Is A Tenant Responsible For Replacing Carpet

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.

Is a tenant responsible for replacing carpet.

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. 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. 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. But if the carpet is damaged she says it will be replaced at turnover before a new tenant moves in.

For example if the tenant damages the carpet and was cheated three years out of the life. 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. Should the landlord choose to repair or replace the carpet anyway the tenant may be made to pay for the cost of the same. 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.

A landlord cannot deduct the cost of repainting or replacing carpet from the security deposit for normal wear and. Replace the entire carpet if there are large stains from spills from coffee soup or wine that could not be removed the landlord can charge the tenant for however much it costs to clean that specific section. If the carpet in a rental unit is damaged and must be replaced the damage the tenant is responsible for must be prorated appropriately. 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.

Replacing carpet makes a place feel fresh and new but it is a large expense that many landlords put off as long as possible. Related articles 5 spine tingling stories from exterminators and what they learned.