You are probably curious as to whether carpets are your (tenant) or landlord’s responsibility. Fortunately, you’ve come to the right place.
While the specifics can depend on your lease, generally speaking, the landlord is responsible for ensuring the carpets are in good condition before you move in, but you (tenant) are responsible for ensuring the carpets are in the same condition you received less “normal wear and tear” upon your move out, including potential professional cleaning of the carpets.
What is the Responsibility of the Landlord and Tenant?
There are two levels of responsibility between landlords and tenants when it comes to carpeting in the apartment.
The landlord is responsible for ensuring the carpets are in good condition and clean before the start of the tenancy. This may involve a thorough clean of existing carpets or replacing old carpets with new ones if they are damaged or frayed.
The tenant is responsible for taking care of the carpets and ensuring they remain in reasonably good condition at the end of the lease. In other words, you are responsible for returning the carpet in the condition you received it- minus normal wear and tear.
Do Tenants Have to Get Carpets Cleaned?
In many circumstances, tenants could be responsible for hiring professional carpet cleaners at the end of the lease term. Review your lease for who is responsible, and when.
What Happens When a Tenant Damages the Carpet?
If you accidentally damage the carpet while staying in the apartment, it may be your responsibility to replace it and not the landlord. If you choose not to, your landlord may be well within his/her rights to deduct the cost of carpet replacement from your security deposit. If the carpet replacement cost exceeds your security deposit, your landlord may require you to cover the additional costs.
