Cushion floor replacement at move-out: is it the tenant's burden?

In Japan, tenants are often charged from their deposit for cushion-floor replacement at move-out. This guide explains, based on the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT) restoration guideline, whether such a charge is reasonable — because who pays depends on the cause, and how much depends on the years of tenancy.

Bottom line: it depends on the cause — and even then, not the full amount

Damage from your own negligence, such as scratches from dragging furniture during a move or mold from leaving condensation unaddressed, generally falls on the tenant. But dents and marks left simply by placing a sofa or refrigerator are ordinary wear and tear, and are the landlord's burden. Cushion floor has a useful life of 6 years, and where the tenant is liable, the share is calculated as (6 − years occupied) ÷ 6. After 5 years it is about 16.7%; after 6 years or more it is effectively 0%, so no replacement charge should normally apply.

Common over-charging patterns

• Charging the full amount while ignoring years of tenancy (no depreciation applied).
• Treating furniture dents and marks as the tenant's burden.
• Replacing the whole floor when only part is damaged.

Use the checker below to estimate the burden split for your case.