Landlord won't change old dirty carpet after 5 years!

General Landlording & Rental Properties
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Landlord won't change old dirty carpet after 5 years!

David A.
Involved In Real Estate · Fort Worth, TX · Member since 2012 · 158 posts · 11 votes

Hello everyone! I haven't been on the site lately as I have been busy with some projects and keeping a healthy lifestyle :). One of my contractors who is a great person and has helped me needs some advice. He has been renting a house for the past 5 years and needs to change the carpet. I visited his house when we went for some tools and the carpet is in really bad shape. He has tried to clean it but it is beyond cleaning and will need to be replaced. His landlord owns two houses in the neighborhood and told him that she will not replace it because she didn't know he would have kids! Besides the carpet issue, there is mold in the garage wall due to run off from the furnace something must be clogged in there. I really want to help this guy out he has been really helpful. Thanks for any advice!

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Joel OwensBusiness Member
Moderator
Real Estate Broker · Canton, GA · Member since 2010 · 15k+ posts · 11k+ votes
13y

If this tenant is a problem on a consistent basis the landlord might want them to move and hence fixing as least things as possible to get them out.

The landlord might feel they do not want to put a lot of nice things into a unit or do updates until they are out.

As mentioned none of us knows the history of this tenant and landlord and you are just hearing one side from the tenant.

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  • Jon Holdman
    Rental Property Investor · Mercer Island, WA · Member since 2008 · 22k+ posts · 14k+ votes
    13y

    What was the carpet like when he moved in five years ago? Five years is the lifetime of flooring, per the IRS. But forcing a landlord to replace it will be difficult.

    If something is clogged up or leaking around the furnace, the landlord should fix that. Its in their own interest to avoid water damage.

    Why doesn't your contractor just move?

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  • David A.
    OP
    Involved In Real Estate · Fort Worth, TX · Member since 2012 · 158 posts · 11 votes
    13y

    The carpet has probably been with the house since it was built around 1995 according to him. The landlord has been rude and uncooperative with him. Last month, the garage door spring broke and he couldn't get his tools out. She didn't care so he went ahead and replaced it out of pocket. Isn't mold dangerous for health? This is what is most alarming from what I saw. They have two little girls. He wants to move but is not financially ready. He wants my help in finding him an owner finance house in about 4 months when we finish a project.

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  • Dawn AnastasiPro Member
    Rental Property Investor · Milwaukee, WI · Member since 2013 · 6k+ posts · 4k+ votes
    13y

    One thing to consider, if he can report the issue to health and human services, he can pay rent into an escrow account and the landlord won't get it until she fixes the issues. See if that would work for him.

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  • Ryan M.
    West, MI · Member since 2012 · 674 posts · 182 votes
    13y
    Originally posted by Dawn A.:
    One thing to consider, if he can report the issue to health and human services, he can pay rent into an escrow account and the landlord won't get it until she fixes the issues. See if that would work for him.

    If they go this route negotiations will be done.

    Send the owner in writing a letter about the carpet, water problem, and repairs that were completed. Give a timeframe to reply or let them know they will be giving notice to move.

    How's the rent payments, always on time or behind constantly? This will make a big difference.

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  • Jon Holdman
    Rental Property Investor · Mercer Island, WA · Member since 2008 · 22k+ posts · 14k+ votes
    13y

    So, the carpet is 18 years old and due for replacement. OTOH, it was 13 years old when he moved in. That would have been the time to complain, not a few months before moving out. Unless he's the source of the mess (I assume not), its just as nasty as its been for five years. Why the push to replace it now?

    Maybe the mold is an issue, maybe not. Mold is, IMHO, one of those bugbears that is rarely as big as a problem as it gets turned into. The real issue is a potential water leak. If there's a leak, the landlord should fix it or she's endangering her property. A small water leak can turn into a huge problem. Certainly shouldn't be ignored.

    Ultimately, though, the solution is to move if the landlord won't deal with problems.

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  • Joel OwensBusiness Member
    Moderator
    Real Estate Broker · Canton, GA · Member since 2010 · 15k+ posts · 11k+ votes
    13y

    If this tenant is a problem on a consistent basis the landlord might want them to move and hence fixing as least things as possible to get them out.

    The landlord might feel they do not want to put a lot of nice things into a unit or do updates until they are out.

    As mentioned none of us knows the history of this tenant and landlord and you are just hearing one side from the tenant.

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    WebsiteView Page
    2Reply
  • George P.
    Real Estate Investor · Baltimore, MD · Member since 2008 · 1k+ posts · 268 votes
    13y

    Kinda late now, but should've paid attention to the carpet condition 5 years ago. 13 y.o. carpet looks as such. Apparently it wasn't a problem then. Why is it a problem now?

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