Paying for damaged carpet in rented flat - overcharging!

mystra

AdrianC wrote: »

Just dispute it with the DPS.

it's probably going to have to go that way, i honestly can't believe she thinks i should contribute towards replacing that amount of carpet! i swear that is probably the entire downstairs of the flat at least! :mad:

dgtazzman

Was anything you mentioned agreed in writing? If not, I wouldn't bother with the LL and go straight to the DPS. In my opinion she has already broken the oral agreements anyway, as there is no way you would be liable for 50% if the carpet was as old and tatty as you say, more like the carpet was 'end of life' and financially worthless, making your contribution to it's replacement £0.

Had a LL try this on me a few years ago, tried to claim the full replacement cost of 10 year old worn carpet, claiming it had to be replaced due to our cat. Yes, the cat had a go at a few bits, but these were places where the carpet had already been frayed. DPS dismissed the LL's claim as betterment and returned the full deposit.

mystra

dgtazzman wrote: »

Was anything you mentioned agreed in writing? If not, I wouldn't bother with the LL and go straight to the DPS. In my opinion she has already broken the oral agreements anyway, as there is no way you would be liable for 50% if the carpet was as old and tatty as you say, more like the carpet was 'end of life' and financially worthless, making your contribution to it's replacement £0.

Had a LL try this on me a few years ago, tried to claim the full replacement cost of 10 year old worn carpet, claiming it had to be replaced due to our cat. Yes, the cat had a go at a few bits, but these were places where the carpet had already been frayed. DPS dismissed the LL's claim as betterment and returned the full deposit.

Contract wise everything is fairly standard, when she brought up the damage following the inventory report last week I agreed to pay a contribution towards the "hall" carpet, but there is no way that 38 sq meters is just for the hall carpet.

So i guess in my good nature and agreeing to contribute towards it i have shot myself in the foot

ToasterScheme

mystra wrote: »

it's probably as ragged as the tatty carpet. In fairness the cats did scratch into the underlay on the damaged step, so i would be liable to pay towards that

Sounds like you only need ONE square metre of underlay then

pmlindyloo

I agree that this is probably one for the DPS.

You could, if you wished, copy this link for the landlord to explain the principles of 'betterment'.

http://www.arla.co.uk/info-guides/info-for-landlords/deposit-protection-guide/betterment-and-apportionment.aspx

mystra

dgtazzman wrote: »

Was anything you mentioned agreed in writing? If not, I wouldn't bother with the LL and go straight to the DPS. In my opinion she has already broken the oral agreements anyway, as there is no way you would be liable for 50% if the carpet was as old and tatty as you say, more like the carpet was 'end of life' and financially worthless, making your contribution to it's replacement £0.

Had a LL try this on me a few years ago, tried to claim the full replacement cost of 10 year old worn carpet, claiming it had to be replaced due to our cat. Yes, the cat had a go at a few bits, but these were places where the carpet had already been frayed. DPS dismissed the LL's claim as betterment and returned the full deposit.

this is exactly what my cat did - had a go at the frayed bits! Our new place has a brand new gorgeous carpet - they couldn't care less! (thank goodness!!)

bouicca21

Maybe you should be asking her how old the carpet is? It sounds as though it may have been at the end of its life, in which case maybe you shouldn't be paying anything.

mystra

bouicca21 wrote: »

Maybe you should be asking her how old the carpet is? It sounds as though it may have been at the end of its life, in which case maybe you shouldn't be paying anything.

Good idea, i have just asked her. Be interesting to see what her answer is!

2 years ago when we moved in it was worn on the stair edges, it's a high traffic area (main hallway, in between kitchen and living room and bathroom also). Like i've said if it was a house i had bought and moved into i'd have replaced it - it wasn't in great condition at all. Annoying the inventory guy has put good condition both on check in and check out for the general state of the whole carpet but with notes on worn bits/stains/moth holes etc

DoaM

As said several time above, you're only liable for any damage caused by you (or your cats). If the carpet and underlay were 10 years old, then you're liable to replace the affected area with 10 years old carpet and underlay (or the equivalent value). Anything more is betterment.

Tell the LL to "do one".

mystra

DoaM wrote: »

As said several time above, you're only liable for any damage caused by you (or your cats). If the carpet and underlay were 10 years old, then you're liable to replace the affected area with 10 years old carpet and underlay (or the equivalent value). Anything more is betterment.

Tell the LL to "do one".

:money: haha yeah it wont be long before i run out of pleasantries!