Also it is illegal for your landlord to charge for carpet replacement when the carpet only suffered from normal wear and tear.
In ma can a landlord charge for carpet replacement.
For example if the carpet had a 10 year life expectancy but due to tenant damage had to be replaced after just seven years the tenant is only responsible for the useful life of the carpet that has been lost.
Carpet life years remaining.
Expected life of carpet.
Those things if not cleaned up properly can cause some serious health issues.
Ordinary wear and tear does not justify a deduction from your deposit.
What important things do you need to keep in mind when it comes to landlord carpet replacement.
Using the same example with a life expectancy of nine years and if a replacement carpet of similar quality would cost 2 000 the landlord could properly charge only 222 22 for only one years worth of life use that would have remained if the tenant had not damaged the carpet.
Original cost of carpet.
If the carpet originally cost 1 000 and had a life expectancy of 10 years the depreciation charge would be 100 per year.
A landlord cannot deduct the cost of repainting or replacing carpet from the security deposit for normal wear and tear or even when the walls and carpet have met the useful life terms.
In fact he is entitled to deduct damages from your security deposit.
Generally the longer you live in an apartment the more wear and tear is expected and ordinary.
If you ve damaged the carpet the landlord is not likely to replace it on his dime.
A landlord may not deduct for routine painting or carpet cleaning where there is no unusual damage caused by tenant abuse.
A landlord cannot routinely charge each tenant for cleaning carpets drapes walls or windows in order to prepare the rental unit for the next tenancy.
But when it comes to a carpet that is badly stained or damaged a landlord can charge a tenant for cleaning costs or even to replace the entire carpet if it s that badly damaged or stained and they can do it by withholding all or part of the security deposit.
The landlord should properly charge only 200 for the two years worth of life use that would have remained if the tenant had not damaged the carpet.
10 years 8 years 2 years.
An apartment rug or carpet collects dust dirt and pet hair.
100 per year age of carpet.
10 years depreciation charge 1 000 10.
In some states the landlord may bring legal action against a former tenant if the damage exceeds the security deposit.
Also normal wear and tear to carpets drapes and other furnishings cannot be charged against a tenant s security deposit normal wear and tear includes simple wearing down of carpet and drapes because of normal use or aging and includes moderate dirt or spotting.
