Apt rental and carpet damage (apartment, leasing, tenant) - Tampa Bay - Florida (FL) -Tampa - St. Petersburg - Clearwater - City-Data Forum

dkurina73 · 03-23-2008, 01:49 AM

Does anyone know the official rule on carpet wear and tear and apartment rentals? If you live in a complex over "x" amount of years, do they have to replace the carpet? Just a fact finding mission here. Thanks..

jessiesma · 03-23-2008, 08:06 AM

they just have to provide a clean and safe environment. Bear in mind your standard of what is clean may be higher than the average. Carpeting is a disaster after several years because you cannot get every bit of dust and dirt up so it gets in there and harbors bacteria and dust mites. Certainly if it is stained from previous pets or torn it should be replaced. You need to settle that before you sign a lease. It's common for complexes to say they can't show you the unit you will be getting but try to see it the day before you plan to move and if the problem is bad, don't sign the lease until they fix it. They give you a move in sheet to document problems upon move in but try to get it fixed after.

Quote:

Originally Posted by dkurina73

Does anyone know the official rule on carpet wear and tear and apartment rentals? If you live in a complex over "x" amount of years, do they have to replace the carpet? Just a fact finding mission here. Thanks..

jessiegirl_98 · 03-23-2008, 09:41 AM

I would read your lease and see if it says anything about it.

jessiesma · 03-23-2008, 09:59 AM

I didn't get that you are there for a while. Most leases don't cover renewals except for the money part so it's a negotiating point when you go to do it. If you've been a good tenant they may want to do it to keep you and if not you have the option to go to someplace newly cleaned. If you like the place and see it as your long term home, you might consider splitting the cost or even doing what you like with their approval.

Quote:

Originally Posted by dkurina73

Does anyone know the official rule on carpet wear and tear and apartment rentals? If you live in a complex over "x" amount of years, do they have to replace the carpet? Just a fact finding mission here. Thanks..

Kay B · 03-23-2008, 10:22 AM

Be careful if you are newly leasing.. We leased this place 3 months ago and they did the walk through without us and then marked some minor carpet stains on the paperwork but checked "excellent" for condition. Luckily we were able to have our say in writing within a certain time frames. There's more than minor stains... to include pet stains. Ugh. They did NOT carpet clean even though they insist they did... there was trash on the floor which wouldn't have remained there had the carpets been cleaned. It looked like they just raked the carpet. Anyhow... really check the carpets before finalizing anything because the pet stains did not become evident until after we vac and got rid of the rake marks.

Keeper · 03-23-2008, 02:39 PM

I will venture a guess.. If they are putting new carpet in other apts then they will probably do so if you move out.
The lease probably will say 'normal wear and tear' which means if it is worn then they won't do anything, but if it is torn and stained then they might charge you depending on the age of the carpet. A lot depends on the complex mgt. Most replace carpets every so many years.