Tiling bathroom floor of rented apartment.

ToxicPaddy

Hi there,

I am currently renting an apartment and I can see myself being here for the foreseeable future. The only issue I have is that there is this terrible linoleum floor on the bathrooms instead of a tiled floor. Apart from that all is very good.

So I've been thinking about approaching the landlord and asking if I could get the bathroom floors tiled at either my expense or a shared expense, the LL pays for the for the tile and I pay for the tiler or vice versa.

It should not be a ridiculous amount of money, the bathrooms are in total about 6sq meters as they are small and one is only an ensuite. I reckon a days work at most and its only the floor, the walls are fine.

Has anyone ever done this before? Am I crazy to do this?

Tox

murphaph

This is going to be commonplace in 10 years Paddy as folks settle in for longer term renting. German tenants renovate their kitchens/bathrooms as well at their expense.

ToxicPaddy

murphaph wrote: »

This is going to be commonplace in 10 years Paddy as folks settle in for longer term renting. German tenants renovate their kitchens/bathrooms as well at their expense.

Yeah I have friends living on the continent who have been renting for years and in some countries, sign 9 year + leases at a time.

I have been renting for years and its just handier for me as I have moved around a bit with work and I hate commuting so if I find a place I like, I have no problems spending a few quid sprucing it up and bit, after all its my home while I'm living there.

UDP

You will have to accept that unless you have a long term lease that protects you then you can be given 1 or 2 months notice to move out. Not sure I would put too much into it with that uncertainty.

kkelliher

ToxicPaddy wrote: »

Hi there,

I am currently renting an apartment and I can see myself being here for the foreseeable future. The only issue I have is that there is this terrible linoleum floor on the bathrooms instead of a tiled floor. Apart from that all is very good.

So I've been thinking about approaching the landlord and asking if I could get the bathroom floors tiled at either my expense or a shared expense, the LL pays for the for the tile and I pay for the tiler or vice versa.

It should not be a ridiculous amount of money, the bathrooms are in total about 6sq meters as they are small and one is only an ensuite. I reckon a days work at most and its only the floor, the walls are fine.

Has anyone ever done this before? Am I crazy to do this?

Tox

Good tenants are worth their salt and a good landlord should recognise this and agree some sort of deal with you

lukesmom

The house we are renting has awful lino flooring in the kitchen and we are tiling it ourselves, buying the tiles and my husband putting them down.

ToxicPaddy

kkelliher wrote: »

Good tenants are worth their salt and a good landlord should recognise this and agree some sort of deal with you

Unfortunately I have all too frequently experienced landlords who see tenants as a walking cash machine and nothing more. I'm hoping that wont be the case with my current landlord as I have had limited dealings with them, so fingers crossed.

lukesmom wrote: »

The house we are renting has awful lino flooring in the kitchen and we are tiling it ourselves, buying the tiles and my husband putting them down.

If I had the skills to do this, I certainly would. Any chance when he's finished you can send him over my way?? Food and Beer provided in plenty :D:D

StillWaters

I think it's a good idea and LL should jump at it. Id offer to buy and choose tiles, as that is likely to be cheaper than labour, and you can then choose.

Ray Palmer

Most landlords would agree to this but with conditions.

1) They choose the tile or at least agree it
2) They approve the final work (you could put them down all wrong)
3) You take liability for injuries resulting from carrying out the job.

May seem a bit much but if you think about it , quite reasonable.

As a LL I wouldn't have a problem paying for all the materials.

pwurple

I'd love if the tenants showed an interest in improving the place. Shows they will be there for a while, and probably won't wreck it. Do run it past him/her of course to make sure. I'd be happy to pay for the materials for this as a landlord.

odds_on

Ray Palmer wrote: »

Most landlords would agree to this but with conditions.

1) They choose the tile or at least agree it
2) They approve the final work (you could put them down all wrong)
3) You take liability for injuries resulting from carrying out the job.

May seem a bit much but if you think about it , quite reasonable.

As a LL I wouldn't have a problem paying for all the materials.

I agree with RP here.

Also, if you pay for the tiles (colour etc by agreement between you both) and the landlord organizes and pays for the fitting. This way, if there is a problem with the quality of work, it is the landlord's responsibility.

Safer for both landlord and tenant.

the_syco

Before you put down the tiles, check for any water damage when you take up the lino.

ToxicPaddy

Cheers for all the responses guys.

I won't be putting them down myself, as its not my property, I would be afraid of making a mess of it and want it done right. So I shall be looking for a decent experienced tiling contractor with proof of their work and who has proper insurance in place. (if the landlord doesn't know someone already)

The plan would be to put down some neutral coloured tiles that will brighten up the 2 x bathrooms as they have no windows so can be a bit dark but I've already put in some higher wattage bulbs which helped. Both the bathroom and ensuite have plain white tiles around the bath, shower and sink units so I'll probably stick with white floor tiles that have some grip in them.

