Carpet replacement in a rented flat

Toiletduck

Hi,

We recently moved out of a rented flat. Wax was spilt onto the bedroom carpet which could not be removed. We have been informed that the carpet must be replaced. The letting agents have told us that it would be much cheaper for us to pay and arrange this ourselves and they have given us the measurements for the room and asked us to get the carpet fitters to contact them to arrange fitting.

Whilst we do not dispute the carpet damage or the fact it needs replacing I am concerned that they are asking for us to pay for it upfront in addition to the deposit they hold. (The deposit is £545 and the carpet will cost £250 installed) I have asked for a written statement that this is the only matter of contention and that the deposit will be refunded in full and whilst they have confirmed this by email they will not provide a letter stating this – they noticeable avoid the question.

My concern is we are effectively increasing our liability from £545 to £795 with no certainty that they will not make further deductions. They are pressuring us into paying for it with threats of increased costs (upto the entire deposit) including having to pay for people to move the new tenants furniture and paying for susbsequent inspections of the carpet if they have to arrange the replacement themselves.

Is this normal and reasonable or should we just let them deduct it from the deposit?

Cheers

Andy

CloudCuckooLand

So people don't go through the same, "did you not get the wax out ?" questions; https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/3006850

If you are worried about increasing your liability, tell them to do it themselves, and watch them find ways to bump it up to the full £545...

If you can get them to agree £250, do so.

Seems weird that you are out, but they will allow access for your contractors...you might as well follow the getting wax out advice on the old thread...

Toiletduck

Hi,

I think it was the ironing over brown paper trick that did the carpet in. Its such cheap stuff that the iron melted it. Anyway I agree I fully expect them to find ways to bump it upto £545 if we dont comply. But I also have a concern they will try and take money out of the deposit anyway even if we do replace it. I would be more reassured if they were to put it in writing but they just ignore the request.

Is it normal though for people to pay for repairs outside of the deposit scheme?

Cheers

andy

CloudCuckooLand wrote: »

So people don't go through the same, "did you not get the wax out ?" questions; https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/3006850

If you are worried about increasing your liability, tell them to do it themselves, and watch them find ways to bump it up to the full £545...

If you can get them to agree £250, do so.

Seems weird that you are out, but they will allow access for your contractors...you might as well follow the getting was out advice on the old thread...

SuzieSue

I would look at the following thread - I am not sure that you are liable for replacing the whole carpet if only a small amount is damaged:

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/3074468

Also, be very careful about doing it outside the deposit scheme - I assume they are asking you to do this so that you can't dispute it later via the scheme.

Edit: I have sent you the wrong link, I will try and find the correct one.

SuzieSue

This is the correct thread:

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/3038178

Toiletduck

Hi,

Thanks for the link but I don’t think that is the same situation. The link refers to professional cleaning clauses which I am aware from personal experience are unenforceable (my brother and sister-in-law successfully disputed a £175 deduction for professional cleaning.)

Potentially we could dispute that the carpet was 2.5 years old and might only be expected to last 5 years in a rental property and therefore we should only be liable for 50% of the replacement costs. I cant say I am certain on this one though, although we would certainly argue it if they attempted to make an excessive deposit deduction.

Cheers

Andy

SuzieSue wrote: »

I would look at the following thread - I am not sure that you are liable for replacing the whole carpet if only a small amount is damaged:

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/3074468

Also, be very careful about doing it outside the deposit scheme - I assume they are asking you to do this so that you can't dispute it later via the scheme.

Edit: I have sent you the wrong link, I will try and find the correct one.

Toiletduck

Hi thanks, using the formula in that link:

http://www.depositprotection.com/documents/dealing-with-deposits-disputes-and-damages.pdf

Ifyou expect the carpet to last 5 years we should pay £125 or for 10 years we should pay £187.50.

Of course perhaps they know this and so they would inflate the initial costs to £545 so we just bring it back down to something like £250 with a dispute and may be in no better a position anyway!

SuzieSue wrote: »

This is the correct thread:

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/3038178

slyracoon

Toiletduck wrote: »

Hi,

Potentially we could dispute that the carpet was 2.5 years old and might only be expected to last 5 years in a rental property and therefore we should only be liable for 50% of the replacement costs. I cant say I am certain on this one though, although we would certainly argue it if they attempted to make an excessive deposit deduction.

Cheers

Andy

Is your deposit protected?

Do not pay outside of the deposit scheme, thats what the deposit is for. You are correc that you are not liable to pay for the full costs of a new carpet, that would be considered 'betterment' if the carpet is already a few years old.

Tell the Landlord/Agent to sort it themselves and to notify you of the cost they plan to deduct from your deposit. If it is excessive or if they are charging for the full cost of the replacement then dispute it with the deposit scheme.

SuzieSue

Toiletduck wrote: »

Hi thanks, using the formula in that link:

http://www.depositprotection.com/documents/dealing-with-deposits-disputes-and-damages.pdf

Ifyou expect the carpet to last 5 years we should pay £125 or for 10 years we should pay £187.50.

Of course perhaps they know this and so they would inflate the initial costs to £545 so we just bring it back down to something like £250 with a dispute and may be in no better a position anyway!

Perhaps I don't understand what you are saying, but how can they inflate the costs to £545 when you have a quote saying that to replace the carpet will cost £250?

BitterAndTwisted

For a cheapie carpet in a rental property you'd be lucky to get five years of useful life out of it. Let the landlord arrange a replacement and dispute any deduction for "having to pay for people to move the new tenant's furniture and paying for subsequent inspections of the carpet". They're just trying to frighten you with that sort of blackmail.

Whatever you do, do not arrange for this carpet to be replaced yourself outside of the deposit.

Can you please confirm whether your deposit is registered with one of the three approved schemes?

SuzieSue

I think you should ask the LA in writing to replace the carpet using the company that has quoted you £250 and then to deduct the appropriate amount that you are liable for (£125 or £187.50) from your deposit. If they don't do this and then subsequently charge you for moving furniture etc, they won't have a leg to stand on.