Flooring Policy (units)

Purpose of the policy

To maintain co-op property and set out co-op flooring requirements for members who wish to alter the flooring in their units.

Definitions

Age of Flooring: the age of the flooring is based on the last time that flooring was installed in that room and paid for by the co-op or paid for by a member with approval of the board of the directors.  The standard life expectancies are:

• Wall to wall carpet: 10 years

• Vinyl/linoleum: 12 years

• Laminate: 15 years

• Vinyl Plank: minimum 15 years with lifetime warranty

Policy

Co-op’s responsibilities

1. The co-op will be responsible for the purchase and installation of the flooring with the co-op standard for each unit.

2. The co-op standard is as follows: -

Apartments:

• Vinyl plank throughout

Townhouses:

• Downstairs: vinyl plank throughout

• Upstairs: carpet on stairs, hallways, bedrooms and closets. Vinyl plank in bathrooms.

3. Members can ask the co-op to replace the flooring in their unit at co-op’s expense with the co-op standard flooring, if the age of the flooring in the room is greater than the flooring’s standard life expectancy and if inspection justifies the change.

4. Flooring will be replaced in units according to the following priority basis:

• First – where the nature of the existing flooring in a room presents a health or safety risk to residents confirmed and approved by the Board;

• Second – when recommended after the move out inspection, as part of the move out/move in, where it is convenient for the co-op to carry out flooring upgrades while a unit is vacant;

• Third – subject to availability of funds in the capital replacement plan, where a member has requested flooring replacement and the flooring to be replaced is more than one and a half times the flooring’s standard life expectancy;

• Fourth – subject to availability of funds in the capital replacement plan, where a member has requested flooring replacement and the age of the flooring to be replaced is more than the flooring’s standard life expectancy.

Member’s responsibilities

5.   Members are responsible for the maintenance of the flooring in  their suite including carpet cleaning, to make sure that there is:

• No health or safety risk to residents, and

• A reasonable life expectancy for the flooring.

Members are responsible for reporting any problems (i.e. loose carpet) to the Co-op using the standard maintenance forms.

6.   On move-out, a member may be held responsible for damage or wear and tear to flooring that is inconsistent with the flooring’s life expectancy.  If flooring needs to be replaced due to member’s damage the member will be responsible for the costs on a prorated basis. Members are responsible for the cost of having carpets professionally cleaned on move-out and providing a copy of the receipt to the office in a timely manner. If the receipt is not received in a timely manner, or at all, the carpet will be cleaned and the fee charged back to the member.

7.   A member may replace the flooring in their unit at their own non-reimbursable expense with professionally installed flooring of the approved type that meets or exceeds the co-op standard quality, subject to approval by the Board of Directors.

Alternate Flooring

8. Other types of flooring (i.e. wooden floors, vinyl plank, laminate, may be installed with the approval of the Board of Directors. Such approval will only be granted if the following conditions are met:

• The board of directors is satisfied that there is no history of noise complaints from the unit underneath or next door, and that the flooring change would not worsen the situation

• The member provides a written undertaking

• To take care that those living in the suite underneath/beside are not inconvenienced by additional noise as a result of the choice of flooring;

• To deal promptly with any resulting complaints and take additional measure if necessary (i.e. use of area rugs, removal of shoes, modifying times and nature of activities)

• To pay for the cost of replacing the flooring with flooring of the approved type if complaints cannot be resolved.

• To have the flooring installed professionally and provide a copy of the receipt.

• The board of directors reserves the right to inspect the flooring during and after installation.

9.   The member will pay any additional cost for purchase and installation of flooring that is not of the approved type and these costs are not reimbursable. However, a member may apply to the board to have the co-op assume any additional cost if the type of flooring is requested because a resident of the unit suffers from a chronic health condition, confirmed by a medical doctor’s letter, that will be aggravated by flooring of the approved type. The board’s decision shall be final.

10.   A decision by the Board of Directors, not to permit a type of flooring other than the approved type, or the conditions imposed under point 8 is final:

11.   Units must be restored to co-op standard unless accepted “as is” by the incoming member who also accepts all future responsibility for the flooring and understands that when the life expectancy of the flooring is up, the co-op is only responsible to replace it with the approved applicable co-op standard for that unit.

Failure to abide by the approved Flooring Policy is a violation of your Occupancy Agreement and the Flooring Policy. The board of directors will decide how to proceed with members in breach and their decision may include, but are not limited to:

• Asking the member to restore the unit to co-op standard

• Termination of Occupancy Agreement and

• Other appropriate steps.

Approved by the General Membership:   May 13, 2021