Paying over $2200, to break lease, do I have to cover damages to carpet?

Question

I am in FL. I have lived here for a year and a half. The carpet was not new when I moved in, but it is really pretty bad now thanks to it being cheap and light colored. A friend told me her brother was a landlord here and if a tenant live in a place more than a year, the damages to carpet were considered wear and tear. Considering they charged me 2 mths. rent with a 60 day notice, is that not enough to get my apartment ready for their "waiting list"? I am sure they will have somebody in here by the end of Jan even though I have to pay rent through Feb already!

Answer 1

You didnt say if you were being evicted or not. Just that they gave you 60 day notice, which is probably what the law allows. If 60 days is the notice the landlord has to give you, you pay for that 60 days and have 60 days to move out. I am assuming you have a lease. With the market right now, you cant be sure it will be rented by the end of January. I have a nice apt with new carpet, paint, nice neighborhood, etc, that has been empty for almost a year. Its called economy. But besides the fact, most people take 60 days to find some other place and move.
Being cheap carpet and light colored has nothing to do with how it was taken care of. I put cheap carpet in my rentals and with proper care from the tenants, have had it last 10 yrs. If I put new carpet in, you were there 1 1/2 yrs and it was trashed, you can bet you would be paying for new carpet out of your security deposit.
Wear and Tear is NOT judged by the amount of time you lived there. Its if it was cleaned once a year and taken care of. Spilled food or drink that has not been cleaned up is NOT wear and tear. Worn carpet, especially in high traffic areas is concidered wear and tear. But tenants have to make the effort to take care of it.
Sounds to me like your Landlord is doing what is required by law and you just dont like it.

Answer 2

If the $2200 only covers the amount you owe for breaking the lease, they will charge you an additional amount for the damages to the place (carpet included) if your security deposit is not enough to cover the cost of the damages.