All lino will be lifted a few days before hand to let the floor breathe a little and also to check for damp spots. The floor will also be thoroughly cleaned of anything that was below the lino and washed properly too with time to dry thoroughly.

Anything I'm missing?

djimi

odds_on wrote: »

I agree with RP here.

Also, if you pay for the tiles (colour etc by agreement between you both) and the landlord organizes and pays for the fitting. This way, if there is a problem with the quality of work, it is the landlord's responsibility.

Safer for both landlord and tenant.

I agree with this; if the landlord is happy to split the cost then Id be looking to buy the materials and let the landlord find the person they are happy with to carry out the work. Even if you are going to bear all of the cost Id still be inclined to let the landlord pick the tiler if possible; the last thing you want is to have the landlord come back to you at some point in the future and claim that the work carried out was not up to scratch and try look for you to cover the cost of repairs or whatever (I dont know how far they would get with such a claim but it doesnt seem worth the hassle).

fasttalkerchat

Tiles should last 5 years or more so unless you are signed up for more than 5 years you could offer to pay half.
The way I look at is anything that I wont take with me when I move out I will only pay a contribution towards the use of.

Ray Palmer

fasttalkerchat wrote: »

Tiles should last 5 years or more so unless you are signed up for more than 5 years you could offer to pay half.
The way I look at is anything that I wont take with me when I move out I will only pay a contribution towards the use of.

Any legit LL should do this for the tax return reasons. It is a no brainier and I would welcome any tenant that wants an improvement. I rely of tenants to tell me of their comfort. I really want people happy in the property I provide. Personally I put money into the property on mostly the same level of my own when it comes to things like heating, windows etc... Bathroom and kitchens will be basics but quality. Flooring is one that can be tricky as expensive stuff requires maintenance or care which tenants don't really like to do. Dark colours and cheap carpet and lino is generally a good idea.

RATM

pwurple wrote: »

I'd love if the tenants showed an interest in improving the place. Shows they will be there for a while, and probably won't wreck it. Do run it past him/her of course to make sure. I'd be happy to pay for the materials for this as a landlord.

Couldn't agree more. As a tenant I've been in my place coming on 4 years now and don't intend budging for at least another two or three.

Since I've been here the landlady has agreed to painting the living room and main bedroom. Later next month she is replacing the living room carpet and repainting the spare room and hallway. I've painted the bathroom myself in the intervening period.

I was kinda planking myself asking her for a new carpet but it is worn (8 years use) and in bad need of replacement. Her reaction was excellent, she said she was happy to see me make the place home and hoped I'd stay another few years yet, which I fully intend to do.

ToxicPaddy

RATM wrote: »

Couldn't agree more. As a tenant I've been in my place coming on 4 years now and don't intend budging for at least another two or three.

Since I've been here the landlady has agreed to painting the living room and main bedroom. Later next month she is replacing the living room carpet and repainting the spare room and hallway. I've painted the bathroom myself in the intervening period.

I was kinda planking myself asking her for a new carpet but it is worn (8 years use) and in bad need of replacement. Her reaction was excellent, she said she was happy to see me make the place home and hoped I'd stay another few years yet, which I fully intend to do.

You're very lucky to have a landlord like that, they are worth their weight in gold and are few n far between.

ToxicPaddy

Ray Palmer wrote: »

Any legit LL should do this for the tax return reasons. It is a no brainier and I would welcome any tenant that wants an improvement. I rely of tenants to tell me of their comfort. I really want people happy in the property I provide. Personally I put money into the property on mostly the same level of my own when it comes to things like heating, windows etc... Bathroom and kitchens will be basics but quality. Flooring is one that can be tricky as expensive stuff requires maintenance or care which tenants don't really like to do. Dark colours and cheap carpet and lino is generally a good idea.

I have found that lino looks cheap and doesn't age well, it also takes the whole look off a nice kitchen or bathroom. Good quality tiles are a much better choice, last longer and look better.

My personal choice would be for wooden floors throughout a property. Much better option than carpets, easier to maintain and clean.

RATM

ToxicPaddy wrote: »

You're very lucky to have a landlord like that, they are worth their weight in gold and are few n far between.

Yeah she is really sound and I'm glad to have her as a landlady.

She's in Canada too so I haven't actually seen her in about 3 years now. Her dad does any maintenance jobs that are beyond my own ability. Always done with minimum of fuss and even though he know I don't mind him letting himself in he always calls a few hours in advance to check its okay.

