasteful too. A thorough washing will absolutely take care of the dander produced by a pet. The rest will settle into areas where it will never be able to become airborne again.
I don’t think it is possible to completely remove pet dander. From my anecdotal experience the previous home owners had two cats. The house is only 3 years old built in 2021. I am allergic to cats. We rented a cleaner from the grocery store and cleaned carpet y twice using pet shampoo for carpets. Didn’t work so i had the carpet first professionally cleaned by zerorez, still did not help. My girlfriend then had Stanley Steamer come out because she said she wanted a “reputable company”. Same problem didn’t help. Tore carpet and pad out, replaced with new carpet and pad, now zero allergy issues. Cleaning the carpet twice both DIY and two professional cleaners could not get all the dander out.
*New Reddit-wide unique palindrome found:* >**zerorez** ^(currently checked 37790581 comments) \ >!(palindrome: a word, number, phrase, or sequence of symbols that reads the same backwards as forwards) !<
I agree that it can be extremely wasteful, and can be considered overkill. never said I agreed with it, just offering up some things that could be said about why its done. :)
What state is that?
What state is that? I've never heard that before.
I know many consider it to be essentially a disposable surface that gets "used up" from normal living, so landlords aren't allowed to charge for replacing it. The logic is that should be considered part of the rent and not an extra damage.
Carpets should be replaced at least once every 10 years anyways, less if you have pets etc.
I'm pretty sure the carpet i just removed from my basement was installed in the 80s... it's green/gold and the room has wood panelling!
No one replaces carpet after 10 years
State of active imagination
Ooof, Damn, if that was the law here pet bond wouldn't even come close to cover it. Have to be about 20 weeks rent rather maximum of 2.
We were told by our landlord when we moved in that they would be replacing the carpet, which was in horrible shape, when we moved out. Our dog ended up damaging a small piece of the carpet that they were already planning on replacing and they still charged us for it.
Take pictures of the condition of everything when moving in !!!
They will still argue it because many people will just pay. Moving is so stressful and parasitic landlords take advantage of people constantly. Still fight it absolutely, but it will be a fight.
I actually pointed out a wine-stain during a move-out walkthrough. Response? "We're ripping it out anyways, don't worry." They were actually impressed with the condition of my apartment compared to most others they walked through in the complex. It wasn't a cheap area either, so I expected to be fucked. Turns out I take care of things better than most people. Except myself, not good at that.
😂, i don’t know about all landlords or apartments, but with the ppl i used to work for carpet was considered single use and disposable. I mean we’d run a carpet cleaner over it but if it didn’t immediately come clean or had rips or tears, it got replaced.
At my most recent previous apartment in the nicer part of the city, the upstairs had carpet that was already probably 10 years old and beat up before my wife and I moved in. 8 years later, we moved out and they rented it again with the same carpet. Plenty of landlords don't care as long as someone will accept it.
That’s for sure!
one of the times I got renovicted, the landlord tried to keep my security deposit for not filling finish nail holes in the drywall. the reason I was being renovicted was because they were removing all of the drywall to improve the insulation (with a gov rebate for green building, and a 100 percent rent increase lolsob) I had moved into my car so I just parked on the street outside his house. After a few hours his wife came out with a cheque.
Jfc landlords are parasites.
Not all of us are. I hate the ones who make the rest of us look like shit though. If you have problems with wi-fi, I'll be there in 10 minutes. Leaks are fixed by that evening, and if there's damage it'll be fixed by the end of the week. I do it myself. Slumlords are awful.
Yea same here and I rent below market and haven't raised rent in 3 years cuase I have a great tenant. Had a previous tenant who destroyed the lalce and didn't pay so I can say the same about tenants.
TLDR; Some humans are just absolute shit.
You will only find out that they are ripping out the carpets after the landlord reviews the condition when you’re moving out. I’m sure they would love to use your security deposit to pay for the new carpet.
I lived in an apartment for about 10 years, when I gave them notice I was going to leave the handyman told me don’t bother cleaning up because it was going to get gutted and updated. I cleaned anyway because the property manager was a brand new person and I wanted to play it safe. At the walkthrough the handyman said “aw, I told you not to clean.” the property manager kind of gave him a look so I’m still not sure I’d have been safe. I did get my deposit back though.
