what is the life of a cheap carpet? (any landlords out there?)

I'm moving out of an apartment I've habited for eight years. The carpet was not new but in good condition when I moved in. The question: are they going to replace this carpet, or do I have to labor to try to get out every bit of dirt to get my deposit back? It's a medium-short pile that's light beige in color.

Could the condition of the carpet fall under the umbrella of normal wear? There are a few spots I can't get out, and some wear and stretching in the high-traffic areas.

The other three units in this plex have been updated, because they've turned over several times since I've lived here.

What say you?

:shrug:

you're off the hook. Eight years is a lot of normal use, and, given that other units have been updated, I'd say you're in fine shape. Don't sweat it.

But, photograph it, just in case.

Good luck.

I wouldn't worry about it.

above reasonable wear and tear.

Sounds like what you describe falls under reasonable wear and tear for an 8 year old carpet, imho.

My wife worked for an apartment complex and we have several rentals- I'd say that carpet has exceeded it's useful life already. I'd try to get the spots out but I don't think they can charge you for a normal property owner's expense.

In the two bedrooms, the old draperies were starting to fall apart after a couple of years. I took them down and threw them away and put up my own curtains, which I will not leave up because they aren't standard enough for anyone else to want. Blue geometric print, etc.

Is that going to be a problem to leave the windows with no covering? I actually saved them some $$ by not asking for new drapes earlier, I guess.

I've been a great tenant who is quiet and doesn't ask for much from the landlord. Have only complained once, about an unruly neighbor.

Thanks for your advice.

If you didn't document thier condition or ask for permission to remove them. Also, you landlord has the right to ask to keep the new drapes and fixtures you installed, since when you drill something into the wall it becomes a fixture and part of the apartment. In practice, you can probably keep them (be nice and putty the holes) but you should ask before you take them down.

edit: typo

this take them to small claims. It is a slam dunk.

Funny story: A landlord in our town tried to keep money for an old carpet when a bird flew down a LIT fireplace and caught fire and burnt the carpet. The judge ruled that the bird had committed suicide and was therefore liable but not the tenant. :)

If it just needs stretched and cleaned that's certainly reasonable wear and tear for an eight year occupancy. The carpet has reached the end of it's useful lifespan.

The most you can be charged is the difference between it's age and expected lifespan, prorated, and that's only if you've caused unusual damage. So if you left a wine stain or something and the carpet was a year old when you got it, you might be charged 10% of the purchase price for the amount of usable lifespan you cost the landlord. However, it sounds like the wear and tear is pretty minor. Usually eight+ year old rental carpet looks baaaaaaaaaaad.

or an actual person at the rental office, I'd ask them these questions.

"All we are is dust in the wind."

and people have been walking all over me my whole life
and I'm still here:-)

We just replaced our two upstairs floors with carpet after 12 years, but, and this is a big but, downstairs where the food, traffic, dirt, etc. is, we don't have carpet. We took that carpet out after three years.

I think you are home free.

we give the carpet a 12 year life span. If the other three units have been updated, I am sure yours will be as well. I wouldn't worry about it. Broom clean. Only worry if you've got massive quantities of mess on the carpet.

and our apartment has flooded twice in the two years we've lived here (the first time completely flooded and the second time only partially). Then of course we had the three hurricanes, that have added some more water damage to the walls beyond what the two floods have done. The management sent out a letter asking everyone that had damage to their apartment from the storms to give them a call, and they would stop by. I called them, but they never came to check out the apartment. The condition of the apartment doesn't brother us personally, but I just hope they don't try to stick it to us when we move out and the end of May. We can't afford to pay their bills. We have documented the damage and have written them complaint letters in the past, which they have always acted on formal complaints. They don't seem to do much if you don't put it in writing. Anyhow... I just hope they don't try to pull any shit when we move out. There's no way in hell we are to blame for the damage to this place. I'm hoping they'll be cool. They were going to raise our rent from $659 a month to $909 a month for the last three months we'll be here (after our 2nd lease is up), but we talked them out of it and we're going to still be paying the same. The management seems like they can be reasonable, but they also seem like they are totally willing to take advantage of anyone they can too.

...that's a HUGE rent increase, isn't it? My rent hasn't been raised in the eight years I've been here. I'm hating to leave but have to move for family reasons. I've got 1100 square feet with fireplace, swim pool, laundry at my back door, a literal park outside the back door with cedar trees and landscaping and my own garden space and patio, and the city bus stops a block away. All this for $540. Argh!

That sounds like a sweet deal.