Responsibility to Repair and Clean Wood Floors

Landlord asked the DHCR if it was required to clean or repair wood floors in tenant's apartment. In an opinion letter, the DHCR stated that tenant was required to clean the wood floor. Landlord wasn't responsible for such ordinary maintenance. Landlord also wasn't responsible for sanding or shellacking wood floors on a periodic basis. But landlord would be required, with no charge to tenant, to replace missing floor strips or floor boards, or to sand and shellac the floor if it hadn't been sanded for many years, if the floor was very dirty, and if no other cleaning method would correct the problem.

DHCR Opin. Ltr. by Gary Turk (9/29/94) [2-page document]