Renting Out Your Property: Floor Condition at Handover

Reasonable wear vs. tenant-caused damage

Some floor changes are expected over any tenancy: minor scuff marks from furniture, slight dulling of the finish from foot traffic, and small surface scratches are generally considered normal wear rather than damage a tenant is liable for.

What typically crosses into liability territory is different in kind, not just degree: deep gouges, burn marks, water damage from negligence (like an overflowing washing machine left unattended), or stains from spills that weren't cleaned up. The distinction matters for any deposit discussion, and it's worth documenting condition clearly at both move-in and move-out.

What's typically whose responsibility

What landlords can do proactively

• Document floor condition with photos at move-in, dated and ideally shared with the tenant, to establish a clear baseline for later comparison.
• Specify floor care expectations in the tenancy agreement — e.g., no dragging furniture, prompt spill cleanup — rather than assuming this is obvious.
• Get a professional condition assessment at handover if there's any disagreement, rather than relying on visual judgement alone.
• Refresh the floor before the tenancy begins where needed, so any future condition comparison starts from a clear, freshly-documented baseline rather than an already-worn floor.