Private landlords and replacement carpets

middlesis

We,ve lived in a private rented house for nearly 7 yrs now.  When we moved in, the house was unfurnished, but had carpets downstairs and in the bedrooms.  These are listed in the inventory we signed.  The carpets weren,t new and were fairy cheap (nylon on foam backed - no underlay, stuck down with double sided tape on concrete floor).  

The lounge carpet is now looking the worse for wear. The foam backing has crumbled to dust and the edges are fraying where the metal carpet strips are, where the lounge "ends" and the kitchen lino begins.  

We txted the landlord and asked if could see his way to getting a new carpet just for the lounge.  He just recommended a cheap carpet shop to us.  We txted him again and asked if we should get quotes first.  He then made it very clear that if we wanted a new one, we would be paying for it.  

I understand that he is not obliged to replace the carpet unless it is hazardous, but if we replace it ourselves, then we will have to store/return the old one to him when we leave. Not really an option as it will probably fall to bits if we took it up.

Just for background, he is a nice chap, but pretty much just leaves us to get on with it.  Gas safety checks are all he has ever done apart from replace the oven, also on the inventory.  (We had to choose, pay for and fit that ourselves and then he just gave us the money back).  He is of the mindset that outside is his problem, inside is ours.  I don,t think he would even be willing to meet halfway and split the cost between us.

We are in our 60,s, dont have a big dog or small toddlers, and the carpet has no damage at all.  It,s just really old and well past its sell-by date.

If we pay for a new carpet and take it with us if we leave, he could withhold some of our deposit as the inventory clearly states that there was a carpet in the lounge when we moved in.  

The rent he charges us is cheap and we have never missed a payment.  Also he has not increased the rent since we moved in, and I,m worried that he could put up the rent or refresh our tenancy agreement, just because of an old carpet.  I,m not sure I want to go there, so will probably live with the old carpet for a bit longer.

Any thoughts would be appreciated, Thanks all.

Angela_D_3

My tenants have replaced carpets to fit in with decor schemes and left them.  25 years ago i rented a vouncil flat that camd without any carpets,  spent over a grand and had to leave them.  

[Deleted User]

If you can afford it, I think you should pay for the new carpets and leave them if/when you move out.  Dispose of the old ones.    Landlord should be fine with this but get his agreement.   You can see it as the downside of a cheap rent that you have to pay if you want things as nice as a market rent flat would be. But also you can appreciate having the freedom to decorate to your own tastes.

princeofpounds

If the carpet is genuinely at the end of its reasonable lifespan, get rid of it and put your own carpet in.

If you want to, take your carpet with you when you leave*. 

Yes, there was a carpet on the inventory. However, the landlord is only entitled to the depreciated value of the carpet he lost. What is a poor quality carpet with no underlay worth if it is at least 7 years old (and probably much older), is crumbling to dust and fraying simply due to wear and tear? Zero, or very close to it. 

If there is a deposit dispute over the issue, contest any deduction and you will almost certainly win if it's as bad as you say it is.

Take multiple photos of the carpet before removal to document its condition. Maybe even a video of the 'crumbling' for extra effect. 

*Though it's an option to leave it if you get enough use out of it and/or it won't work wherever you are heading to next.

middlesis

We are not wanting a new carpet to fit in with our decor.  It is old and falling apart, and at the end of the day it doesnt even belong to us.  We have also lived in a council house where we bought the carpets and left them behind. 

 When the oven broke, the LL replaced it as it was part of the fixtures and fittings of the house. (as per the inventory) He had no problem with that at all. Why is a carpet any different than an oven?  

We have made many improvements since we moved in - new blinds, shower hose and head, curtain tracking and garden improvements, general decorating etc etc  at our own cost, we dont expect him to pay for those, and we wont be taking them with us when/if we leave.  I just wonder why we should bother trying to improve the house, when at the end of the day, it will mean he has a much better house to re-let than when we moved in. He can then re-let, at a higher rent, knowing that we have paid for the improvements that he would have had to make anyway.

So we are paying for the betterment of his property.  Regardless of the rent we pay, I thought realistic wear and tear was part and parcel of being a landlord. 

middlesis

Thanks Princeof pounds. Cross posted with you (it took ages for me to write) but I take your comments on board.

justworriedabit

Ask the L if he accepts your new carpet and when you leave, it could be pretty soon after the new carpet on a rolling contract, the L may want you to leave it in a reasonable condition.  Alternatively or more , as aforementioned and sign a years contract if agreeable and not on one already.

AdrianC

middlesis said:

So we are paying for the betterment of his property.  Regardless of the rent we pay, I thought realistic wear and tear was part and parcel of being a landlord. 

Yes, it is.

If you dispose of his ancient, time-expired, worn out carpet... then he cannot claim a penny from you, because it's depreciated to zero value through wear and tear.
...and that's the same if you leave a near-new carpet in its place, or if you leave bare floors.

middlesis

Thanks all for the comments so far.  I think we will just live with it for now.  We had no plans to move, but as he has done NO maintenance whatsoever to the inside (no refresh painting, updating, not even checked what its like inside, and doesnt really seem to care either) maybe we should think about moving on. Shame really, its a nice place and we like the area.  As he,s in his seventies maybe he wants to give it all up and retire.

Sorry Justworriedabit, but dont totally understand your post.  If we buy a new carpet, we will  most definitely take it with us. Surely what condition its in is irrelevant if we paid for it.

[Deleted User]

I guess my perspective would be more charitable to the landlord here.

If the market rent is, say, £1000 a month, and you are paying £800, then you could surely spend some of the £2400 a year that you are "saving" each year to bring the property up to the standard you'd like. 

No need to begrudge the landlord here, it seems he's been transparent about what's on offer.  Which is discounted rent for self-sufficient tenants who'll treat the property as their own home - including paying for refurbishment out of their own pockets, if the property still represents good value in the scheme of things.

[Deleted User]

middlesis said:

Thanks all for the comments so far.  I think we will just live with it for now.  We had no plans to move, but as he has done NO maintenance whatsoever to the inside (no refresh painting, updating, not even checked what its like inside, and doesnt really seem to care either) maybe we should think about moving on. Shame really, its a nice place and we like the area.  As he,s in his seventies maybe he wants to give it all up and retire.

Sorry Justworriedabit, but dont totally understand your post.  If we buy a new carpet, we will  most definitely take it with us. Surely what condition its in is irrelevant if we paid for it.

I'm not suggesting you upgrade his property for him, but as such a long term tenant there should be nothing to stop you putting down a lick of paint or even a new carpet which will be comforable for years and yours to take with you. I think you and the landlord sound a bit alike when it comes to expenditure.