California Landlord Required To Replace Carpet

It s your right to complain and the landlord should lay new carpet as necessary but landlords are obligated to replace your cruddy carpet only under specific circumstances.

California landlord required to replace carpet.

The carpet is one of the most well used items in a rental unit. According to california law ca civil code 1940 1954 05 under a lease tenants have certain rights such as the right to a habitable dwelling due process for evictions and more landlords also have rights such as the right to collect rent and to collect for property. Replacing carpets is costly and landlords often try to charge tenants for the expense. California law does not specify when landlords must replace carpeting in rental units.

Replacing carpet makes a place feel fresh and new but it is a large expense that many landlords put off as long as possible. Under california landlord tenant guidelines a carpet s useful life is eight to 10 years. In california a lease exists whenever there is an oral or written agreement to exchange rent for inhabiting a property. Landlords may only be required to repair or replace carpets if required in the lease or if the current state of the carpets render the unit unlivable.

Listed below are some facts you should know about carpet replacement. Because of that it can become very dirty over time. The cost of replacing the carpet after 10 years falls to the landlord. State laws do not directly require landlords to replace or repair carpets.

When the landlord is required to repair replace. Under california law unless the carpet is visibly damaged and that damage is not the result of normal wear and tear the landlord cannot hold the tenant responsible for the damage or the cost of replacement for the carpet. It does clarify that worn or aged but otherwise undamaged carpet does not affect a property s habitability. Many landlords charge tenants to pay for carpet replacement for no apparent reason.

If you are planning on moving into a new home it s something you have to seriously look into. Additionally tenants cannot be held responsible for defects in the carpet that existed before they moved in. Carpet replacement is a hot button issue in a landlord and tenant relationship bad carpets are an eyesore and make living in the apartment unpleasant.