Is A Tenant Responsible For Replacing Carpet

Replacing carpet makes a place feel fresh and new but it is a large expense that many landlords put off as long as possible.

Is a tenant responsible for replacing carpet.

It s your right to complain and the landlord should lay new carpet as necessary but landlords are obligated to replace your cruddy carpet only under specific circumstances. As an exception to the above no state requires the landlord to replace repair damaged carpet if the damage to the carpet has been caused by the tenant. If the carpet in a rental unit is damaged and needs to be replaced the tenant is not responsible to buy a new carpet all by him but instead he is only responsible for the prorated price to the damage he caused to the carpet. Many states allow a landlord to deduct legally a tenant s security deposit to replace the rental carpet by the time the tenant decides to move out.

One of the benefits of being a renter as opposed to being a homeowner is that the landlord is responsible for many costly home improvement projects like replacing a leaky roof or updating dying. Using the same example with a life expectancy of nine years and if a replacement carpet of similar quality would cost 2 000 the landlord could properly charge only 222 22 for only one years worth of life use that would have remained if the tenant had not damaged the carpet. If the carpet costs a thousand dollars then a tenant would be responsible for two hundred dollars of that total. Bear in mind though that the carpet charges must be reasonable and that as a tenant you cannot be held responsible for any damages made to the carpet that were already present when you first moved in.

Related articles 5 spine tingling stories from exterminators and what they learned. For example if the carpet had a 10 year life expectancy but due to tenant damage had to be replaced after just seven years the tenant is only responsible for the useful life of the carpet that has been lost. A landlord cannot deduct the cost of repainting or replacing carpet from the security deposit for normal wear and. Should the landlord choose to repair or replace the carpet anyway the tenant may be made to pay for the cost of the same.

A tenant is not responsible for normal wear and tear to the walls and floor. For example if the tenant damages the carpet and was cheated three years out of the life.