How to make the landlord change the carpet?

Question

My friend has rented the same apartment for 7 (!!!) years. When he moved in, the carpet was very bad, and the landlord said that he will change it soon... Well, it has been 7 years, and he has not done it! My friend talked to him several times, but there is no point in that. The last time he spoke with the landlord, he said: If you want it changed, hire someone and you will have your new carpet.
It is not fair, because my friend should not pay for rent and the new carpet that he might not enjoy long.
Is there an agency that my friend could turn to for this problem? Is there anything that he can do besides talking to the landlord?

Landlords in all states except Alabama, Arkansas and Colorado are
responsible for the physical condition of rental property, both when you
move in and during your tenancy. This responsibility stems from the
landlord's duty to offer and maintain housing that satisfies basic
habitability requirements, such as adequate weatherproofing, available
heat, water and electricity, and clean, sanitary and structurally safe
premises. Even in the three states that have not adopted this
habitability rule, local or state housing laws may impose substantially
the same requirements on landlords.


I just found this online... Too bad that he lives in AR... :(

Answer 1

Tell him to look up his states landlord-tenant laws. If the carpet being replaced was a condition of move in then he may be able to take legal action. Also, depending on the states laws he may be able to have the carpet replaced himself and then deduct the cost from his rent. I would encourage him to work with the landlord first though as getting into this legal mumbo jumbo is a lot of hassle just for some new carpet.

PS- Also tell your friend to document everything- every call, conversation, promise, every word he and his landlord exchange... That way should he ever need to validate his side of the argument he can refer back to his documentation!

Answer 2

A pungent carpet isn't a well-being or protection subject. LOL this is being somewhat overly dramatic. Your landlord is appropriate: you'll have delivered this up on the walk by once you moved in. he's decrease than NO criminal duty to furnish you new carpeting. He wiped sparkling the carpet and did what he mandatory to to make the situation waiting for brand spanking new tenants. No, you could not smash the settlement and not pay the early termination fees basically considering which you do no longer purely like the carpet.

Answer 3

Contact the Tenants Union in your state/area, and the Attorney Generals Office.

When he moved in, on the walk through inspection that he signed, if it shows the carpet was in bad condition or if the landlord signed saying that it needed to be changed then he will have a case.

Also, contact a lawyer for advice, but the organizations above will let him know of his rights as a tenant.

Answer 4

depending on state laws the carpet is supposed to be changed every 7 years anyway (and i'm sure someone had the apartment before him so it's way past due) so have him look up renters laws for his state and then tell his landlord he spoke with a lawyer and that they had better replace the carpet!

Answer 5

Unless the Landlord put it in writing your friend has no proof. He's stuck with the nasty carpet- that is unless he's willing to relocate. The landlord knows he doesnt have to do anything. Once he signed the lease and there were no writtain agreements he's SOL

Answer 6

Depending on which state you live in, check the rights of tenants and landlords, because it doesn't sound like he's not doing what's right on his part. You may be able to find it on the internet on tenant and landlord rights. Good luck.

Answer 7

Doesn't matter what you found on the internet. If he has lived with the carpet for 7 years the home is obviously habitable.

Answer 8

Nope. He can put up with it, or he can move.