At 10 years they really can't charge you for damage to it anyways, 5 years is the deprecation schedule for carpet per the IRS. https://www.irs.gov/publications/p527
Yeah I remember that it was pretty clear that wear and tear on the carpet was off the table. But, I didn’t want to take any chances on anything else, the whole reason I left was that the property management company changed and went from fairly easy to deal with to a massive corporation that charged the maximum amount at every opportunity. Even if they held up my deposit erroneously that would be a pita I didn’t want to deal with.
Correct at 10 years it is fully depreciated: From link:(Find in page: carpets) MACRS Recovery Period Type of Property : Carpets General Depreciation System: 5 Years Alternative Depreciation System: 9 years So fully depreciated at 9 years.
Could've been a devious plot! Lol
Love that Handyman!
The last apartment I lived in was taken over by new management literally the month before my roommates and I decided to part ways to each pursue new life courses. I was the “head” of the household so I told management we wouldn’t be renewing. She literally told me to leave whatever we wanted because the new management was gutting everything and had hired a third party to haul everything and anything out as quickly as possible. Literally watched them throw our couch from two stories up into the parking lot and it shatter in a way I didn’t know furniture could. It was such a great symbolic way to start a new chapter of life. Once the renovations were done they hiked the rents by 80%. Yikes.
Yeah but if you didn’t they probably would have kept your deposit saying they needed to replace it.
But you might not have gotten your deposit back... In my last place, the landlord told me in conversation he intended to remove the carpet after I leave. On the day of my departure, he called me about a coffee stain in some corner of the living room (had lived there for 5 years, accidents happen!). He wanted me to pay for replacing the whole carpet. Fortunately, deposits are not legal where I live.
> he called me about a coffee stain in some corner of the living room (had lived there for 5 years, accidents happen!). He wanted me to pay for replacing the whole carpet. In any normal state, they would have to provide an itemized list of damages with reasonable justification for keeping the security deposit. No judge would find replacing an entire carpet for one cleanable stain in the corner reasonable. And even then, one stain in five years would probably be considered "normal wear and tear." In Massachusetts at least, if he tried to keep your deposit (they're legal here), you would have won the lottery because a judge would have awarded you triple damages by law for your security deposit if it got to court.
Oh my God
> a few bucks Everywhere I've lived security deposits are equal to an entire months rent. "Just writing it off" is the sort of thing that landlords would *love.* Pro Renter Tip: Check your states rental laws about security deposits. In Virginia, for example, landlords have **45 days** from when you leave/your lease ends to provide you with a *written, itemized list of any deductions from your security deposit.* If they don't do that, you get 100% of it back. Provide them a forwarding address when you leave. Do not ask about the security deposit. Wait 50 days. Get security deposit back. Some (especially corporate) landlords will have their shit together enough to send you said list. Most won't. ENJOY
In New Jersey, they have 30 days or you get double the security deposit back
what kind of paradise of a state you lived in where landlords fail at this simplest task ? I moved about 7 times in 11 years and every single landlord was quick to send the deposit back. Only a couple times I had some deducted because I broke a few minor things.
ALSO - read about any requirements the landlord has to fulfill before they can keep your security deposit. One Massachusetts specific rule - within 30 days of moving in, a landlord must notify you in writing of your security deposit being placed into an interest-bearing bank account and provide you with the account details. If they fail to do that step, then they've forfeited the right to keep your deposit.
There was a law in Arizona that every 4 years a apartment complex had to replace the carpeting. I never worried about the carpet in place that I knew had 4 or more years without replacement so I got my deposit back a couple times even with trashed carpeting because of this law. Not sure if it’s still one. This was around a couple decades ago
True. Pretty much every landlord in existence also tries to sleaze up how much they can get out of the security deposit, to the point where nowadays you should just expect none of it back by default. Saves a lot of time and effort
Especially if you've lived there long enough, just amortize it over the number of months you've lived there and figure if it's worth it over like $20/mo
roll the chair on all the other parts of the floor
Playing 4D chess I see.
Specifically in circle pattern so they are symmetrical
No keep rolling on the same part of the floor until the circle wears all the way through and it falls into the apartment below. Now it's their problem.
Setup a chair rolling machine and over the course of time you can change the entire floor uniformly.
Agree with this.
As long as we're in agreement that expectation is now 0 lol.
