Carpet in rented property

snugglepet20

My friend rents a house which was carpeted when she moved in. The carpets were not new and she has been there for over 3 years and now they are bascially knackered. She has had them cleaned but it makes no difference and they need replacing. Does she have to buy the new carpets or should the landlord buy them?

theartfullodger

It is the landlord's responsibility. However, forcing him to replace them may be a "challenge" (unlike, say, getting hot water supply fixed., where there are mechanisms for making him do it)

I's suggest starting with a calm, polite letter request the replacement.. LL may of course issue "no fault" S21 notice & have tenant evicted .. (Thank you Thatcher, housing Act 1988).

for what it's worth I reckon the usual cheapo carpet most LLs put in rented property should normally be expected to last 5 years..

BitterAndTwisted

If the carpets have come to the end of their useful life it's matter of negotiation between landlord and tenant. I would advise against your friend buying expensive carpeting or contributing towards their replacement unless they can get the landlord to agree to something like a two-year fixed-term. No-one would want to commit to that sort of expense just to find themselves given notice as soon as they are laid.

franklee

As a T I wouldn't spend money on carpets. She can ask the LL, if they are threadbare or a trip hazard I'd hope the LL would replace. I'd hope a good LL would be looking after a good 3 years plus tenant if requests are reasonable. If he won't play ball then why not buy some rugs or carpet offcuts that can be loose laid like rugs? That way T gets to keep them when they move

snugglepet20

Thanks guys. I will tell her to write to the landlord. She was talking about doing it herself and saying it was a struggle financially but maybe she can get the landlord to do it. I doubt they will want to lose her as a tenant as she keeps the house clean and doesn't cause any trouble.

clutton_2

artful says "" the usual cheapo carpet most LLs put in rented property"" - and how many of these "Most" landlords do you know artful ?

PLEASE stop assuming you know what MOST landlords do - you know no such thing

theartfullodger

clutton wrote: »

artful says "" the usual cheapo carpet most LLs put in rented property"" - and how many of these "Most" landlords do you know artful ?

PLEASE stop assuming you know what MOST landlords do - you know no such thing

Oh all right....

Would you accept... MOST of the Landlords I've had contact with (through personal contact, Landlord Associations, Property seminars, court, voluntary sector work (Cab etc..), relatives Landlords etc etc etc..) and certainly MANY Landlords..

btw if looking at perhaps-inadvertently-exaggerated wording what about
http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showpost.php?p=45910767&postcount=17

""Pay £600 per week to stay til end of Oct (about £3K, double our current rent).""

I've heard some wheezes in my time that sh*te landlords try to con tenants.... but this takes the biscuit !!! doubling the rent ???? What a cheek.......

I agree with your sentiment madam but compared with some landlords I've sadly had involvement with and/or heard of (eg the Rogue Landlord thread..) perhaps "taking the biscuit" might be considered by some ....

Of course, that LL might be trying the "Distress for Rent Act 1737" S18 route, but if he is surely..
a) May not apply to OP's position..
b) AFAIK not tested in the courts for many many years - but I'd love to hear of any recent cases a property professional may know of..

Cheers!

clutton_2

so you know what sort of carpet every landlord you have ever met uses in his/her properties ? perleeeease !!! stop digging Artful - stop digging

vyvyan_2

Personally, I would rather live with my landlord's old, knackered carpets than be paranoid about messing up any new ones.
I would have thought that old carpets plus 3 years of fair wear and tear means that it should present you with no problems when you come to vacate in the future.

prudryden

I would rather have a phonecall than a letter. Letter's often can be misread which would tend to put the LL's shackles up. You can be more tactful which may just provide the edge to enable the LL to at least think about it.

sidvermawt

Its a critical question whole money landlord will no pay neither tenanat. I would advice you to contribute equally for buying the new carpets.That will make happy both of parties.