Carpets in a rented house?

Flibsey

I am a tenant in an assured shorthold tenancy.
I'd like to know, can I reasonably ask my landlord to replace the livingroom carpet?
firstly it's threadbare. secondly it's over 30 years old (had to take up a corner to investigate damp and found a copy of the Sun from 1980), thirdly it has two massive holes in where the landlord's mum (who owned the property) obviously cut around furniture, and over by where there used to be a fire place and back boiler* there is a massive patch of discolouration where a leak happened before we even moved in, and we had to remove the underlay from that area again due to mould and damp (we had permission to do so).

my question is: can my husband and I reasonably ask the landlord to replace the flooring?! personally I'd be happy with sealing the concrete and having rugs; I just want him to pay for the sealing lol!!

we can't afford to replace it ourselves and it's horrible, uneven, smelly. damp has been fixed so there's no worry about new carpet going mouldy.

so do we have rights? thanks.


*back boiler and fire were condemned two weeks after we moved in and rather than fixing the gaping hole in the wall the landlord; or rather the landlord's agent, just left it so we fixed it in a temporary but well done fashion.

sorry if this posts twice, having connection problems.

Flibsey

just bumping this in case anyone can advise.
thanks!

BitterAndTwisted

No, no absolute right to new carpeting. Going by what you've described about other issues it suggests to me that the landlord has no interest in keeping the property in a decent condition. Request new carpeting but be prepared to offer a contribution or leave if necessary.

theartfullodger

Of course you have an absolute right to ask for the carpet to be replaced (and any other repairs done) - I'd suggest calm, polite, letter, keep copy.

However your Landlord sounds unpleasantly stupid, not the sort of person we want being a Landlord in our fair country & don't be surprised if you'r served a S21 notice by return of post.

As B&T says, you've no right to replacement, but you've every right to ask... Blimey, people died so we could have free speech!

Flibsey

thanks! it was worth asking lol.

can't afford to move, can't actually afford the rent on this place but we have no choice because of child's school and other factors (not having money for a deposit for one thing). thankfully we have an incredibly understanding bank...

let's just say I knew we'd kind of picked a lemon when two weeks after moving in we had to fight the landlord for a new gas certificate to be done, despite CO alarms going off, and once it was done and the boiler condemned we then had to fight him to get the boiler replaced...

I wont bother asking about carpets hahahaha!!

G_M

Yes, right to ask, and worth doing.

No, no right to insist. LL can refuse.

Ideally do it face-to-face - does the LL do inspections himself? Wait till he next comes, then show the carpet and ask. If his reaction is negative, then offer to conribute, but if you do, get a clear understanding, pref in writing, about who owns the carpet. You maight want to keep it when you leave.

If he never inspects or you never see him, write. Enclose photos? Ask him to phone you to discuss, or invite him round (tea and cakes always helps!!)

Flibsey

never inspects and asking him round would be difficult as he's not a uk resident. ex-pat. I would be willing to ask him over if it wouldn't take something like a 10 hour flight hahahaha!!

we've met him twice; the second time being the time he broke into the back garden when we refused entry due to no notice being given (we have a 24 hour written notice/contact clause in our contract).

it's managed by an agent who never inspects either.

I am thinking I'll just get a couple more really big rugs to hide the bad bits and continue using bicarb on the smell.

sandraroffey

do you have an inventory?? is the carpet on there???


if he doesnt fix stuff like landlords are supposed to, you can go to the council. they have a department that deals with private landlords. they can make him do what needs to be doing, and within a certain time

Flibsey

yes it's on the inventory unfortunately.

I'll investigate the council thanks!

G_M

I doubt the council will get involved unless it's a health hazard. This sounds more cosmetic.

If you plan on staying you could lift the carpet, store it (in the attic?) to put back when you leave, and put down your own rugs/carpet while you live there.

Or wet clean it. Buy a carpet cleaner from argos, use it over the weekend and return it (pristine) on Monday (I never suggested this.....)

sequence

You should be writing to the agent and LL describing the problems and their cause to cover yourself in any deposit disputes when you move.
Keep copies safe.