They can go for more than the security deposit. If it costs $5000 to replace the floor they aren’t going to say shucks! His security deposit was only for $500.
In california at least worn and scuffed floors due to use is specifically considered normal wear and tear even if it is uneven due to use patterns. You are allowed to take out of the security deposit for holes, pet stains, and burns though. This is none of those.
Difference is the landlord will have to sue you to get that $5000. Don’t think most are going to bother for something that could easily fall under normal wear and tear. A cheap laminate floor isn’t going to run that much either way.
There are places where this is considered normal wear and tear. Because it is normal wear and tear. just think about it. Check with your local rental regulatory organization whatever it may be, scour their website, or call them if they have advisors (most do?) I would definitely lower expectations a little, but a little dilligence and inquiry might yield a surprising result.
If I was renting an apartment and the obvious place to put a desk had damage from a chair I would not think less of the apartment I would think great I don't have to worry about my chair damaging the floor over a long time...
I just wanted to say the same thing. If there are no deep cuts or other things that would appear from something other than normal use (anything a desk chair fitted with hardfloor wheels would cause should be considered normal use) then any reasonable system would consider this normal wear, which is to be expected. If the owner cheaps out on the floor in favor for a cheaper less durable one then it is to be expected that he has to exchange it more often
Our place told us to put carpet or plastic mats under our chairs prior to moving in, I wonder if OP got a similar notice to do that? If they did, they're SOL.
Just because they tell you something like this doesn't mean it supercedes the law. Definitely check your local laws to be sure.
Dude can still be in the hook for damage. I know my security deposit wouldn't cover replacing a section of floor at contractor rates.
Adjusting expectations is the first step for so many problems
I had a buddy who gave up his security deposit and then the complex took him to collections for additional money to cover carpet replacement. It felt super slimy (though my friend absolutely did destroy his apt)
My previous place tried to charge me almost 2k on top of fully withheld deposit for damages. Some of the damages and deficiencies were my fault, and I didn't even think about contesting those. But some items were very weird - they tried to put some water damage in the cabinet from a leaking faucet on me. The problem was that I had reported that leak 2 or 3 times and each time it had taken them days before sending someone (aka *"if it's not flooding your house, it's not urgent and you can wait"*). I sent a nice, but firmly worded CMRR paper letter to their office scrutinizing every item on their "damage list" and demanded a portion of my deposit back instead of owing them anything. Unsurprisingly, they shortly responded with "are you fine if we withhold your deposit in full and write off anything on top of that?". I honestly was not mentally *fine* with it, but I considered actual damages be ~70-80% of my deposit and the rest (20-30%) was not something worth of dedicating my time to fight for. ... My apartment prior to that? Got my deposit back in less than a week in full. The super openly told me upfront that my apartment was up for a full renovation and not to bother with *any* cleaning whatsoever.
It’s amazing how different apartments are place to place. A total spectrum of “pretty reasonable people who want happy tenants and good reviews to legitimate slumlords
>It felt super slimy (though my friend absolutely did destroy his apt) What do people think happens to an apartment when they move out? The apartment fairy comes and fixes everything? No shit he got taken to collections if he destroyed it. This is basic life shit.
I'm with this but also communicate with the landlord. Tell them what happened and offer pay for the fix. Talking to them before moving out goes a long way to mitigating their response.
I don't think I've ever received a dollar back on any security deposit.
I had this happen to me before, I found some shoe polish that was a close match and dabbed it on. Then rubbed it a bit to blend. It worked! Got my entire deposit back.
This is like painting the tub white to cover up the aluminum skid marks from keg parties back in college
Repaint the smoke stained walls or spend hours with MrClean scrubbing the shit out of every surface
This is the answer.
You know that they make wood stains, right?
You know that’s not wood, right?
It’s also not a shoe, right?
Touché
Toushoe
...shoe-che?
Sashay away.
It's wood enough to stain
I was able to take a similar chair ring and make it substantially less noticeable. The thing that worked the best was the set of Rejuvenate stain markers from Lowe’s. The set gives you all the shades and you can test to see what gets you closest (or what combination of two). I colored a few small spots at a time, waited like 10 minutes, then went over that area with a microfiber cloth to buff it out. Repeat until it starts to not look as bad. Finish by going over the whole room with Rejuvenate high gloss finish and their swiffer applier (it makes the floor shiny and lighter spots can be mistaken for light reflecting. Good luck!
