Carpet clean when still in rental property

baileybear.01

Hi,
I've been at my property for 7 years now. The lounge carpet has been in for at least 11 years. As its cream it's a nightmare. It's now got to the stage where my carpet cleaner isn't working great on it.

I asked the landlord if I could remove the carpet and varnish the floorboards, as I'd previously done in another room. He said the carpet was expensive, but he would go halves with me for a new on.
I'm not really happy to do this, or have the spare cash. His other suggestion was he'd arrange for someone to come in and clean. It wasn't clear if he was paying for this or not.
I've found a company that will come in with an industrial cleaner, and see what they can do. Will he be expected to pay?
Tia

Maleficent

Hi Tia,

I think your landlord is being quite reasonable. I know it would be a push just to get my landlord to split the cost!

If he has suggested that he can arrange for someone to clean the carpet then I would assume that he will cover the costs of this.

You can suggest the company you have found but it will be entirely up to him as he is the landlord. I'd question if you arrange will you be responsible to pay. Make it clear before you agree.

marliepanda

Maleficent wrote: »

Hi Tia,

I think your landlord is being quite reasonable. I know it would be a push just to get my landlord to split the cost!

If he has suggested that he can arrange for someone to clean the carpet then I would assume that he will cover the costs of this.

You can suggest the company you have found but it will be entirely up to him as he is the landlord. I'd question if you arrange will you be responsible to pay. Make it clear before you agree.

There is NOTHING reasonable about a landlord expecting his tenant to pay half to replace an 11 year old carpet!!

AdrianC

The carpet is 11yo. It's end-of-life. The residual value in it is zero - so he's more than welcome to half of that...

You're doing him a favour by lobbing it, tbh.

sheff6107

You pay x amount a month for the building, x amount for the cooker, x amount for the bath, x amount for the carpets etc. etc.

When something breaks or needs replacing, the onus is on the landlord to make it right so that you are still paying him for its continued hire.

Is he going to suggest going halves if the cooker dies? Where does he draw the line?

Or is he going to knock £5 off the rent every month for every item that needs replacing so that in 20 years time you are paying him £50 a month for an empty house?

G_M

sheff6107 wrote: »

You pay x amount a month for the building, x amount for the cooker, x amount for the bath, x amount for the carpets etc. etc.

When something breaks or needs replacing, the onus is on the landlord to make it right so that you are still paying him for its continued hire.

Is he going to suggest going halves if the cooker dies? Where does he draw the line?

Or is he going to knock £5 off the rent every month for every item that needs replacing so that in 20 years time you are paying him £50 a month for an empty house?

Before listing things the landlord must repair/replace, check the law!

FBaby

Don't go half whatever you do. What happens if you do, and a month later, he gives you notice to vacate because he is selling the place?

You could suggest that you varnish the floor, but that you will keep the carpet and put it back when you leave.

Or you can agree to them professionally cleaning the carpet, but get it in writing that that will be at their cost. Our lounge carpet is over 12 years, but it was a very expensive one and still looks very nice. We do get it professionally clean every couple of years.

Unfortunately, you can't force them to change it unless it is so bad it's become a hazard.

anselld

baileybear.01 wrote: »

His other suggestion was he'd arrange for someone to come in and clean. It wasn't clear if he was paying for this or not.
I've found a company that will come in with an industrial cleaner, and see what they can do. Will he be expected to pay?
Tia

Cleaning is normally Tenant's responsibility so if you think he is offering to pay make sure you double check first.

If the carpet has genuinely worn out through age, threadbare, etc then that is another matter. Replacement would be down to the L if has got to that stage but it does not automatically follow that it needs replacing after X years.

saajan_12

There is no fixed 'useful life' of a carpet after which it 'must' be replaced. All carpets are different, and the lifespans are just there as estimates when there is no way of knowing how long at item would have lasted if it hadn't been damaged for example.

In this case it the carpet would not HAVE to be replaced until it was physically broken (think holes, threadbare.. ) You mention your carpet cleaner isn’t working on it now – cleaning is the responsibility of the tenant and the landlord wouldn’t have to cover any of the cost. They might be wise to contribute SOME of the cost as they would benefit from newer flooring whenever you leave / may have to replace it anyway so everyone wins, but why would they cover the whole cost when they could just replace fully when actually have to.

LittleMax

baileybear.01 wrote: »

I've found a company that will come in with an industrial cleaner, and see what they can do. Will he be expected to pay?
Tia

Why don't you ask him? - say that you will agree to the cleaning if he pays for it.

I would then try to get some kind of condition report from the cleaners to the landlord.

LittleMax

saajan_12 wrote: »

There is no fixed 'useful life' of a carpet after which it 'must' be replaced. All carpets are different, and the lifespans are just there as estimates when there is no way of knowing how long at item would have lasted if it hadn't been damaged for example.

In this case it the carpet would not HAVE to be replaced until it was physically broken (think holes, threadbare.. ) You mention your carpet cleaner isn’t working on it now – cleaning is the responsibility of the tenant and the landlord wouldn’t have to cover any of the cost. They might be wise to contribute SOME of the cost as they would benefit from newer flooring whenever you leave / may have to replace it anyway so everyone wins, but why would they cover the whole cost when they could just replace fully when actually have to.

If the LL has to replace the carpet anyway when OP leaves - the only winner in going halves now is the landlord!

saajan_12 wrote: »

but why would they cover the whole cost when they could just replace fully when actually have to.

Because replacing a carpet now is potentially cheaper to him than a new carpet in x years time and keeps a long term tenant satisfied.

The LL really should have budgeted to be changing the carpets when this tenant leaves. If he really wants to save money now, allowing the tenant to remove the carpet and varnish the floors at their own expense is the best option. Then when tenant moves out varnished floorboards may suit the next tenant too, or he can buy a new carpet then (not cream and not expensive would be my advice to him!)

After 7 years I wonder how often he has been back into the property. OP has he actually seen the carpet recently? He may be remembering them how they were rather than the reality. If so try to get him in. If he will pay for the clean, perhaps after that would be a good opportunity. To say they've been cleaned but to be honest I'm still not happy come and have a look and see what you think? As someone else would advise - offer him tea and cake and sit down and talk about it.