Replaced carpet , landlord wants it back

BitterAndTwisted

Carpet laid on concrete with no underlay would last about five minutes. This landlords needs a punch. The inventory says "carpet" and carpet he has, and a much less ratty one at that.

What would I do? Claim the whole of my deposit back immediately and then write to the landlord saying that the property had a carpet when you moved in, as the inventory confirms, and he has a carpet now albeit a much newer one and in much better condition because you didn't decide to lay it over concrete with no underlay because you're not a moron. Because he verbally agreed for you to replace the carpet at your own expense you are dismayed that he has decided to pretend that he did not and consequently you consider that you owe him nothing and if he wants to press the matter you'll charge him for the full cost of the carpet and the fitting or arrange for its removal. Your own estimate of the value of the original carpet: laid onto concrete with no underlay, threadbare and full of mildew is zero, zilch, nada. Keep a copy of your letter in case you need to supply a copy to the deposit scheme's arbitrators if the landlord persists with their spurious and cynical claim.

Soot2006

... or you could pull it up, take away the underlay, then put it back ... :T

Kynthia

I'd put in a dispute with the deposit protection scheme and state that you want the return of the whole of your deposit.

I'd then write to the landlord and state that you dispute any deduction. Explain that he is not entitled to betterment and therefore would only be entitled to a percentage of the cost of a new carpet and no underlay. Also you would like to request the return of your property, the carpet and underlay, that you only left behind because you had his verbal permission to change the original carpet. However if he's denying that he gave that permission then you are entitled to your carpet. Then say that you have officially disputed the amount wtih the deposit scheme and are happy to see how their adjudicators assess his evidence.

Keep a copy of this letter for the dispute and hopefully he'll realise he's better off leaving things as they are.

jimpix12

Just an update on this... Eventually LL relented (without involving deposit protection etc) and decided he didn't need to change the carpet. However the letting management company did deduct significant costs for painting/touching up and various other things. Some of these I felt were fair, others not so, but I just wanted to accept them and forget about the experience as I am no longer renting (yay). Letting management company said they'd send me proof of all costs etc.... Clearly they never did though!!

Now the letting agent company is blatantly ignoring my calls and emails, I am looking for PROOF of the costs that they deducted i.e. in the form of invoices or receipts so that their claims can be substantiated. This has not been forthcoming - do I have any rights under the Deposit Protection scheme after they have released the deposit to me? Note that, the letting management company held the deposit, not the protection company, however I am/was registered with the protection scheme. Is it too late now that the funds have been returned? I am concerned that they deducted costs that shouldn't have been. I sent a letter by recorded delivery last Monday and they still haven't bothered replying. What are my rights?

AMO

Niv wrote: »

In that case wouldnt he have a problem proving it was a different carpet? So basically he can go swivel?

Niv

At the same time, the original carpet without underlay wouldn't be difficult to prove would wear out fast - the whole point of underlay. It would also imply that it was a cheap and nasty jobby.