What are the laws for the replacement of carpet in apartments?
How long can an apartment complex keep the carpet in a unit?
I live in Florida and we got pretty substancial water damage and had mold growing all over our carpets. They were clean but only fairly… I am a neat freak!!!! I constantly was cleaning the carpets and after 2 years of mold issues finally moved out. Now we are getting charged for carpet replacements. I am sending them a letter to dispute but I thought I heard someplace that there was a law about about 2 years of occupancy the carpets should be changed… I agree… I’m sorry for you Landloards but after having several people living on floors it should be done.
Anyway, overall, the carpets are in good condition… the bottom line is that it’s mold damage not carelessness or filthness of my husband or I. I should not be responsible for mold damage which to the untained eye looks like stained carpet.
The water damage was from the hurricane…
I’m nieve and didn’t even think to take pictures of anything and have already moved. The best that is that the two years we have lived there I have seen them change every tennants carpet regardless… they probably are just charging us just becasue.
dont give em a penny replacment of carpet is thier responsibility that is what a deposit is for
I replace the carpet after every tenant, but most of my residents are long term renters. Unfortunately, in CA there isn’t a law requiring me to do so, it is just the right thing TO do. In your case, we would have had an expert determine whether the carpet was damaged enough by the water to be replaced at the time the water leaked on it. I really would contest the charge for replacement of the carpets, particularly if the original water damage was not your fault, regardless of the condition. In our city, we can only deduct for damages CAUSED by the renter that do not qualify as normal wear and tear.
But, to do that you will have to wait until the landlord deducts the costs from your security deposit. Send a certified letter (keep a copy) along with the details and dates of what occured, actions taken, receipts, and photos. Then you will have to pay the court fees (refundable if you win) to take them to small claims court to recoup that amount they deducted. Be certain to take very good photos, lift the carpet in an obscure place to show the mold underneath. Try to get statements from the carpet cleaners, maintenance people any one who was present during the initial water damaging incident to present in court.
Were they aware of the past mold issues? That is a health hazard. Why was there substantial water damage? Your fault? If from your carelessness that created water damage, it would be your responsibility and should have renter’s insurance. If they had faulty plumbing, etc.. which created the water damage, it goes back to their problem.
You can check with a local lawyer.
Or bring up on a website "landlord-tenant relations in (your state capitol’s city & state)"
I’m in Texas and was an Apartment manager for over 10 years. We would replace carpets as needed, but would charge tenants back a prorated amount as appropriate. The carpet we put in was supposed to last 5 years so if it was new when the tenant moved in and they lived there for a year and it needed to be replaced, we would charge them 4/5 of the cost. If this is due to Mold, that is 100% their responsibility and you have every right to fight that.
I would check with your local tenant’s council to find further informtion on how to dispute effectively.