Ray Palmer

ToxicPaddy wrote: »

I have found that lino looks cheap and doesn't age well, it also takes the whole look off a nice kitchen or bathroom. Good quality tiles are a much better choice, last longer and look better.

My personal choice would be for wooden floors throughout a property. Much better option than carpets, easier to maintain and clean.

I agree in your own home but tenants seem to destroy things. I have removed tiles and wooden floors after putting them in for that reason. Never cracked a floor tile in my life yet tenants somehow managed to do it. Somehow the same flooring in my house is perfect after 8 years but only lasted 3 years in rented places. Varnish destroyed and marks all over the floor. Laminate flooring was destroyed within a year. Carpet and lino are cheaper and easier to replace and actually last longer from my experience in a rented place.

ToxicPaddy

Ray Palmer wrote: »

I agree in your own home but tenants seem to destroy things. I have removed tiles and wooden floors after putting them in for that reason. Never cracked a floor tile in my life yet tenants somehow managed to do it. Somehow the same flooring in my house is perfect after 8 years but only lasted 3 years in rented places. Varnish destroyed and marks all over the floor. Laminate flooring was destroyed within a year. Carpet and lino are cheaper and easier to replace and actually last longer from my experience in a rented place.

Jeez you've had a rough time with tenants so. No idea how someone could break a floor tile

sam34

ToxicPaddy wrote: »

No idea how someone could break a floor tile

it's easier than you'd think! my father dropped a mug onto the kitchen floor at home and the mug smashed, chipping the tile in the process.

ToxicPaddy

sam34 wrote: »

it's easier than you'd think! my father dropped a mug onto the kitchen floor at home and the mug smashed, chipping the tile in the process.

ugh!!.. Jeez when I think of the amount of things I have dropped at home on my own tile floor (including myself ), I haven't cracked one yet and hope I never will :P

PhilMcGee

I too wonder how tenants break stuff.
I have the exact same tv unit on my own house as i had in an apartment.
I have mine, in perfect condition for 5 years. The one in the apartment had to be replaced after a year.
And dont get me started on the rate at which tenants go through shower hoses.
I have one in my house thats lasted many years. Same one in apartments only last months.
How .........................

sam34

ToxicPaddy wrote: »

ugh!!.. Jeez when I think of the amount of things I have dropped at home on my own tile floor (including myself ), I haven't cracked one yet and hope I never will :P

oh i know, lots of things have been dropped on that floor before and after he chipped the tile but theres only been damage that one time.

ToxicPaddy

PhilMcGee wrote: »

I too wonder how tenants break stuff.
I have the exact same tv unit on my own house as i had in an apartment.
I have mine, in perfect condition for 5 years. The one in the apartment had to be replaced after a year.
And dont get me started on the rate at which tenants go through shower hoses.
I have one in my house thats lasted many years. Same one in apartments only last months.
How .........................

Yeah I wondered that myself, went through a period of moves due to houses/apartments being sold by the landlords and owner occupiers purchasing the properties and wanting to live there. Almost every single place I moved into, the shower heads/hoses were in bits

I only move the shower hose/head when I'm washing the shower/bath or cleaning the showerhead.. and even then how do you break it??

Another thing I cant understand, why dont people hoover under beds and sofas???

StillWaters

ToxicPaddy wrote: »

Another thing I cant understand, why dont people hoover under beds and sofas???

I can't understand why people would.

MissFlitworth

ToxicPaddy wrote: »

Jeez you've had a rough time with tenants so. No idea how someone could break a floor tile

sam34 wrote: »

it's easier than you'd think! my father dropped a mug onto the kitchen floor at home and the mug smashed, chipping the tile in the process.

Or you might, say, be topping up a half empty bottle of your Mam's bacardi with bathroom tap water after a night out, hear the door open when she wasn't supposed to be home from work for an hour, panic and drop it on the floor. I have it on decent authority that that will smash a tile.

Ray Palmer

PhilMcGee wrote: »

I too wonder how tenants break stuff.
I have the exact same tv unit on my own house as i had in an apartment.
I have mine, in perfect condition for 5 years. The one in the apartment had to be replaced after a year.
And dont get me started on the rate at which tenants go through shower hoses.
I have one in my house thats lasted many years. Same one in apartments only last months.
How .........................

I actually have a spare washing machine waiting for when one of the tenants will break theirs. I can plumb a washing machine in minutes because I have done it so often. Same machine I have had for 8 years yet lasted about a year in rental.

I think they just overload the machine and also wash runners in it. Tenants do not treat rental property very well. I have given up querying how it happens because they will lie about it.

They break beds at a rate too. No their child wasn't jumping up and down on it is always the response.

