New Carpets- should we pay

pinkshoes

If the carpet is in such a state after just 5 years then it must've been a dirt cheap one in the first place. My parents have just replaced their living room carpet after 20 years, and that was with wear and tear with me and my brother wrestling on it etc... when we were younger. I guess you get what you pay for!

You shouldn't have to pay for it, as it sounds like fair wear and tear. Why not consider looking for somewhere else to live? There's 173 properties listed for rent in your town on rightmove.co.uk!

tbs624

It's good to be on reasonable terms with your LL but this does not mean that your LL should get away with avoiding his legal obligations.

He is obliged to keep the structure of the house in good repair by law, and that includes things like replacing broken windows. The fact there is a credit crunch is no excuse to not get that repair effected - would he accept you not paying your rent because there is a credit crunch?

If the property was provided with carpets at the start of your OH's tenancy, then the LL is obliged to replace them when they become worn and frayed, without looking to you as his tenants to fund any of it. His insurers would take a dim view of him failing to act on a trip hazard and it may mean that they would refuse to pay out if you were injured in a fall.

The best way to deal with repairs issues is always to put them in writing to the LL, however good a relationship you have, and to keep a copy of all letters. See Shelter's info on getting repairs done (link) so that you are aware of your rights as a T and then assert yourselves - you can still do it nicely, but you don't have to accept being fobbed off with excuses.

tbs624

scrummy_mummy wrote: »

.......perhaps his issue is not so much the money as the fag of getting it sorted. ....

If that's the case then tough - he's a LL, he has Ts paying rent and it's all part of letting property. If sorting repairs issues out is too much of "a fag" for any LL then they should quite simply employ someone to manage the property on their behalf or sell up.

moyilla

My current LL HAD to replace ALL carpets in the house due to previous tenants destroying the original carpets (oily boots, iron marks, saturated with cat wee through the underlay and used as ash trays :eek: :eek: :eek: ).

I had to fight with him to make him see that there was no way anyone could be expected to live like that. So he got out a professional carpet cleaner who told him that they would never clean and to replace them.......

2 days before my previous tenancy ended £15 a month was added on my rent for the privilege......................

Wonder how long it takes to pay back a house full of budget cord @ £15 pmth (I don't know the final bill) so I can ask for a reduction? :rotfl:

Interesting though, technicallyat the end of the tenancy will I have ownership rights over the carpets so therfore any damage (which there is not) I would be liable to myself

Good luck OP, let us know how you get on

PasturesNew

If it were me I'd measure up carefully and think hard, then spend a day going round various carpet shops looking for two cheery and affordable rugs that would fit in those areas.

There's no point paying towards replacing carpets that are the LL's responsibility (if it's wear and tear).