pets and carpets do not mix!

General Landlording & Rental Properties
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pets and carpets do not mix!

Donya Heil
Member since 2008 · 2 posts · 2 votes

I've got a question. We have been living in our apartment for 13 mths and our lease is up in a few weeks. We paid $300 non refundable pet deposit. When we moved in one of our two dogs was just 4 months old and not potty trained at all. so he made ALOT of messes..we've tried every three months to clean the carpets..but lets just say that the carpets are disgusting. I'm not sure if we should pay for a professional to come out and deep clean them which ive gathered will cost us $170 and that may not even clean them enough..or should I just leave them for the landlord to deal with. I'm just scared they're going to not even try and go the cheap way of cleaning them and ask us to replace the carpets. By the way its a one bed room with approx 580 square feet with carpet..the rest is tile. Anyone have a clue on what i should do?

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OR · Member since 2008 · 1k+ posts · 845 votes
18y

When you have pets, there are expenses that go along with the pets, that non-pet people don't have to pay. You want a dog? You have to pay for the dog's expenses.

If you were my tenant, you'd be paying for new carpet.

The trouble is that dog urine soaks down through the carpet, into the pad, and into the floor. So the only way to get rid of the spots and the smell is to remove the carpet and pad, seal any spots in the wood of the flooring, and replace with new carpet and new pad. It doesn't work to just clean the carpet.

The other problem, is that no other tenant will agree to move into an apartment that smells like dog pee. So it isn't like the landlord can set a few glade air fresheners and rent the apartment like it is. You moved into a rentabe aprtment and the apartment is no longer in rentable condition.

I suspect that you had permission to have the adult dog and then snuck the puppy in. I don;t know even a single landlrod who permits new, un house trained puppies.

At any rate, it was you and your dogs who ruined the caprpet, so you get to pay to fix the damage.

If your puppy did any other damage, such as chewing the baseboards or cabinets, you can expect to pay for that, too.

The next time you want a puppy, study up on crate training before you bring the puppy home.

Since your husband got the puppy over your objection, take the fee for the carpet out of his allowance.

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  • Richard F.
    Honolulu, HI · Member since 2008 · 3k+ posts · 2k+ votes
    18y

    Depends on the condition of the carpet when you moved in, but if you were my tenant, by the sound of it you'd be buying new carpet. I just slammed a tenant that moved in on one year old carpet that had one minor, documented stain when they moved in. When they moved out, there were over two dozen cigarette burns, and numerous dark stains. It was inexpensive carpet, but it is all documented, and he lost his deposit, plus is in the process of getting a judgment against him for the balance.

    A TRUE professional carpet cleaner MAY be able to salvage it for you, depends on the basic quality and age of the carpet. Better to try yourself to hire someone, as your LL will likely use (if anything) a cheap "rug doctor" that will never do the job, then you buy carpet AND pay for the cleaning.

    Were pets even authorized on the lease? Even if so, what were you thinking?

    Good Luck...

    1Reply
  • Donya Heil
    OP
    Member since 2008 · 2 posts · 2 votes
    18y

    yes my pets were authorized, like I said we paid a $300 pet deposit. The condition of the carpet wasnt so great before..very worn down. and what was i thinking..well actually my dog is fully potty trained...but my husband wanted a puppy..after i said no its a pain in the A$$ to train them and theyre too much work..hah he said oh no ill train him...well a year later hes finally trained..not because of my husband lol. anyways its cheap carpet and wasnt in great condition before...it had definatly been professionally cleaned before hand but with a oil based soap because a few staines came up as we lived there. Trust me our next place will have tile! lol but yeah if i were you and someone put cig burns in my carpet they'd be buying new carpet too.

    1Reply
  • Account Closed
    OR · Member since 2008 · 1k+ posts · 845 votes
    18y

    When you have pets, there are expenses that go along with the pets, that non-pet people don't have to pay. You want a dog? You have to pay for the dog's expenses.

    If you were my tenant, you'd be paying for new carpet.

    The trouble is that dog urine soaks down through the carpet, into the pad, and into the floor. So the only way to get rid of the spots and the smell is to remove the carpet and pad, seal any spots in the wood of the flooring, and replace with new carpet and new pad. It doesn't work to just clean the carpet.