ToxicPaddy

MissFlitworth wrote: »

Or you might, say, be topping up a half empty bottle of your Mam's bacardi with bathroom tap water after a night out, hear the door open when she wasn't supposed to be home from work for an hour, panic and drop it on the floor. I have it on decent authority that that will smash a tile.

Oops!! :D:D

djimi

It should be pointed out that homeowners are just as likely to break washing machines, beds, crack tiles etc; believe it or not **** happens sometimes! Anyone can drop something heavy and break a floor tile; its not something that is unique to tenants.

Ray Palmer

djimi wrote: »

It should be pointed out that homeowners are just as likely to break washing machines, beds, crack tiles etc; believe it or not **** happens sometimes! Anyone can drop something heavy and break a floor tile; its not something that is unique to tenants.

It does happen but if you actually have experience with being a LL you soon discover it happens much more. It is much more likely to happen in a rented place. 4 washing machines 2 in rented places 2 ,1 in my house, 1 in my mothers. All the same make, 2 in rented places don't last 2 years. The others last 10 and 8 years. How do you explain that?

Never cracked a floor tile in my life, 3 places the tiles are broken within a year.

If they had to pay for it I doubt it would happen. Are they happy to pay for the damage? Not a chance, every argument under the sun about how it must be poor quality and my fault. Great when you spot the issue and they never told you and how they don't know how it happened.

I just expect it now and put it into running costs. I don't think it is malicious just disregard.

Doom

UDP wrote: »

You will have to accept that unless you have a long term lease that protects you then you can be given 1 or 2 months notice to move out. Not sure I would put too much into it with that uncertainty.

Not if you have a part 4 lease...

djimi

Ray Palmer wrote: »

It does happen but if you actually have experience with being a LL you soon discover it happens much more.

Unless you have access to the property of every homeowner around then I dont think you are in a position to say this tbh.

Ray Palmer wrote: »

It is much more likely to happen in a rented place. 4 washing machines 2 in rented places 2 ,1 in my house, 1 in my mothers. All the same make, 2 in rented places don't last 2 years. The others last 10 and 8 years. How do you explain that?

Never cracked a floor tile in my life, 3 places the tiles are broken within a year.

If they had to pay for it I doubt it would happen. Are they happy to pay for the damage? Not a chance, every argument under the sun about how it must be poor quality and my fault. Great when you spot the issue and they never told you and how they don't know how it happened.

I just expect it now and put it into running costs. I don't think it is malicious just disregard.

Im not saying that there arent tenants out there who dont look after things; Im saying that there are just as likely to be homeowners who behave in the same way. Anyone can break a floor tile. Ive known plenty of homeowners who have broken washing machines by doing stupid things like overfilling them or putting runners in them etc. It happens in all walks of life.

Ray Palmer

djimi wrote: »

Unless you have access to the property of every homeowner around then I dont think you are in a position to say this tbh..

Maybe you should read up on probability and statistics. You don't need to see everything to figure out likelihood. I have enough friends and family to know they don't replace washing machines every 2 years like can happen in a rental property. Don't need to see into every house to know that is not normal wear and tear.

djimi wrote: »

Im not saying that there arent tenants out there who dont look after things; Im saying that there are just as likely to be homeowners who behave in the same way. Anyone can break a floor tile. Ive known plenty of homeowners who have broken washing machines by doing stupid things like overfilling them or putting runners in them etc. It happens in all walks of life.

I know what you are saying but I am not seeing what you are basing it on. You are being overly defensive of tenants. There are people here telling you how tenants manage to break things that they have no problems with. It's human nature to be more carful of things you have to pay for than things you don't. Just be realistic and listen to what people are saying as experienced people dealing with tenants.

The big difference is if a homeowner damages their appliances they pay for it and lesson learned a tenant doesn't pay so does it again. That is my experience over 20 years of renting to about 40-50 people.

djimi

Fair enough; Im not entirely sure why Im bothering arguing this. I dont agree with this notion that tenants dont take as good care of things in their property as homeowners, but if you have experienced different from being a landlord then so be it. Of all the family and friends I have known who have rented I dont think I can think of anyone who has caused damage to a property or appliance above and beyond what a homeowner might do, but thats my experience I guess.

PhilMcGee

Another favorite of mine candles. They light candles on dressers and shelves right up against the wall and there are black streaks up the wall.
Move the candles out a bit. Problem solved.
Whats the obsession with candles.

ToxicPaddy

PhilMcGee wrote: »

Another favorite of mine candles. They light candles on dressers and shelves right up against the wall and there are black streaks up the wall.
Move the candles out a bit. Problem solved.
Whats the obsession with candles.

I moved into a place a few years ago that two girls had been renting before me. There were bloody candle holders every where. Thought I was moving into a bloody witches coven.

Was half expecting to see a five pointed star scraped into the floor under the bed!!!!