Landlord Question!!! My tenants ruined the carpet, shouldn't I use the deposit to replace the entire carpet?

Question

I collected a $600 deposit on a home I rent. The carpet has some major stains that I know were not there before, and it won't clean up by steam cleaning it. You can't just put a new piece of carpet there because it would look funny, but wow, to replace it, it would be the entire living room floor which is a lot. Is that too much to ask for to replace that? Isn't that what damage deposits are for?

Answer 1

Yes, that is what deposits are for. You would be perfectly within your rights to use the deposit to replace the carpet. To be fair, if it is less than $600 to replace it, the rest should be given back. But you should definitely use the deposit as it may be harder to rent the place if the carpets are not presentable.

Answer 2

That is what a damage deposit is for. Go ahead and use it but be sure you send your tenants notice in writing stating why you kept it, how much the new carpet & installation was. Add any other damages that you had to repair (cleaning not included) If the total comes to less than the deposit you must refund the difference. If the total is more than the deposit you can bill the tenants for the difference. (Good luck collecting). My state, Iowa, requires that I send the notice within 30 days of when the tenants vacate the property. If you don't send notice in that time frame, you have to refund the entire deposit, regardless of damages. Hope this helped.

Answer 3

You could if you wanted to, you sound justified. If these are pet stains, you have to replace the carpet and the padding (and possibly clean the floor underneath.) There will be some bacteria you can't reach by just cleaning, and it will be there for the next tenant to smell.

The proper way to handle it is for you to do a walkthrough with your tenants before they take the home, writing down everything that's wrong with the place. (Some agencies allow the tenant to do this alone, writing down all the things they don't want to be responsible for when they move out.)

You then have a basis for proving what damage was done by them.

When they move out, you have 14 days to do another walkthrough (with or without them) documenting anything needing repair. This allows you to compare the two, and if you end up in court in a dispute, you have a basis for your case.

(Note to Wet Willie: You know, all you have to do is create a new yahoo account and re-enter with 100 free points.)

Answer 4

Laws are different in different jurisidictions.

However, if you collected a damage deposit and your tenants damaged the carpet, keep the deposit and redo the floors. That's what the deposit is there for.

I would suggest putting in flooring that does not stain or get damaged easily. Laminate flooring is pretty durable and you can put it in yourself. Hardwood plank, hardwood parquet are also more expensive, but lifelong investments. You can always refinnish them.

Good luck!

Answer 5

Call Land Lord/Tenant 's Act. But I believe you are correct. They should not get anything back. Any damage over and above normal wear and tear should be taken off the damage deposit. Have a lovely day!

Answer 6

go ahead and charge them but if they take you to court, you do not get the replacement value but the value of the carpet at the time it was damaged, usually court places a seven year life for carpet so depending on the age of the carpet you pro-rate 7 years and charged for that

Answer 7

Yup. Charge em for a new rug. The deposit is for anything more than reasonable wear and tear.

Answer 8

I would use the deposit for the floor thats exactly what they are for

Answer 9

That is what the deposit is for.

Answer 10

Thats what it's for and I would definitly use it.