    The other problem, is that no other tenant will agree to move into an apartment that smells like dog pee. So it isn't like the landlord can set a few glade air fresheners and rent the apartment like it is. You moved into a rentabe aprtment and the apartment is no longer in rentable condition.

    I suspect that you had permission to have the adult dog and then snuck the puppy in. I don;t know even a single landlrod who permits new, un house trained puppies.

    At any rate, it was you and your dogs who ruined the caprpet, so you get to pay to fix the damage.

    If your puppy did any other damage, such as chewing the baseboards or cabinets, you can expect to pay for that, too.

    The next time you want a puppy, study up on crate training before you bring the puppy home.

    Since your husband got the puppy over your objection, take the fee for the carpet out of his allowance.

    5Reply
  • Rajendra Mackinley
    Commercial Real Estate Agent · San francisco, CA · Member since 2008 · 50 posts · 0 votes
    18y

    Carpet aren't good if you have pets, if you want to spend too much for hiring a cleaner's then you must removed your carpet or you clean it yourself.

    0Reply
  • Bob McIntosh
    Real Estate Investor · Hoboken, NJ · Member since 2008 · 230 posts · 6 votes
    18y

    At this point I would have to agree with most of the posts here. You may want to look into getting the carpet replaced yourself just to get an idea of how much it would cost to replace it. Then you should have a good idea of what your LL will be charging you to replace it.

    0Reply
  • Puma Cat
    Real Estate Investor · CA · Member since 2008 · 5 posts · 0 votes
    18y

    Hate carpets, they are nasty enough themselves, and with pets and kids around they turn in to disaster!

    0Reply
  • Jessica Tam
    Member since 2008 · 77 posts · 0 votes
    18y

    How good is your relationship with your landlord? Can you just ask him what he would prefer you to do? It sounds to me like just replacing the carpets would be the best bet - personally I've not had much luck with carpet cleaners for anything beyond a few small stains.

    0Reply
  • Dane Whales
    Member since 2008 · 7 posts · 0 votes
    18y

    replace the carpet, but an inexpensive one,, or if you can live without it for the mean time then it would be much better.

    0Reply
  • Account Closed
    OR · Member since 2008 · 1k+ posts · 845 votes
    18y

    If one of my tenants replaced carpeting without permission, there would be a very good chance that they would be buying new carpet twice. I have specific carpet that I use and it's not the 50 cent a foot stuff that a tenant is likely to think they could get away with cheap.

    2Reply
  • Marie Nichols
    Real Estate Investor · Marysville, OH · Member since 2009 · 2 posts · 0 votes
    17y

    P NW, mind sharing what kind of carpeting you prefer? I will be replacing 1200 sf. of carpeting in a year from now when current tenants move out.

    0Reply
  • Account Closed
    OR · Member since 2008 · 1k+ posts · 845 votes
    17y

    Marie N.

    Sorry, but I have yet to find the magic tenant-proof carpet. I am currently replacing carpeting with tile, hardwood, and this extra-hard vinyl strip floating flooring (I think it' called allure).

    Good carpet lasts a long time--- if tenants don't burn it, spill red koolaid on it, or rebuilt their Harley on it. I had one house with good quality carpet and a series of excellent tenants and I replaced that carpet when it was 16 years old and was still presentable. (the house came with it. I would never pay that much for carpet for a rental)

    Cheap carpet gets wear patterns and starts to look bad in just a couple of years. However, often the tenants will have damaged it before it gets to be 3 years old.

    Berber is not suitable for tenants. It has to have proper care or it unravels.

    My carpet cleaner recomended a short pile cheapo that he swears he can get any stain out of so I am trying that in one house. I can't say that it is handsome, but tenants don't seem to expect any better quality.

    2Reply
  • Virginia Hilton
    Calhoun Falls, SC · Member since 2009 · 20 posts · 0 votes
    17y

    What is the pet deposit for if not to take care of the problem? If the tenant is expecting to get the deposit back then the carpet needs to be presentable. I only pay $125 sor Sears to do my carpet in 1450 sq ft. I don't know where she lives to have that rate for cleaning. Also, if the carpet has to be replaced then it should be prorated and not all charged to the tenant.

