How much to pay replacing damaged carpet?
We moved into our current rental home in March 2014, but prior to that there were tenants in it for at least 2 years (possibly more). Our estate agent has not given us the exact age of the home, but we do remember her telling us during our preview that it was built around 2010 and this is the only carpet ever installed in it.
With that info, we have pets and there has been some damage to the carpet in a few areas of the house. I understand we will need to replace these areas, but I know there is a depreciated valued for the carpet that will come into how much we actually have to pay.
My husband requested a copy of the invoice from the company who installed the carpet and they don’t have any on file. He then asked the estate agent for the invoice who stated that she didn’t have any invoice and doesn’t keep records of this info. We taken every opportunity possible to find out the actual age of the carpet, don’t know the lifespan of the carpet, and don’t know the cost of the carpet when it was originally fitted.
We want to do the right thing with replacing, but if the carpet is old enough to be replaced, we don’t want to waste time and money either since it’s depreciated in value. Because of these factors, is there a law that landlords must follow or any regulation that states how often carpet should be replaced in rental homes?
Any other issues or suggestions to be advised of?
Many thanks
Lindsay
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Member Since June 2014 - Comments: 1562
11:27 AM, 14th July 2016, About 10 years ago
Reply to the comment left by “Kelly Joanna” at “13/07/2016 – 13:35“:
regardless of the carpet quality, the DPS will give it a 7 year lifespan
Have you got a link for that?
Cheap tat won’t last long but good quality carpets and underlay with reasonable care and use should last longer. Some manufacturers offer 15 year guarantees.
The DPS say 10 years in their example here;
https://www.depositprotection.com/documents/a-guide-to-tenancy-deposits-disputes-and-damages.pdf
As do ARLA;
http://www.arla.co.uk/info-guides/info-for-landlords/deposit-protection-guide/betterment-and-apportionment.aspx
Member Since December 2015 - Comments: 42
11:41 AM, 14th July 2016, About 10 years ago
Reply to the comment left by “Monty Bodkin” at “14/07/2016 – 11:27“:
I don’t have a specific link no.The DPS is an intermediary and only make recommendations; if one party was not happy with their recommendations then it would go to small claims.
Member Since July 2013 - Comments: 1434
5:08 PM, 14th July 2016, About 10 years ago
Reply to the comment left by “Monty Bodkin” at “14/07/2016 – 11:27“:
Those are just examples (strangely with the same numbers).
They are not saying that a carpet’s useful life is 10 years.
Member Since June 2014 - Comments: 1562
8:05 PM, 14th July 2016, About 10 years ago
Reply to the comment left by “Michael Barnes” at “14/07/2016 – 17:08“:
They are not saying it is 5 (or 7) years either.
I’ve laid felt back tat myself using spray glue and a rusty stanley knife which was an embarrassment to see after 5 years.
I’ve also spent thousands (last week as it happens) on very decent standard carpets with the highest quality of underlay, fitted by craftsmen that are a genuine pleasure to watch.
And if you will indulge me, I’ll go further.
-Walking on it barefoot is like being in a field of marshmallows, a sensual foot massage with every step.
I can’t accept tenants on that property with fat kids or Rottweilers ‘cos they will sink into the carpet, never to be seen again.
A chain smoker could stamp out his dog-ends on it while looking after a crèche of pissing puppies and it would still look good after a professional clean in ten years time.
There are carpets…
…and then there are carpets.
Member Since July 2013 - Comments: 305
8:57 AM, 15th July 2016, About 10 years ago
Thanks for that Monty, most enlightening.
Member Since June 2014 - Comments: 106
2:36 PM, 16th July 2016, About 10 years ago
Mydeposits has a little series on this, see e.g.
https://www.mydeposits.co.uk/blogcat/consider-calculating-fair-wear-tear/
and
https://www.mydeposits.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/mydeposits-fair-wear-and-tear-guide.pdf.
They argue the kind of tenant should be kept in mind:
“You would need to account for an increased level of wear and tear caused by children discovering their surroundings; scuffs and tears are almost inevitable in normal family life, so bear this in mind.”
which may be relevant here as you have pets.
Interestingly they quote 5 years lifespan in their carpet example.
I agree with previous commentators that a fixed replacement time for carpets doesn’t make sense since carpet quality can vary so much. If a fixed time starts to get used by the deposit protection agencies, then this will incentivise landlords to put in lower quality carpets.