Updating post from Reddit.
I have rented a house for about 3 years and the carpets are showing holes. This is probably a combination of their age (25+ years I have been told) and my cats scratching.
I don't have the money to buy all new carpets everywhere. As a landlord, would you consider sharing the costs or does it fall squarely on me?
The costs fall on the landlord.
Carpets are considered to be worth £0 after 5 years when it comes to deposits etc.
25+ year old carpeting? No way.
(Regarding cat scratching - ask if you can have offcuts of the old carpet if they do get replaced and staple them to bits of wood for cheap scratching posts)
Any idea how long double beds/sofa beds are expected to last from a depreciation perspective?
I wouldn’t expect you to pay, especially for 25 year old carpets, they’ve had their day. Equally, unless your cat stops scratching them I probably wouldn’t replace them until you’ve moved out as you’re likely to damage brand new carpets.
Dumb take. Anything passed 5 years has a value of 0. This carpet has been in that house for a quarter of a century, and if the tenant wants the replacement (even with animals), they deserve it. Only after switching the carpet does the renter become liable for the worth (for the next 5 years)
Such a dumb take that the renter then becomes liable and probably gets charged by the first inspection when the cats scratched it. Get the cat trained to stop doing this first. Doesn’t matter who is liable, what’s the point of putting something new in if it will immediately get destroyed and be like the old one. We could have done with new carpets ages ago, but the kids still spill and cause stains at the moment, until we have that sorted we won’t bother
If its destroyed before the 5 years are up their is a claimed value and it can be retrieved through deposit please don't spout nonsense. You're just not a good landlord
As a landlord why would I waste money on new carpets for your cats to scratch?
I'd be asking for the receipts for when they purchased the carpet, and objecting to the TDS for any attempts to claim for them. If the age you give is accurate then they are way past the point where their value is zero.
If the carpets are newer and you / your pets have caused damage then you are probably on the hook for a portion of the cost.
Sorry, I'm not sure I understand your meaning. I'm on pretty good terms with my landlord and he told me that he'd put the carpet in himself about 25 years or so ago. I don't want to make a big thing of it, but it would be great to replace the stairs and living room carpet at least. Plus the kitchen vinyl has holes in it but it's not as urgent.
If you’re on good terms then just ask him if he’d consider replacement flooring. Sounds like he should have done it years ago. Cat could be an issue though.
Thanks, just wanted to check if it's not too much to ask.
Definitely not. I think a good landlord would like to look after their long term tenants. A carpet that old should be replaced.
Perhaps you can offer to cut up and get rid of the old ones by taking it to the recycling centre. Shave off some costs if you really want to be generous. But you don't even have to offer that.
It's a reasonable request to get new carpets.
However if I was a landlord I'd be pissed if you moved out after a year and would find that the brand new carpets have holes in them due to your cats, so please take that into consideration.
Carpets have different life expectencies depenging on quality, but I think that the most is 10 years. If it's been more than that then the carpet has no value now, so he can't take money from your deposit for it.
Great, thank you.
LL here. 25 year old carpets. ir is entierly on the LL a 5 year old carpet is entierly on the LL
ANY claim they make now would be defined as betterment ie charging you to improve the flooring for his own ultimate gain.
I’d replace the holes with the cat’s shedding, an eye for an eye.
Carpets damaged by my pet, I'd replace myself but my husband would absolutely email the landlord to ask if he would go halfers.
Do you trim your cats nails? Have scratch posts?
They go outside and have scratch posts, but I know they sometimes do scratch on the stairs and because the carpet is so thin, it splits.
Oh I'm placing no blame on you, was just asking. Scratching posts were a waste of money for my cat, luckily he's never been a scratcher apart from the bottom of my divan bed.
Our landlord put in the stupidest carpets ever in the bedrooms, ya know those weaved ones that look nice but one string goes at the door threshold and boom. Managed 10 years to gently hoover those bits and fucked two of them in the last month! I text him to confess and he called me laughing his head off "I'll get Dave (carpet guy) to whip samples round so you can pick new ones".
I'd be gutted to leave this house, hes genuinely a top guy. Not all landlords wear capes but mine does.
I put mats where I noticed them having an itch to scratch, they're made of cotton, easy to clean and cheap to replace, also cardboard scratching boxes and sisal posts spread throughout the house. They will need to scratch, can't help it...
I would consider that fair wear and tear. Nobody can reasonably expect carpets to last 25 years!!
It's on the landlord when they are that old
The carpets will not be 25+ old (told, what LL would say that?) this sounds like a gross exaggeration because you are trying to shift blame Wear and tear or cleaning are just that. Cat tears up carpet, that is different. You are on the hook to contribute to its replacement
I'd replace old carpets, but I'd be reluctant to contribute to carpets that cats scratch.
They will need replacing again when you move out and the deposit will likely not cover it.
My last flat recarpeting due to pet damage was £1500. Deposit was £500.
I thought shelter might help me to recover the cost but guess what ?
Why would Shelter help with the cost?
Shelter are an amazing charity that increase the supply of high quality housing that is available in the PRS by giving grants to hard pressed landlords who make a loss due to tax regimes.
Wait for it....
(Borat Voice)......NOT!
So why own a loss making property?
Just sounds like a bad investment if you need charity to help cover your costs to supply a good standard of accommodation