My tenant damaged a tile shelf in my vintage bathroom. I don't know if the shelf can be repaired or if it will have to be replaced. California requires the return of the security deposit within 21 days. She didn't disclose the damage and I only discovered it when I was cleaning. There is now not enough time to have a professional tile repairer estimate the damage. I now have to return the security deposit but I don't know whether to charge the cost of repair of the shelf or the cost of replacement. ($200 vs 800) There is now not enough time to have a professional tile repairer fix/replace the damage. --23.125.xxx.xxx

--47.155.xx.xxx

How did you come to the numbers $200 vs $800? --99.203.xx.xx

plenty - I think $200 is to repair and $800 to replace. I want to know what kind of bathroom shelf costs $800.I can't imagine how much is the house worth if a shelf is $800 !! --72.70.xxx.xx

For future reference, remove anything "vintage" from a rental and replace with standard. --70.44.xxx.xx

Do keep in mind that the tenant was not forthcoming about the damaged shelf. I wouldn’t compromise on quality to save their money. --67.43.xxx.xxx

1. Tenant moved out before end of tenant and didn’t want to come for pre- inspection. I made her do a virtual pre-inspection. (Me in the house, her on zoom). During walk through I didn’t notice break in shelf. She didn’t mention it. She had opportunity to cure all damages but chose not to. Two weeks later when I was cleaning discovered broken shelf. 2. The shelf is installed in shower and matches original tile work. Shelf is likely worth $40 when new. The difficulty is cost of labor. $200 to fix $600 to replace. --23.125.xxx.xxx

Paying someone to do ceramic tile repair (esp in vintage home) is very expensive. If that shelf isn't too elaborate, I'd look in thrift stores and architectural salvage places for a replacement. I'm always on the look out for porcelain/ceramic soap dishes, toothbrush holders, etc. for my 1944 house. Sometimes Ebay or other Vintage sites sell those items. Amazing what people give away. Guy who redid my leaky (always) shower found an awesome built in soap/washrag dish behind the old tile. I kept it just in case. Neat piece of history that got covered up somewhere along the timeline. --72.199.xx.xxx

Then get it fixed. Have the guy write receipt for labor and materials broken out. Use this bill and cancelled check for your security deposit accouting. Pretty simple, no apology needed. If you feel differently then split the charge with tenant. --99.203.xx.xxx

In CA it is perfectly acceptable to deduct the estimated cost of a replacement or repair at the 21 day point and return the excess. Itemize everything, send return receipt and then close it out with a follow up itemization when you have the final invoices. For guidance look at the CA landlord/tenant handbook. Replace what was there, that is what you provided. --107.77.xxx.xx

I had previously looked for a match for 1950s tile. It would have been prohibitively expensive for me to get a match for a single item via a reproduction tile maker. I think that some ebay sellers get reproductions made in bulk for many vintage tile pieces. My cost was much cheaper going that route. --98.122.xxx.xx

Thank you for the great tips! I will be on the look out for a replacement shelf. That is the thing with vintage, it takes a while to find these parts. I will keep a replacement standing by if the fix doesn't hold. I will charge her an estimate for the repair instead of the replacement, because I just don't know what the cost is. Meanwhile if it costs, more than my estimate, I will just be happy this bad tenant is out of my house and life. Bad tenants are what makes landlording so difficult. --23.125.xxx.xxx

What Mark(CA) said. Deduct the estimate from the tile repair person from the SD. I've done it myself, no problems. --96.227.xxx.xxx