Tenants have had carpet fitted without permission

Geenie

2 hats on here!;)

Firstly as a LL the property is let as seen, and the tenants should ask permission to change anything they have agreed to in the contract and inventory. So furnishings would include change of flooring. Do not return the deposit at the end of the tenancy until the property is left as per the AST and what you requested. It might be worth writing a nice letter informing them of the flooring issue. The fact they have spent money on carpets suggests as others have mentioned, that they view the let as long term.....so this is a good thing if this is the only thing they do wrong. Tenants looking after and loving a property as their home is worth it's weight in gold.

Secondly, laminate flooring is truly naff. I wouldn't touch it with a barge pole as nothing makes a property look cheap or a weekend spent at B&Q as this rubbish, beloved of makeover programmes. Be glad they put carpets down, as it has probably increased the value, noise levels and warmth of the place.

Good luck OP.

chodges84

Geenie wrote: »

Secondly, laminate flooring is truly naff. I wouldn't touch it with a barge pole as nothing makes a property look cheap or a weekend spent at B&Q as this rubbish, beloved of makeover programmes. Be glad they put carpets down, as it has probably increased the value, noise levels and warmth of the place.

Good luck OP.

Agree with this. As a potential tennant, I would see Laminate and dispair. Cold, slippery and you so much as spill a glass of water and it swells up.

Laminate looks more stylish? (actually it looks more common and 'me too' these days), but carpet is far more practical.

andrewmp

chodges84 wrote: »

Agree with this. As a potential tennant, I would see Laminate and dispair. Cold, slippery and you so much as spill a glass of water and it swells up.

Laminate looks more stylish? (actually it looks more common and 'me too' these days), but carpet is far more practical.

I thought the same thing, still do to an extent. It's very easy to keep clean though, which is great if you are a bit lazy.

G_M

I think most posters are missing the point. The fact of putting down the carpet is in itself not a problem. It doesn't alter the fabric or structure of the building.

What matters is the state of the property when the tenancy ends. If they take up the carpet and there is no damage left to the laminate beneath, then there's no issue.

If they have caused damage, well, that's why you have a deposit, and if that's not enough, then there are the courts. But until the tenancy ends, let them live in 'their' home.

Sharon87

andrewmp wrote: »

I thought the same thing, still do to an extent. It's very easy to keep clean though, which is great if you are a bit lazy.

I understand why LL's use laminate - no problem of getting the carpet cleaned at end of tenancy and then tenant moaning the cleaning that comes out of the deposit. However I like carpet, my house only has carpet on the stairs and the house gets so cold. In the kitchen and hallways I always have to wear my slippers, I have a rug in the livingroom which is ok.

I'd just leave your tenants alone, maybe make them aware of the situation, so if they do consider any other DIY work, they know they need to contact you first.

myothercarisaferrari

I am the opposite - I'm getting laminate put down but my landlord is cool with it. I'm also replacing the worktops in the kitchen - again, he is fine with this

I am here for the longhaul, but I have two dogs so its easier to keep clean. I treat my home with the utmost respect because after two months of looking at property, he was the only one that would rent to me

andrewmp

Sharon87 wrote: »

I understand why LL's use laminate - no problem of getting the carpet cleaned at end of tenancy and then tenant moaning the cleaning that comes out of the deposit. However I like carpet, my house only has carpet on the stairs and the house gets so cold. In the kitchen and hallways I always have to wear my slippers, I have a rug in the livingroom which is ok.

I'd just leave your tenants alone, maybe make them aware of the situation, so if they do consider any other DIY work, they know they need to contact you first.

I'm the same, only carpet is on stairs, it is very cold. It always seems clean though.

Strapped

I would just ask how they "fitted" the carpet, remind them that they are responsible for any damage to the laminate at the end of the tenancy, and leave it at that. If the carpet is good quality and they intend to leave it, you may even be onto a good thing.