No carpet in this world is made to live forever in your house with you. Carpets often get faded, matted down, and damaged by stains.
And if you are living in a rental unit, the common question arises- “How Often Should The Landlord Replace The Carpet?”
Let’s understand who is responsible for replacing the carpet and How Often Should The Landlord Replace The Carpet.
Factors that impact carpet lifespan for a rental property
1. Stains
The most obvious sign to replace and install a new carpet is visible stains. Watching your favorite Tv show with red wine in your hand or organizing a date at home with tempting food on the dinner table. Accidents can happen.
But don’t let it sink…. oh! it’s already sinked deep into your carpet.
Your food is made with strong ingredients which, when fall on the carpet, can sometimes result in stain that is challenging to remove.
If your carpet is severely damaged by a rigid stain or multiple stains, then consider replacing it.
2. Mold and Water damage
Water can damage your carpet to the extent that the carpet will either need professional treatment or replacement.
Water damage will also result in mold building and can cause severe health issues like runny or blocked nose, irritation in eyes and skin, and sometimes wheezing.
3. Signs of tear and wear
There is no particular time when a landlord should change the carpet as, firstly, it can be a very expensive procedure, and secondly, scheduling for a carpet change may require the tenant to vacate the place for a longer period of time.
According to Scott Hosie, Head of Product & Innovation at Headlam, Europe’s leading distributor of floor coverings- “There is a proxy that goes around the flooring world that says a carpet, on average, is changed every seven years.”
4. Smell
There can be many reasons for the carpet’s funky smell.
For instance, if the previous tenant used to smoke or if they had pets that used the carpet as their bathroom. All these reasons can make the carpet absorb moisture and give out a pungent smell.
5. Age
Carpets have a shorter lifespan as compared to other flooring materials. On average, the lifespan of a carpet is 5 to 15 years only.
This property of a carpet is a common factor in replacing the carpet in your new house.
6. Matted patches
This factor occurs when over a certain period of time, the carpet gets matted down in some places, and you can see the bottom of the carpet.
These worn-out areas are an indication that your carpet needs total replacement.
Who is accountable for replacing or cleaning the carpet?
The next question people often ask is who will pay for carpet cleaning– The tenant or the landlord?
Normally, if the carpet has signs of wear and tear or multiple stains by the previous tenant, then the responsibility lies in the hands of the landlord to change the carpet.
However, it is recommended to examine all the things in your new house before signing any lease with the landlord.
But this condition changes when you spill anything on the carpet, then it is your responsibility to pay for the damages caused.
The Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Guidelines for Carpet
Your carpet has the potential to absorb everything from the food you spill to your dog’s hair and more. These things sink into the carpet, offering bacteria and other harmful microorganisms to live in there.
These bacteria and viruses are then breathed by you or sometimes consumed.
For example- You are sitting on your dirty but comfy carpet, and you decide to eat something because you are hungry now without washing your hands, you start to eat and end up consuming the bacteria also.
To avoid situations like this, you should regularly vacuum the carpet. However, the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has set the timeline to 7 years to replace the carpets in rental apartments.
Additionally, most carpets are known for their durability, but they also start to show signs of losing color and texture and sometimes start to matt down after 4 or 5 years.
When should a landlord replace the carpet?
There’s no such law for landlords to replace the carpet, but it’s common for a landlord to review it every 5 years.
As we discussed above, there are a few signs that your carpet will need a complete replacement, like when it’s ruined by water seepage or have multiple stains that are not made by you.
A good carpet lasts up to 10 years, but a cheap one will only survive for 3 or so years.
Although it is the duty of a landlord to maintain their houses, while some landlords just want to save their money. You might have seen those houses with beautiful everything but a scary 70s carpet.
These are the houses where landlords maintain everything in the house except for the carpet. It is recommended to go through every corner of the new house before signing any lease.
Tricks to remove the stain
Accidents happen, and if you are a tenant, then the money will be from your pocket. However, there are some tricks to effectively remove these stains and save you money.
1. Using ice cubes
When you move your furniture, it leaves a dent in the carpet, which can be easily removed by the ice cube trick.
- Place the ice cube on the depressed area of the carpet and let it melt.
- After it completely melts, dab away the excess water.
- Place a clean towel over the indent, then place an iron over the towel to make it completely dry.
Using this process, the chances are that the carpet will regain its shape.
2. Using the right cleaning products
Using the right cleaning products is paramount. Your carpet is made from different fibers, and these fibers react to different chemicals.
For instance, if you have a dog, then you might want to use an enzyme-based carpet-cleaning powders.
3. Using baking soda
Baking soda not only cleans the stains but is also effective in removing any odor from the carpet.
Spray the baking soda around the stained area and let it sit for an hour before vacuuming your carpet. When you start vacuuming your carpet, the baking soda will take the odor away with it.
Conclusion
When in doubt, it’s considered best to reach out to the landlord to discuss the situation regarding replacing the carpet or getting it professionally cleaned.
As for the question, “How Often Should The Landlord Replace The Carpet?” it depends on various factors that both tenant and the landlord must examine and agree on.
FAQs
Can you replace the carpet if you have allergies?
Yes, of course, no landlord wants to get sued due to health hazards. If you have good terms with your landlord, you can ask him/her to get the carpet replaced, and if you and your landlord are not on good terms, you can still ask him/her to replace it, as it’s a matter of your health.
How often should the landlord replace the carpet?
In short, it depends on the condition of your carpet. If it is completely damaged, then it needs to be replaced. If it has minimal stains, then you can talk to your landlord to remove them.
What is a tenant damage?
This term simply implies that if you have done the damage, then you have to pay from your pocket.
The landlord is only responsible for the damage made by the previous tenant or if the carpet has some serious issues.
Daleyza knows a lot about carpets! She has worked with carpets for over 7 years and can help with things like putting them in, keeping them clean, and replacing them. She really likes carpets and spends most of her time learning about new ways to work with them. When she’s not learning about carpets, she enjoys reading books. She’s really good at helping people choose the right carpet for their homes and making sure they’re happy with it. If you want to know more about carpets, Daleyza is the person to talk to!