Dog Urine in rented flat HELP!

Zero1234

Hi all,
I just really wanted peoples advice about what to do about the flat I have recently moved into. I moved in 2 weeks ago and when I went in I noticed an odd musty smell. Upon closer inspection of the bedrooms, there were multiple large yellow stains which smelled like urine.
I wanted to know what these stains were and so I bought a UV torch which shows up biological matter and when I used this I found that the carpets in all rooms of the flat were covered in ''biological matter'' - I'm assuming dog urine.
Obviously im devastated and just don't know where I stand with this. Can I ask for new carpets? It looks as if these stains have just been left and not cleaned up so I'm worried that the underlay is ruined too.
They have arranged a professional clean but what can I do if that doesn't work? Is there any way I can definitely prove this is urine?

gomer

"- I'm assuming dog urine."


That might be where you're going wrong. How do you even know what the stains are? Dog urine isn't the only biological matter that might show up under uv light. Any chance you might be "assuming" a little too much? Do you even know if the previous tenant had a dog?

bouicca21

First house I bought had a similar smell to the bedroom carpets. Didn’t need a UV torch to show it to be urine. Children, not dogs. And no I could not get rid of the smell, which had indeed penetrated to the underlay. Had to rip it all up and throw it out.

sal_III

You can ask for new carpets, but I doubt you will get them. If the LL was happy to put the property on the market in such state and more to the point you were happy to rent it, he has no incentive to change the carpets.

lookstraightahead

Why haven't they professionally cleaned it already - like before you moved in?

lookstraightahead

Health hazard?

edgex

sal_III wrote: »

You can ask for new carpets, but I doubt you will get them. If the LL was happy to put the property on the market in such state and more to the point you were happy to rent it, he has no incentive to change the carpets.

Quick 10-15minute viewing, nice day, windows open. There may have even been rugs or furniture over the stains.
Would you have noticed?
How thorough an inspection would you have done?

edgex

Does it state anywhere in writing that the flat has been cleaned?
If so, then that hasn't been done & you should get back to the agent stating that it should be done.

lookstraightahead

sal_III wrote: »

You can ask for new carpets, but I doubt you will get them. If the LL was happy to put the property on the market in such state and more to the point you were happy to rent it, he has no incentive to change the carpets.

I don't think anyone would even expect to check for urine in the carpets. It's quite obviously something that shouldn't be there, and is not acceptable.

I think he had every incentive to change the carpets if it is dog urine as this could be a health hazard.

Do you think tenants should put up with this trash?

jonnygee2

"- I'm assuming dog urine."


That might be where you're going wrong. How do you even know what the stains are? Dog urine isn't the only biological matter that might show up under uv light. Any chance you might be "assuming" a little too much? Do you even know if the previous tenant had a dog?

There are multiple, large stains that smell like urine and show up under a black light. I think that's sufficient to conclude its most probably pet urine. Sure, could be a cat (or even a human?!) but doesn't really change the fact that it needs cleaning.

lookstraightahead

Is this really a debatable issue! Of course the landlord should deal with it.