Scratches in the parquet at move-out: what tenants pay
Which marks are normal wear, what counts as damage and why you do not have to sand the parquet.
You do not pay for fine scratches and marks from walking. For real damage, you pay the current value. Only your move-in photos show which scratches were already there.
How to check the floor before the handover
Go through the flat room by room. These six points decide whether you pay.
- 1
Fine scratches: normal wear
Small scratches and marks from walking come from normal living. You pay nothing for them.
- 2
Deep gouges: damage
Long, deep marks from dragged furniture are damage.
- 3
Water stains: damage
Dark edges or swollen laminate are damage.
- 4
Burn marks: damage
Normal living does not explain a burn mark.
- 5
Sanding: you do not owe it
Sanding the parquet is not part of the Schönheitsreparaturen (cosmetic repairs such as repainting), so you do not owe it.
- 6
Scratches from before you moved in
You are not responsible for scratches that were already there when you moved in.
Why this matters
Scratched floors often lead to a dispute at the handover, because every floor shows marks after years. If the landlord wants to deduct something, they have to prove that it is damage from your tenancy. With your own photos of the floor at move-in, it is not just your word against the landlord's.
General information, not legal advice.
Frequently asked questions
Do I have to have the parquet sanded when I move out?
No, you do not have to have the parquet sanded. According to the BGH, sanding and sealing is not part of the Schönheitsreparaturen, so you do not owe it even if your lease has a renovation clause.
Do scratches in laminate count as damage?
Fine scratches from normal living are not damage. Deep gouges, swollen patches and burn marks are damage, and for those you pay the current value.
What about dents from furniture?
Marks from furniture that was used normally usually count as normal living. But a wardrobe dragged across the floor that leaves long gouges is damage.
Also in this topic: Smoking in a rented flat: what you pay at move-outLost a key as a tenant: who pays for the lock system?Moving out of a Studentenwohnheim: Abnahme and KautionHandover protocol apps: how BildProof is differentAll guides: Handover & viewings
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