End of Rental/Damp Carpet

dazbyd

Hi there .... hope someone can offer me some advice ...

I have recently ended my tenancy on a property I was renting.

Upon moving items out of the property (single storey, pre 1900s and often felt damp) I started to find damp marks on carpets where items of furniture had been placed for a long time (over a period of approx 10 months).

One particular area was in the bedroom. A suitcase had been placed on the floor against a wall with clothes in for 10 months and had not been moved at all. When I lifted it up the whole area underneath was wet, dark and stained and coloured like crystals/fungi was present on the carpet and underneath of suitcase.

I explained this to our landlady, who we had a good relationship with (up until this point) that I thought it was damp or condenastion collecting. I was advised that she would investigate further.

She had a carpet cleaning specialist come out to inspect the carpet and he advised that he thought the staining was from something like coffee or a leaking plant pot !!!!

I advised of this not to be the case. The next thing they said it could be was 'cat urine'. I advised that we have had our cat for 8 years and he is VERY VERY well trained, and besides which as the case was full of clothes and had not been moved how could it possibly be ? .. there was never any smell on clothes etc.

She advised that it could not be rising damp/condensation as no stains were present on the underneath of the carpet or underlay.

I advised that I was not happy and that I wanted to arrange for an independent specialist to check it over.

Two days later I went on holiday (bad timing I know). When I returned I had an email from the Letting agents advising that the landlady was procedding with replacing the carpet and charging me for it !!!

£230 for cheap bit of man made carpet in a room 4x4 !!!!!!!!!!!

I have had no choice but to pay this - she has deducted it from my deposit !!!!

Can anyone please offer any advice on what could have caused the stain ? ... and is there anything I can do now the carpet has been replaced and the old one disposed of ?

I know this is a little like closing the stable door etc .... but she just rode ruff shod over my suggestions and requests and had it all done - at my expense !!!!

Thank you so much for taking the time to read this, and any advice you can offer would be greatly appreciated.

Cheers Darren

olly300

Unfortunately trying to sort it out now it means you will be wasting more good money and lots of time. Chalk it up to experience.

In your new place make sure you check everything i.e. go into every cupboard and storage space at a 3-4 monthly intervals. And report any problems to the landlord immediately in writing with pictures attached keeping a copy and asking for their response within 14 days.

I found a hole in a storage space in property I was renting and because I reported immediately in writing with a picture the landlord, who tried to keep all my deposit, could not use this as part of their excuse.

BTW the cost of the carpet will also include trying to clean the original carpet & the inspection of it, underlay for the new carpet and fitting it.

Gorgeous_George

Almost certainly caused by condensation from your tumble drier or bathroom. Condensation forms on the coldest walls/windows and your case will have prevented a flow of air that would have dried the condensation.

If it had been your house, you would have had to buy a new carpet and underlay (if necessary). I would argue that the underlay would only be replaced because of fair wear and tear (assuming it wasn't damaged by the condensation) and should be replaced at the LLs expense. You would be liable for the carpet only if it could not be cleaned.



GG

thesaint

dazbyd wrote: »

<snip>£230 for cheap bit of man made carpet in a room 4x4 !!!!!!!!!!!
<snip>

Aren't all carpets man made?

dazbyd

... thanks for all your responses .... we didnt have a tumble drier. The wall the case was against was only a flimsy dividing wall bewteen the bedroom and bathroom ... the property dates back to early 1800's ... its an old country lodge and always felt damp in all rooms ... the underlay was not replaced as this had no marks on it ... and neither did the back of the carpet (which was only felt) ... strange how no marks on reverse or underlay ??? .... not consistent with something being spilt ??

... if damp is present in property that is rented, and the carpets are damaged as a result of the damp ... im confused as to how the tenant can be liable, as building maitenance is not there responsibilty.

Thanks so much

Daz

ps.... meant man made fibre :-)

olly300

dazbyd wrote: »

... thanks for all your responses .... we didnt have a tumble drier. The wall the case was against was only a flimsy dividing wall bewteen the bedroom and bathroom ... the property dates back to early 1800's ... its an old country lodge and always felt damp in all rooms ... the underlay was not replaced as this had no marks on it ... and neither did the back of the carpet (which was only felt) ... strange how no marks on reverse or underlay ??? .... not consistent with something being spilt ??

Does sound like condensation as GG suggested.

dazbyd wrote: »

... if damp is present in property that is rented, and the carpets are damaged as a result of the damp ... im confused as to how the tenant can be liable, as building maitenance is not there responsibilty.

Condensation is seen as the tenants' fault for not heating and airing the rooms properly even though badly planned rooms i.e. putting fitted cupboards on external walls are a contributing factor. It is the tenants' responsibility to deal with condensation.

The fact the case was next to the bathroom indicates that the condensation could have come from there.

http://www.teesvalley.org/maintenancecondensation.php

http://www.energysavingtrust.org.uk/uploads/documents/housingbuildings/18_condensation_enw.pdf

If you are really want to pursue it I suggest you demand to see a copy of the relevant receipts plus a breakdown of the costs, in writing with 21 days otherwise threaten court action. Even if the costs don't include underlay the costs would include investigation of the cause of the problem and likely an attempted clean (you state she got someone in) , removal and disposal of the old carpet, moving furniture, the cost of the new carpet, cost of carpet gripper(s) and fitting the new carpet.