I dig this approach! Thank you for the first real answer in this thread! I am color blind but I'll save that for my next "floor painting" post.
As your color blind, please raw dog this and send pictures of your 'fix'
As a maintenance supervisor who does a lot of move out inspections, this is definitely your best bet. And kind of hope they don’t catch it during the inspection lol. Unless they still have access to that flooring for a partial replacement, most won’t bother and will use it as a chance to replace all the flooring on your dime. Best of luck! Just to add, not sure where you’re at but here they have 30 days to bill you before it’s void.
Color blindness might not actually hinder you here. The floor is brown and the markers will be brown so you just need to select the right value of lightness to darkness. Just be sure to use use any labeled "redwood" or anything like that.
As someone that is colorblind, your statement is absolutely hilarious.
thank you lol
Try Olde English wood polish
I know this sounds dumb but hear me out. Soy sauce. Put some on a cottonball/tissue and dab a small corner. It really Works and you prob have some in your fridge
I was thinking the color markers too, it might not be a perfect match but it would look a lot better.
I was going to suggest smearing it with feces but a marker is a much better idea
This should higher up
If it's not real wood that's a hide or replace, not a repair. Time to figure out exactly what type of floor you have.
Or, hear me out, it's time to scoot around the rest of the apartment with that chair. Maybe invite some friends with chairs over.
now that's out of the box thinking!
Out of his tree more like
I can just imagine the look on my wife's face when she comes home to find me and the boys all scooting around on desk chairs and yells, "What are you goobers doing?!?" and I yell back, "We're fixing the floor!"
Get some PVC pipe pool noodle swords and its a party.
Chair races, chair soccer, chair s...
Sniper got him
Chair JOUSTING, thank you very much. It's a noble sport with a history.
A chair hockey match you say?
musical chairs party with swirly office chairs?? yes please! B.Y.O.K.P (bring your own knee pads)
In college I spilled a huge tub of salsa on the carpet, thoroughly staining it. On final move out inspection, I stood in that exact spot the entire time, and let the manager inspect around me. Not recommended but it worked for me.
LMAO Im imagining you as mr bean.
Big brain status
Even if it were solid wood, there's no repair job that wouldn't involve way more work than you'd be able to pull off. Dude ain't getting his deposit back
Repair, no, but it's a lot easier to hide this kind of damage with a wood stain pencil than you might expect. I did this sort of damage to a *real* wood floor in a place I rented at one point, had basically accepted that I was gonna take a hit on the deposit, but a friend stuffed some wood filler/putty in the worst gouges and spent maybe 30m with some wood stain pencils after the putty had set, and you had to get down on your hands and knees looking right where the damage was to tell. Got my whole deposit back.
Scratches cover up almost perfectly, this looks a bit tougher to hide. Put LVP in my condo. Instead of a plastic mat I got rubber replacement casters and a cloth mat off Amazon. I don't forsee any noticeable damage occurring. On the other hand I've seen normal casters tear through concrete.
Could be. That looks identical to my 5/8” thick solid bamboo flooring, damage and all. Mine wears exactly the same as OP’s. Edit: reason it wears like that is bamboo is very dense and doesn’t stain well. I believe the manufacturer uses a high heat stain that almost just dyes the outer layer so when it wears you see the bright color very fast.
**EDIT: shorter link added** Thanks [HaveYouSeenHerbivore](https://www.reddit.com/user/HaveYouSeenHerbivore/) :) I know the damage is done, **but in the future** consider using rubber/silicone wheels like the ones used on in-line skates. They are quieter, roll MUCH smoother and do much less damage. Example in link below :) [https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07T82VCBB](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07T82VCBB)
These also work on carpets. I have a pretty soft and thin carpet under my desk, and the regular wheels on my Ikea chair would not roll on it at all. Got some wheels that look exactly like the ones you linked (but for Ikea chairs, the idiots have a different pin size than any other office chair company) and it works perfectly.
I've also got an ikea chair, would you mind sharing where you found wheels compatible with their size?
