Korean Job Discussion Forums

[mariaanceney]

Hey I need some advice. One caveat before you read is that I'm unsure of the amount my landlord will ask for, so I can't be too specific about the numbers involved in the situation.

I am about to finish my lease on an apartment in Seoul. I leave in February (just to give you a time frame).

My landlord came to look at the house today and said that there was a large scratch on the floor that wasn't there before. I know that we did not make the scratch, but I don't have any pictures from when we first rented the apartment that cover that area. The floor is thin wood (possibly synthetic) strips.

What are my rights in this situation? Does the landlord need to have any proof that the scratch was not there before? Do I? How much can he ask for damages? My key money was 3 million won. Can he ask for that much (3 million won is a lot to me)?

Also, for those that know about flooring in Korea, does any have a clue about how much an appropriate amount for floor damage might be?

Honestly, I'm 100% I did not make the scratch. I don't mind paying money for damage that I have done, but I don't want to be extorted.

Any help/advice would be appreciated.

Thanks.

[CrikeyKorea]

There is no way they are gonna try and get 3 mill out of you... A picture to prove it or having discussed it prior to moving would have been better. But, in lieu of the current situation, you will have to see what figure they come up with.

Find out if they intend to replace that area, fill it in, or just take some money for damages before you pay anything cos that will dictate how much they should get.

I would imagine a hundred bucks would do fine though...

[Dwenjoen88]

I agree with the above post. Also an excellent suggestion to anyone renting. TAKE PHOTOS before you move in. I've had several friends have big issues with landlords claiming damage. A couple I stayed with when i first moved here had a 10million won deposit and their landlord tried to keep half of it for wall damage. Ended up being a huge drawn out fight that they eventually gave up on, since they made good money and just wanted to get out of here.

Stand your ground if you didn't do that damage.

[Troglodyte]

Wait to see how much he's asking for. I can't imagine it being 3 million. If it's small enough that you don't mind paying it to avoid a long drawn out process, then just pay it. If it's enough that you are reluctant to pay it, then get someone to give you an estimate on how much to replace the damaged parts. I kind of doubt that it's real wood. If it was real, I think you'd know it. And if it IS real wood, it can be sanded out and re-varnished. If it's those interlocking plastic coated panels (which are usually particle board inside) then it MIGHT be possible to pull up the floor, replace a few, and then put them all back in place. But ask a company that does that for an estimate.

Anyway, those interlocking panel things have a limited use period. When you buy them they say on the package how long they are expected to last in different conditions. The ones intended for offices or high usage areas last longer. The ones for bedroom wear out faster.

Can you post some photos of the floor showing some close ups of the scratch and that show what type of flooring you have? It might be easier to take a guestimate about the cost for repairing them.

[mariaanceney]

Hi thanks for your advice everyone!

To Troglodyte, this might sound ridiculous, but I don't understand how to post photos.

I actually found a photo from before that covers the same area, and it appears there might be a mark there, but the photo is really grainy. We think that the issue is that the floor was freshly cleaned when we looked at the house, so the scratch wasn't really apparent to new renters (like me). However, as the year has gone by, and the floor and gone without a good cleaning, dirt has crept into the nooks and crannies. I don't know if the photo will be enough proof.

I do think that you're right, it's probably not real wood. To give you an idea of how long a scratch I'm talking about, it covers around 14 thin panels of, what seems to be, synthetic wood.

We've emailed our landlord about it, but he hasn't responded yet. Also, if my landlord is reasonable, I have no problem giving a "end-of-year" fee or whatever. I just don't want the amount to be extreme (500,000 + is too much for me to question).

Our boss informed us about the end-of-contract protocol. She said the landlord should look at the house on the last day, but if it's an exorbitant amount it doesn't leave us much time to dispute. Is it okay if we ask him to come earlier? Should we just wait until that day?

Also, if anyone has a better idea about this stuff and doesn't mind sending me an email address, I'd love to send you the photos and hear your opinions.

Thanks so much!