Deductions

Can my landlord charge me for carpet replacement?

The useful-life math

Carpet doesn’t last forever, and landlords are expected to know that. The standard argument in deposit disputes:

1. Find the carpet’s age. How old was it when you moved in? (Ask — the answer goes in writing.)
2. Subtract your tenancy. Age at move-in plus your years there = the carpet’s age at move-out.
3. Compare to useful life. If the carpet is at or past its expected life, the landlord can’t reasonably charge you for replacing something that was already done.
4. Prorate what’s left. Even for real damage, you owe only the remaining value, not the cost of brand-new carpet.

Example: carpet installed 6 years before you moved in, you lived there 3 years, useful life 10 years — the carpet had about 1 year of value left. A $1,200 full-replacement charge against your deposit should really be closer to $120, and that’s only if there was actual damage beyond wear.

What landlords can and can’t charge for

• Can charge (prorated): pet urine stains, burns, bleach or dye damage, rips — actual damage.
• Can’t charge: matted traffic paths, general dullness, fading from sun, carpet that was old when you arrived. The wear-and-tear line →

Red flags on the itemized list

• “Carpet replacement — $1,800” with no age stated. Ask in writing how old the carpet was.
• Whole-unit replacement for one stained room. Damage in the bedroom doesn’t justify replacing the living room.
• Upgraded carpet. You owe the value of what was there, not an upgrade to premium carpet.
• No photos of the alleged damage. Ask for them in writing.