Clearing out my dad's flat - told I need to remove carpets.

pyrrhus80

My father passed away recently. He lived in an apartment in a private retirement park. They gave me 4 weeks in which to clear his apartment. A couple of days ago, when I had exactly one week remaining, one of their staff telephoned me asking when I was next going to be there because he needed to check the carpets. We agreed a time the following day during which time he looked briefly at the carpet and then spent 15 minutes talking to me about other things. Earlier today, he telephoned me again and informed me that it was my responsibility to have the carpets removed. He said he was telling me “in case he hadn’t been clear yesterday,” when he hadn’t actually made even the slightest hint about it yesterday. I now have less than 5 days before I’m required to hand over the keys. He said that if I don’t do it, I’ll be billed for it. Can they do this? He claims it was in the contract that my father signed, but I have a copy of the contract and while it specifies the removal of furniture, it does not mention carpets. You could argue that carpets are furniture, but even still, I feel it’s not something that would have been naturally assumed and should have been made clear from the outset.

If they’d told me from the start, I would have been more inclined to do it – but with less than 5 days remaining, I’d have no choice but to pay someone over the odds. If they bill me, it’ll no doubt be an inflated price.

Keep_pedalling

No they can’t make you pay for it, but they might have be able to bill your father’s estate for it. 

NameUnavailable

A few things. Were the carpets put in by your father? What was there before (did he had to replace exisitng carpet or were the floors bare).

If it doesn't state in the contract that carpets must be removed then they have a problem.

How can they bill you? Is there something you signed to accept responsibility for your fathers liabilities? They can go after his estate but what is that?

I'd be inclined to ignore them if it were me.

NameUnavailable

And sorry for your loss.

DiseasedBunny

If it’s not in the contract, ignore it 

Keep_pedalling

DiseasedBunny said:

If it’s not in the contract, ignore it 

Even if it is, the estate would need to be solvent for them to get the money. 

pyrrhus80

The apartment was a new build. My father had been moved out of his original apartment (against his will) because they wanted to demolish it. When the new building was built he then moved again into that. My father did not pay for the carpet. My understanding is that he insisted on them putting carpet down and they eventually did.

There is not a large estate but it's sufficient to cover the removal of a carpet. I'm more frustrated by the principle of it and how the've only told me now that it's too late for me do it myself.

pyrrhus80

And I haven't signed anything. They didn't even ask me for identification before handing over my father's keys. All they have is my phone number.

youth_leader

I'm so sorry pyrrhus80, my greatest sympathies on losing your Dad, I couldn't think straight for a long time when I lost my parent.  Considering their client group, it sounds like these people need some lessons in dealing with bereavement.  If it were me, I'd be phoning tomorrow and raising the roof, it is not in the contract and you have not been given enough notice.  Good luck.

Slithery

The legal responsibility of your fathers estate is to leave the property in the same condition as it was at the start of the tenancy. Were the carpets present on the check-in inventory?

pyrrhus80

The carpet was fitted before he moved in but only after his insistence on it for being forced out of his original flat (which had carpets.) I have not seen a check-in inventory and am not aware of there being one. It was an empty, unfurnished apartment.