Do Landlords Have To Replace Carpet

Tenant laws on carpet replacement by tenant.

Do landlords have to replace carpet.

Over the years i have had many tenants try to educate me on the law about having to replace the carpet every five years or painting every three years or some variation of that. The carpet is one of the most well used items in a rental unit. If you are planning on moving into a new home it s something you have to seriously look into. 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.

Because of that it can become very dirty over time. This will help prove to the landlord that the damages were not caused by the tenant. Know a carpet s life expectancy. If you re a landlord be check the carpet s warranty.

The question how often does a landlord have to replace carpet might cross your mind if you re looking at homes for rent after all one of the biggest advantages of renting is having someone. Replacing carpet makes a place feel fresh and new but it is a large expense that many landlords put off as long as possible. Carpets have a life expectancy of about 10 years. If you re a tenant ask to see proof of how old the carpet is and when the landlord expects to replace it.

A tenant is required to pay a security deposit to a landlord upon signing of lease agreement and moving in. 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. A landlord cannot deduct the cost of repainting or replacing carpet from the security deposit for normal wear and tear or even when the walls and carpet have met the useful life terms. If the condition of the carpet presents a hazard to the tenant s health or safety or otherwise makes the premises uninhabitable though because of normal wear and tear it would be a good idea for the landlord to remedy the problem be it through cleaning or replacement.

The truth is that california civil code has no provision the carpet be replaced or the walls be painted based on a specific time schedule. A security deposit is intended to be used by the landlord to do repairs on the rental unit that is caused by the tenant himself. In fact the legal standard for carpet is that it must not be a health.