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Tenant damaged carpet

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  • ognum
    ognum Posts: 4,879 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    Sparkpea wrote: »
    I don't agree with the above post and I don't think its down to the cigarette burn really the carpet is possibly low quality and has been in for 6 years. I know my LL always put in the cheapest of the cheap and even after a few years the carpets weardown very easily. If you've been a good tennant and paying on time etc I don't see any reason as to why the LL would not replace the carpet. Mine replaced ours with wooden floors throughout downstairs and when my wife fell pregnant and we were decorating a nursery he agreed to pay half the cost of laying a new carpet in the babies room. The carpets had been down for 4 years. At the end of the day whats a new carpet going to cost? £150max laid. For something thats not too expensive? has he carried out many other repairs in the 5 years you've been there? I don't see this as an unreasonable request at all. No harm in asking the question.

    I agree this is totally down to the previous relationship between landlord and tenant, for a tenant who pays on time and looks after the property I would agree to pretty much anything. For a less good tenant I would do less. human nature I guess!
  • Turnbull2000
    Turnbull2000 Posts: 1,807 Forumite
    Do you even have permission from the landlord for smoking in the property?
    Hi, we’ve had to remove your signature. If you’re not sure why please read the forum rules or email the forum team if you’re still unsure - MSE ForumTeam
  • taj
    taj Posts: 69 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture Combo Breaker
    anselld wrote: »
    At worst the L can only claim for the remaining life lost and for an equivalent quality. So if it is a 10 year life carpet the L can only claim 40% of the cost of a replacement of equivalent quality.

    I imagine the original cost of the carpet will be inflated so that he won't lose out if he does do that, I get the feeling this guy does not like to spend his money. Apart from the legal gas checks each year he has spent no Money in maintaining the property even though in five years he has never had Once to worry about the rent each month as the estate agent would verify. Either way I can't see this carpet being renewed as I'd be reluctant to ask him to look at it.
    I love being a non smoker (almost 5 years)
    I love being frugal
    I love being debt free and have NSD
  • taj
    taj Posts: 69 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture Combo Breaker
    ognum wrote: »
    As a landlord I am afraid I would wait for you to leave before replacing the carpet, why put in a new carpet just to have another fag burn.

    It's about mutual respect of property and the flag burn shows a lack of care. How long are you planning on staying in the property.

    maybe you could suggest a comprimise since your friend damaged the carpet and make a small payment towards the cost? Why was this not picked up at an inspection visit?

    Being as I expect to live here for perhaps another 5-10 years and that I have already spent in the region of 25k in rent alone without any other expenditure
    , the fact that the outside of the property needs painting along with other jobs needing doing I think the LL has been well paid. Due to an accident rather than a lack of care this hasn't been picked up at an inspection because perhaps they didn't feel that an inspection was needed as I've not had one in five years ...perhaps if he had I may have had the repairs done by now.
    I love being a non smoker (almost 5 years)
    I love being frugal
    I love being debt free and have NSD
  • taj
    taj Posts: 69 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture Combo Breaker
    Sparkpea wrote: »
    I don't agree with the above post and I don't think its down to the cigarette burn really the carpet is possibly low quality and has been in for 6 years. I know my LL always put in the cheapest of the cheap and even after a few years the carpets weardown very easily. If you've been a good tennant and paying on time etc I don't see any reason as to why the LL would not replace the carpet. Mine replaced ours with wooden floors throughout downstairs and when my wife fell pregnant and we were decorating a nursery he agreed to pay half the cost of laying a new carpet in the babies room. The carpets had been down for 4 years. At the end of the day whats a new carpet going to cost? £150max laid. For something thats not too expensive? has he carried out many other repairs in the 5 years you've been there? I don't see this as an unreasonable request at all. No harm in asking the question.
    Sounds like you've got a great LL. I just don't know what to do...try and mend it as suggested but then if it doesn't work then is it to late to ring my insurance co. And claim if I've interfered with the burn?
    I love being a non smoker (almost 5 years)
    I love being frugal
    I love being debt free and have NSD
  • mimimt
    mimimt Posts: 65 Forumite
    edited 30 March 2012 at 9:14PM
    taj

    I was in similar position to you and the damage to the carpets in the rental property was probably much more severe to yours. My landlord too did not like spending money and it always took him/estate agent forever to fix anything (they only fixed when the things need fixing were critical) and always used the cheapest replacement. For example, although the kitchen walls were covered in mould for the last two months of my tenancy due to water leaking from the flat above mine (due to washing machine failure), my landlord/estate agent just ignored me because they didn't think it was critical.

    I thought my landlord/estate agent would seek to deduct a horrendous amount from my deposit. But to my surprise, they did not even propose to deduct a single penny. Guess my landlord/estate agent were aware that the flat wasn't in a good state when I moved in 4.5 years ago and they really didn't have much ground for a fight.

    If your deposit is protected, please check the deposit dispute guide on the relevant scheme. You'll be much more informed and should feel more relaxed about the amount your landlord would likely be able to claim should he decide to go through a dispute.

    http://www.thedisputeservice.co.uk/resources/files/A-guide-to-deposits-disputes-and-damages.pdf

    Suggest you share the relevant guide to deposit dispute with your landlord so that he knows exactly where he stands. Maybe your landlord would realise that he doesn't have much a good chance and would back down instead.
  • taj
    taj Posts: 69 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture Combo Breaker
    Alternatively I could spend unto £250 replacing the carpet and still be £250 in pocket which would stop him keeping ALL of the bond. What to do???
    I love being a non smoker (almost 5 years)
    I love being frugal
    I love being debt free and have NSD
  • taj
    taj Posts: 69 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture Combo Breaker
    Mimimt

    Thank you for your help.
    I love being a non smoker (almost 5 years)
    I love being frugal
    I love being debt free and have NSD
  • You want security, as does your landlord. Is there not room to negotiate a new tenancy of a length that would justify the expense of a new carpet? Everyone's a winner. Just a thought.
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