RPA Tenant Rights Blog » Carpet

Carpet Depreciation Charge?

Elaine — Sat, 13 Jul 2013 15:07:09 +0000

After living in an apartment (in Indianapolis, IN) for 2 years, I moved out having given the appropriate 30 day notice. (Very old apartments, but cozy) When I returned the apartment keys, I asked the office personnel if anything else was required of me and did I need to sign or fill out anything. I was told “no”. I then received a SECURITY DEPOSIT DISPOSITION notice. The management decided to replace the carpet that was 5 years old (obviously not new when I moved in). The cost of carpenting was depreciated by 60%. I was informed that the percentage of carpet installation to charge the resident was 40% totaling $474.40. They took pictures but I wasn’t privy to them until after I went into the office and talked to the management. I told them that the notice had listed a pink spot in master bedroom. This was already there when I moved in and had obviously been cleaned because it was very light and I only noticed it when the sun shone in weeks later. Also was listed “a carpet wrinkle” in master bedroom. I explained to them that the “wrinkle” was already there. I assumed it had been from the installer not pulling the carpet tight enough upon installation or prior cleaning had stretched the carpet. I DO NOT know how to “wrinkle carpet”. I am positive that these things are noted after the departure of the prior tenant, but how do I become privy to that documentation? Also was listed bleach spots. These were tiny pieces of shredded paper used to pack and spilled from a box or something in an area of the hallway! Even after viewing the pictures, it is obviously not bleach spots. WOW!

The carpet did need cleaning after my two-year stay, but not replaced (soiled in traffic areas BUT NOT damaged in any way).

I was told that carpet is cleaned between each tenant, as it was before I had moved in. The management did not notify me that they had chosen not to clean the carpet but instead had decided to replace it. If this decision was based on my occupancy, I would like to have had the opportunity to clean it myself versus pay for new carpet in that apartment!

I have reviewed my lease over and over and I cannot find this “depreciation schedule” they have sent me anywhere. I would not have signed it because at the bottom, it says “The above schedule assumes a 7 year life but also assumes that all carpet would have some remaining value regardless of age. Therefore, the carpet depreciation allowance NEVER results in a value less than a 20% value.” Doesn’t this mean they were going to charge me for new carpet no matter what????

I know that often a tenant leaves a mess and ultimately doesn’t want to pay for the fix. But, I truly do not feel these charges are substantiated. When I had a polite conversation with management discussing this matter, they could not seem to find “my paperwork and the pictures” they were referring to. A week or so later, I received a letter stating that they stand behind their decision and they sent me a copy of those pictures. I feel so victimized here and do not feel I owe for carpet. (also, they’ve kept the $100.00 deposit that I feel I should also get back)

How do I stand up for myself?

Elaine in Indy

The post Carpet Depreciation Charge? appeared first on RPA Tenant Rights Blog.

Can landlord charge for carpet?

Cambria — Thu, 11 Oct 2012 12:36:35 +0000

My husband and I recently moved out of an aparment in Colorado Springs and when he returned the keys they never did a walk through with him afterwards. We recieved the bill about two weeks later and it is for 840 minus our 125 dollar deposit. Total it is about 720 that they claim we owe them. The main charge they put down was for replacing the carpet in the whole apartment. The carpet was not, by any means, ruined in the whole aparment. We had professional cleaners come in and clean before we moved out. There was a spot in the bedroom that is about 5 inches in diameter that was chewed due to a puppy we tried for a week and decided not to keep. When I went in to inquire further on the charges, she said they charged us for replacing all the carpet because it was replaced a week before we moved in and they cannot repair or replace carpet in just one room. So, we were charged with replacing all the carpet in the aparment. Is this appropriate?

The post Can landlord charge for carpet? appeared first on RPA Tenant Rights Blog.

Moldy Carpet, Landlord won’t Replace

jaime — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 22:40:10 +0000

My friend just moved into an apartment that smells very mildewy and moldy carpet. There is also visible mold in all of the windowsills. The landlord had shampooed the carpets before my friend moved in, and there was no ventilation and OR is a wet state. I’m not sure if that is why the mold is there or not. But, my friend has asthma and is having a very hard time breathing when she is in the apartment. She contacted the landlord about it and the landlord said the only thing they can do for her is shampoo the carpets again. THIS WON’T HELP!! They won’t replace the carpet or let her out of her lease. It seems absurd that they can make her live there in those conditions. It seems a huge health concern. She has been to her asthma doctor and he has written a letter stating that she is in danger living in that apartment and needs to move. If anyone has any advice about how she can get out of the apartment right now without any serious repercussions, please help!!

The post Moldy Carpet, Landlord won’t Replace appeared first on RPA Tenant Rights Blog.

carpet cleaning issue

Tenant — Fri, 13 May 2011 06:15:10 +0000

I recently moved out of a townhome (I live in Virginia by the way). My roomates and I own two dogs which left quite a lot of dog hair on the floor. Otherwise there were no stains. Our lease required that we have the carpets professionally cleaned with proof. We, the renters, vacuumed and swept the floors then paid $275 dollars to have it professionally done and offered our landlord a contact information for the cleaning company. I walked through the place myself to inspect and saw absolutely no dog hair or stains on the floors, which was great since it was extremely hairy. Now my landlord has done a walkthrough and informed my roomates and I that the floors are disgusting and that she is having the floors cleaned again which will come out of our deposite. Unfortunately I have no pictures of the place but I do have proof that our original cleaning was done. I have been told that it is illegal for a landlord to require a cleaning then charge for another. Can anyone help?

The post carpet cleaning issue appeared first on RPA Tenant Rights Blog.