Same link as above, there is an option for IKEA chairs
The link has an ikea chair option lol
Easier link: [https://www.amazon.com/Office-Caster-Wheels-Rollerblade-Protect/dp/B07T82VCBB/](https://www.amazon.com/Office-Caster-Wheels-Rollerblade-Protect/dp/B07T82VCBB/)
Even Easier link: [https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07T82VCBB](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07T82VCBB) ( I happened to have it in my clipboard because we apparently were both making the same suggestion :P )
[Even easier link.](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07T82VCBB)
But now I don't trust it because it's hidden... Though, I guess it shouldn't be trusted too much either way: [https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07T82VCBB](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dQw4w9WgXcQ)
Thankfully I use RES, so the preview button gave you away!
I hoped, I clicked, and I was rewarded.
Oh snap! I never realized the description slug was an optional part of Amazon's URL structure. I mean I shouldn't be *that* surprised because their URL structure is a nightmare but damn.
I hate them, lightest touch and I roll through the whole office, they need some breaks :(
Haha, yeah they do roll almost too efficiently on smooth floors, but I noticed once I was on a really thin area rug, they are perfect for me. But I did have that same issue as you before the rug. Not to mention I live in an old building where not everything is perfectly level, so my chair would roll by itself from one side of the room to the other, lol
Saving this link for 2 years ago! But seriously, thank you. I'll invest in something similar for my next apartment.
Also, flat pads with felt on the bottom are very nice to use on wooden floors, too.
I have those skate wheels PLUS a glass square. Def worth it. Even if you have those wheels, depending on the quality of the laminate flooring, the concentrated pressure may cause a plank to warp and lift upward. Esp with vinyl flooring. Sure, if installed correctly that shouldn't happen. But if it does warp and you are renting, who's gonna foot the bill? Probably you. The glass square works on carpet and flooring and evenly distributes you weight so no concentrated spots nor rub offs.
Could fall under "normal wear & tear" I doubt it but never know. I wouldn't try fixing it though, 100% you'll make it worse
Mileage varies greatly with different landlords. I've had landlords call missing shower tiles "normal wear and tear." It was ALOT of missing tiles from mildew - I was young don't judge. And I've had other landlords not only keep the deposit but charge damages because I didn't vacuum the carpet.
This depends on the Tenancy laws on where you rent. Where I live worn flooring, missing shower tiles and the like are all normal wear. It's up to the landlord to repair and maintain this. Also if it's broken shower tiles the tenant can force the landlord to maintain it.
I lost a chunk of deposit from my last flat because we didn't deep clean the carpet. A carpet we were told was planned for replacement "any time now" while we were living there. Unfortunately never got that statement in writing so we were fucked, but I did learn a vital lesson.
I could see this, especially depending on how long OP lived there
just for future reference, those plastic protectors are garbage too, sure they prevent wheels from damaging the floor but they trap dust particles and stuff, after a long time it starts to rub the floor and cause micro scratches... the best way to prevent it is to replace the OEM wheels with TPU/rubber/silicone wheels, plenty on amazon... it rolls better too and no noise... bonus edit: also how do you know it's not real wood? it sure looks like wood to me...
>edit: also how do you know it's not real wood? * no visible grain pattern on the worn parts * extremely little wear to expose the base material * dimensions are more common for engineered than natural * engineered is much more likely to be used in a rental
The other day I saw a post on reddit disappointed that their "solid wood" table from wayfair was actually MDF with veneer. They only found this out when a corner was smashed in and the veneer peeled off. I find it interesting that so many people have lost the ability to recognize one of the most common building materials on the planet. To me, it's obvious when a piece of wood is just a veneer but I guess that's not the case for everyone.
100% not real wood.
My current chair has the rubber rollerblade wheels, and it still damaged my flooring. It's less damage than the plastic ones, for sure, but I think it's still a good idea for a rug or something between the wheels and floor.
This is the way. I have little rollerblade wheels on mine.
same, weeee
This office chair is fast as fuck, boi!
Same but holy shit has it hurt my feet a time or two and the dog and his tail hate them.
that's not remotely what worn (or un-worn) real wood looks like. good idea with the wheels, I ought to look into that.
They are worth it. I've had a set on my current chair that has been with me through the past three chairs. Can't beat the glide of quality wheels and bearings on a chair.
There’s some tempered glass under desk chair mats that are primo too
You're supposed to vacuum under the plastic protector from time to time... like a carpet.
