Carpet moth damage - Liability?

ktel1

Hi.

My tenant has reported damage to a small area of carpet that they believe has been damaged by carpet moths. It was apparently sited underneath furniture (sofa) and only discovered whilst carrying out spring cleaning. They found evidence of moth larvae.

The tenant has been there for a number of years and there has never previously been a problem of this nature.

I believe that they are liable as it is their responsibility to ensure upkeep of the carpets.

However, would appreciate any opinions/advice on this matter.
Thanks

BitterAndTwisted

"Upkeep" of the carpets means keeping them clean and not willfully causing any damage. By what method do you think the tenants could have prevented this?

Gingernutty

BitterAndTwisted wrote: »

"Upkeep" of the carpets means keeping them clean and not willfully causing any damage. By what method do you think the tenants could have prevented this?

Well, I dunno, maybe cleaning more often?

Moth larvae do their damage by being left alone for long periods with something to munch on.

Vacuuming once a week, shifting the furniture as you go is all that's needed.

Better_Days

There's a thread here on carpet moths
https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/3481089

I must admit expecting tenants to move heavy furniture every week to vacum underneath is unreasonable. If the moths took up residence under the wardrobe would you expect them to move that too?

How often do you move and vacum under heavy furniture OP?

Plus - how old is the carpet?

olly300

Gingernutty wrote: »

Well, I dunno, maybe cleaning more often?

Moth larvae do their damage by being left alone for long periods with something to munch on.

Vacuuming once a week, shifting the furniture as you go is all that's needed.

Did you do landlord inspections of the property and remind the tenants of their cleaning duties?

If not you are as equally liable as the tenant.

For a lot of tenants renting is their first independent home so as a landlord you need to give little reminders that they should regularly clean behind cookers, fridges etc. and give them a time period in which to do it.

Also a lot of people particularly if they are rarely at home don't vacuum once a week.

Gorecki

I rent in West London and Carpet moths seem to be particularly bad this year (always seems to be about this month = possibly when people start leaving their windows open).

The moth trap in the wardrobe has picked up 4 in the past week alone.

tim123456789

olly300 wrote: »

Did you do landlord inspections of the property and remind the tenants of their cleaning duties?

If not you are as equally liable as the tenant.

Not so:

A tenant is expected to act in a "tenant like manner". (Which basically means looking out fom problems in the house as if it were his own)

He's expected to know for himself what this is without instruction from the LL.

ktel1

Better_Days wrote: »

There's a thread here on carpet moths
https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/3481089

I must admit expecting tenants to move heavy furniture every week to vacum underneath is unreasonable. If the moths took up residence under the wardrobe would you expect them to move that too?

How often do you move and vacum under heavy furniture OP?

Plus - how old is the carpet?

Ok, but over what period would such moth damage likely take and how often is a suitable frequency to vacuum under heavier furniture?

I am also, equally, not responsible for this? Aside of the costs for repair/replacement of carpet, surely, I cannot be expected to bear costs for removing the moths?

JencParker

Ktel1 wrote: »

Ok, but over what period would such moth damage likely take and how often is a suitable frequency to vacuum under heavier furniture?

I am also, equally, not responsible for this? Aside of the costs for repair/replacement of carpet, surely, I cannot be expected to bear costs for removing the moths?

Do you not have insurance? Do the tenants have contents insurance?

I think expecting a tenant to remove heavy furniture to clean every week is unreasonable. They were doing a spring clean, so obviously do it periodically - I can't see that it could be considered neglect.