    0Reply
  • Norm Chrostowski
    Real Estate Investor · Lakeview, NY · Member since 2009 · 309 posts · 49 votes
    17y

    Pets and carpets are fine. It's the tenants who don't take care of the pet, that are the problem.

    You obviously didn't watch the pet, and let it piss on the carpets. I agree with PN. That piss goes right thru to the floor. Cleaning, shampooing or steam cleaning, is NOT going to take all the smell out.

    Vote for you PN. I would almost guarantee the LL never knew about the puppy.

    When you moved in, I'm assuming you agreed that the carpet was in good condition. It had to be, YOU moved in. If the carpet is that bad now, I would replace it, but talk to your LL first and get his take.

    This thread should have been titled "Tenants didn't take care of puppy and are trying to get out of paying for new carpet, what should I do?"

    Not trying to be nasty, but c'mon. I would see if the LL would let you use the $300 deposit toward the new carpet. At least if your up-front and honest you might get a better reaction.

    Just my .02$

    0Reply
  • Account Closed
    Real Estate Investor · Sentenhart, Wald · Member since 2009 · 110 posts · 75 votes
    17y

    The landlord doesn't need to try anything. It is your responsibility to return the place in the same condition as you received it, not his to minimize your costs when you have not lived up to your contract.

    I would contact the landlord and try to work things out up front as you are looking at time lost to market, his time and effort, and repairs.

    Carpet cleaning will not get the smell out. Those carpets and pads must be pulled and the odors removed before new pads and carpets go in.

    And no Virginia, pet deposits will not take care of this, they can contribute but these people should talk first before the landlord does his checkout and try to come to some agreement to ease his pain and in turn theirs.

    Talk first, do not make them chase you or any chances of a reasonable settlement go out the window, or they would for me.

    2Reply
  • Linda Scott
    Real Estate Investor · Austin, TX · Member since 2008 · 12 posts · 0 votes
    17y

    I'm not sure if we should pay for a professional to come out and deep clean, if you want to get any of your deposit back I would have them Steam Cleaned and Pet treated, I have seen carpets saved. Not only can a landord take the Pet deposit they can take all or part of your other Deposits. I do not lease to clients with Puppies for this reason.

    0Reply
  • Timothy W.
    Attorney · Raleigh, NC · Member since 2008 · 4k+ posts · 1k+ votes
    17y

    Question. You say you moved in with 1 potty trained dog and paid one $300 pet deposit.

    Did you tell your landlord about the non potty trained puppy you brought it after you moved in? Does your lease require you to inform your landlord when you get new pets and does it require a deposit for each pet? If so did you pay for the deposit on that pet?

    1Reply
  • Cruz G.
    Real Estate Investor · Member since 2009 · 36 posts · 5 votes
    16y

    As a current landlord and tenant (yes, I am both...), I 100% would blame the pet owner tenant, and NOT the pets for pet stains. I have 2 dogs, both were puppies when I got them. Puppies are EASILY trainable (regardless of breed) to go in their particular area inside the house to do their business. My dogs are indoor trained. We set up litter areas and had them trained within 2 weeks how to use the litter areas. It is not hard; just part of responsible pet ownership. I have carpet in one area of the house, 0% stains. It's not to say that accidents never occurred, but when they do, our dogs never repeat them because we (read: I) put the fear of God in our dogs to never do it again (and no, discipline does not require beating our dogs...just a strong yell). With small breeds, this works best...especially docile ones like Shitzus, Japanese Chins and Pekingeses. My one dog is 3 years old and the other is 1 year old tomorrow. Both are very well behaved and we take pride in keeping it that way.

    So yeah, having said all that, when I start expanding my landlord game, I will be breed/size specific and depending on "familiar status" probably none at all (I may not (and would not) be able to discriminate against kids, but I will discriminate against pets if kids are involved).

    So to conclude, if you messed up, don't expect your pet deposit back and be straight up with your landlord. Stuff can always be worked out.

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