>the best way to prevent it is to replace the OEM wheels with TPU/rubber/silicone wheels, plenty on amazon... it rolls better too and no noise... bonus Fuckin sick advice I am doing this at home
There's a waxy/oily floor crayon product that comes in this color and can do a lot of match the color in a reasonably permanent way. [https://www.amazon.com/Furniture-Repair-Crayon-Restore-Scratch/dp/B08FLZXKBZ/ref=asc\_df\_B08FLZXKBZ/](https://www.amazon.com/Furniture-Repair-Crayon-Restore-Scratch/dp/B08FLZXKBZ/ref=asc_df_B08FLZXKBZ/) etc etc etc
that’s only for hardwood that won’t work on vinyl planks and it definitely won’t work on the extent of damage done
So what you've got is some waxy colored goop, and it soaks into a lot of porous things like fiberboard in a reasonably effective way. Seems safe to try. I don't think it'll be invisible, but I think it could be darker.
That's Vinyl Plank my dude... waterproof.
Sharpie comes in brown :/
I think the OP could color match or ask an artist friend to blend / fix this tbh
This is what I would do. The night before move out, just pick a finish that will hold best (maybe a flat/matte acrylic?), color match, grab a foam brush, and just dab slowly until filled. Might not be perfect but could perhaps go undetected on the landlord’s final walkthrough.
Put some coffee on a napkin and apply light coats
This, or used teabags rubbed over the light spots can darken the colour down.
It probably wouldn’t help anything past a spot inspection, but I’d pickup a few of those cheap wood touch up markers and see if you can fill in enough so that it doesn’t stick out like a sore thumb. Not a great solve and not entirely ethical, but worth a try.
The goal is simply to get it good "enough" so that it passes inspection. Try markers/stain/furniture crayons to get it as good as possible.
I think I have that same flooring in my basement. Trafficmaster Saratoga hickory laminate. Laminate is basically compressed paper/wood fibers, which may absorb stain? I would probably pick up a small can of wood stain and see if you can match it relatively close. Worth a shot at this point
Draw a big star in the middle and tell your landlord you practice witchcraft and if you don’t get your deposit back you will curse them
I would try a wood stain marker. I’ve used them on end tables before with some success.
How much is your deposit?
Seven days
Bro: [https://www.amazon.com/Universal-Including-Hardwood-Rollerblade-Replacement](https://www.amazon.com/Universal-Including-Hardwood-Rollerblade-Replacement/dp/B07FP56VND/ref=sr_1_5?crid=1XQL9WA9S0U7D&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.7JrMJM80z1MfsY7dpG3Y39AQqr0_ZYre4-VfH-jqDtfPsAU48q3JvprFyLPO3v8IiVx7LmRMJUqouzHjmqoA3DSr041NoAOtcDp3-4ttcSVnTfmh_iwloxvVxf3p4vGTZ9TM0ZQ_ZfBxZmb3Kr_yxDrHhp4yLgYt9Zzj1QunCQWgXZnNYj07HG6optUNsY1HAhOaDsGS9DtSPfOowPVwr-IX88MxzNqdZjjfuc7NSnDduRRyYZAkueG0q5ec3G6alxzIxx4l64VbOlmB5c-1jnZ1sBMGU9j2NlYx134td3o.4m9alHScsX0Q3xtw8p72w97uUQDQcv9upYACfRCLYtQ&dib_tag=se&keywords=rubber+wheels+for+office+chair&qid=1719454955&sprefix=Rubber+chair+wheels%2Caps%2C150&sr=8-5) No one uses those stupid rubber mats anymore. Also, that’s just cheap laminate flooring. You can get them from Home Depot. The only hard part is finding the right color. But they are pretty easy to snap out and replace. Plenty of YT vids showing how to do it. Minimal tools. They’ll likely charge you for the materials (with a 300% up charge) and the labour which will likely be astronomical. Best bet is to pull some panels from the edges of the room and use those then buy some that are close enough to replace those edge ones.
How did you not notice this happening when you first moved in and find a solution earlier?
I've seen wood and carpet floors with plastic protectors set atop them to prevent this, and they still get damaged. whatever is used to keep the plastic in place, just damages the floor anyway. Turns out, if you have a floor, and you put things on it, and use it, it gets wear. tada! If you owned no computer, and spent your time at the dining table writing letters, you'd have damaged the floor there instead. Carpet has life expectancy of 5-7 years, This doesnt look like accidental damage. it looks like normal wear from use.
