Damaged Carpet In Rental

Landlords may be puzzled at how to document pet urine in their rental property.

Damaged carpet in rental.

It does not matter what a new carpet would cost. Matted carpet or furniture impressions are wear and tear. If the carpet in a rental unit is damaged and must be replaced the damage the tenant is responsible for must be prorated appropriately. Tenants can t be held responsible for normal wear and tear.

How to document pet urine in a rental property. Landlords need to document the pet urine somehow for proof of the damage. A rental property must always be fit to live in. After all a stain may not show up in a photo.

A carpet is another asset in a rental property just like a fridge microwave or dishwasher. When a tenant causes damage beyond normal use a landlord has cause to charge the tenant for the damages. Carpet damage examples include serious and large stains rips or burns. Example carpet damage calculation suppose a tenant has damaged beyond repair an 8 old carpet that had a life expectancy of 10 years and that the original cost of the carpet was 1 000.

Carpet that exceeds 10 years in age no longer has any depreciation left and therefore a claim may not legally be awarded. Unless the carpet is cleaned by a professional there will be damage from pet urine. If there are no large stains tears or rips and the carpet simply needs to be cleaned that falls under normal wear and tear. Normal wear and tear vs damaged carpet.

If a property investor installs brand new carpet in february of 2016 and these carpets were damaged when the tenants vacated 12 months later the owner could claim 90 of the total cost of the replacement of the damaged carpet. If the carpet has light sun damage or is showing signs of wear that is normal wear and tear and the landlord cannot blame the tenant. Landlords are responsible for repairing and maintaining the property so that it is in a reasonable state of repair considering the age of the property the amount of rent being paid and the prospective life of the property. All those assets are subjected to normal wear and tear.

This may include damages inflicted by the tenants their guests or pets. For example if the carpet had a 10 year life expectancy but due to tenant damage had to be replaced after just seven years the tenant is only responsible for the useful life of the carpet that has been lost.