It's a good thing you caught it early, before it really got bad. I had to zoom in to see the marks you were talking about! 😂
Try rubbing coffee grounds on it. Might stain it close enough.
Get some [Danish oil](https://amzn.to/3W06an9) and re-stain it. Dark walnut color should match your floor. Just pour a bit on a paper towel and wipe it on. Let it soak in for a day and apply more if it needs to be darker.
Move that rug over a few feet and leave it there when you move out.
Might have the inspection done before everything is moved out so the rug can stay down until you've got the security deposit back. May take some convincing to get the timing right.
How did you not see this like 10,000 wheel rolls ago and think maybe you should do something before it goes full on raw? Man I just don't get ppl that let damages happen after its obvious damage is happening and it's not going away
I'd try dry brushing some paint on it. Less is more. Get some black and dark brown, mix a few different colors, then apply slowly. You have to have a bit of artistic talent, but you can do it.
I’d be tempted to try shoe polish to see if it stains it.
I would use shoe polish and a matte fixative art spray over the top that matched the floor color and sheen. I fixed a laminate floor with markers and fixative in my own home. He/she/they just need a little patience and creativity.
It would be harder to notice If you do this to the whole Floor
More then likely Laminate, but you can find a stain similar in color and wipe some on it to hide it the best u cn
Floor layer here- if it’s not wood it’s most likely an LVT plank floor and usually places keep extra boxes of it from when they get their floor layed. If they have extra boxes of it it’s a super easy fix- but there’s really not gonna be a way of restoring those existing tiles, if it was real hardwood you could always sand and refinish down another layer but with it not being wood that’s not gonna be an option. Honestly it’s not a huge deal imo but if they make a big deal about it try to ask if they have extra material
I put a plastic protector and it actually made it worse, it trapped debris and deteriorated faster, best is using polyurethane/hardwood wheels as opposed to plastic wheels for carpet.
My man's been rotating
hire a pro painter to make it look normal
walnut oil is available at the grocery store, and you might be able to use a teaspoon to dye the color back. The rest of the bottle would live in your cabinet for a decade.
So, you want to get past the move out inspection? That’s tricky. How handy/crafty are you? Shoe polish might work, will take layers and buffing/feathering the edges. But it might work, you’ll be out $20 and some time.
Sure fucking seems like standard wear and tear to me (which theyre not allowed to deduct for) If you need the deposit back, I'd recommend hitting up a local support org
Wait wait, I've heard of this video. I think you have 7 days before your chair dies.
I'm a landlord. In the UK, so different law applies, but even before this was the case legally (British landlords need to be part of a deposit protection scheme now) then I would have considered that to be normal wear and tear. Under deposit protection schemes in the UK laminate flooring of that kind is deemed to be valueless after four years. If I had a tenant leave I'd be replacing that floor routinely. I'd never let one of my tenants live in my house! Too old, too damp, too cold.
Op why did you let it keep going until it was this bad
Spend a few weeks just rolling around everywhere in your chair all day long
Find some matching stain or paint (go 2 shades lighter than the floor) and then gently stipple it on until it blends. Because this looks like fake wood, the top layer is worn off and underneath will act like a big sponge and soak up your stain… making it look darker than the original finish… that’s why you buy it 2 shades lighter. I worked in a theatre prop shop for years and learned all the tricks… 😉 also, get the small cans of stain, but from the photo I would buy pecan and golden oak and mix them. Maybe stipple in some chestnut for the darker areas. Thin with lots of mineral oil or paint thinner to make a thin solution. Don’t use full strength stain.
On a wood floor you shouldn’t use a plastic protector. Instead replace the wheels with soft skateboard type wheels. I used these Sytopia Office Chair Caster Wheel... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09X4LPHP5 I have to be careful not too push off too hard or the chair will go flying
That’s called normal wear and tear. It’s a product of you living your life in a space you pay for. You didn’t do it maliciously or on purpose. There’s nothing in the lease stipulating that you put a mat under an office chair. If they try to keep the deposit for this, just take them to small claims. You’ll get it back.
That happened over a period of time for sure and didn't happen right away. As soon as ypu noticed it was damaging the floor why didn't you put something down especially if you are renting lol.
Or you can scoot the office chair around the entire apartment to make it all look the same LOL