Want to Replace Carpet In Rented Property - Options & How To Negotiate With Real Estate Agent

enveloped on 04/09/2016 - 20:58
Last edited 05/09/2016 - 09:43 by 1 other user

Hi. I rented an apartment in Sydney with extremely dirty and 10-year-old carpet with threads and holes in many places - I took picture before renting lest they blame me for those.

My toddler is coming to live with me in a month. I consider to not keep using it, for hygienic. What's the best option?

  1. Negotiate with Real-estate agent to accept replacing carpet with floor. It's an improvement over carpet anyway, they should be happy shouldn't they?
  2. Replace it with floor and replace it back with the 10 year old carpet at the end of lease.
  3. Replace it with new carpet, use it and leave it to the landlord at end of lease. (this option depends on how much irreversible damage a toddler can do to a set of new carpet, please parents share your experience here)

I am new to Australia, wonder which option is the most practical and inexpensive?

P.S. I am to live another 9 to 15 months from now on.

Home & Garden

Comments

  • psyren89 on 04/09/2016 - 21:07

    The landlord should replace them if they're deemed to not be in a "reasonable state of cleanliness and repair". You should not have to cover the cost. The landlord then has the right to choose what it's replaced with.

    • enveloped on 04/09/2016 - 21:13

      Thanks a lot! I already lived 3 months with it. I asked it to be replaced in the begining, and real-estate agent replied no - hearing that, I signed contract anyway since I urgently needed to settle down.

      Anyway, now that you provided the quote, I searched and found it under Residential Tenancies Act (1987) WA (s.42). May need lawyer since even simple things like getting a second RFID key (promised in contract) took 3 months and 10 emails back-and-forth and having no result, I had to buy it myself from building management, $100 out of my own pocket. Just think how fiercely they will fight for not replacing the carpet… By the way, the real estate agent wouldn't reveal the landlord; they are professionals, feels tough.

  • Bargainaholic on 04/09/2016 - 21:20

    How long have you been living at the premises?

    If you have recently moved in and have taken the property as is (in its original condition), you should go with option 1.

    You probably got the property under market rent based on the condition at inception and if it were to have brand new carpet through out originally, the weekly rent may have been higher.

    • enveloped on 04/09/2016 - 21:22

      Thanks for the info. The price is slightly (3% to 5%) higher than nearby properties with acceptable carpet - I was in a hurry and forwent negociating.

      • Bargainaholic on 04/09/2016 - 21:35

        It depends how hard you want to push your request…If you have signed a fixed term agreement for 26 weeks, they may issue you a retaliatory 30 day Termination Notice to end the tenancy when the lease expires if they are pretty adamant not to replace it.

        They are only liable to provide 2 RFID keys if there are two main tenants listed on the lease. The $100 should be refunded by the Strata Agent when you return it at the end of your tenancy.

        The real estate agent works on behalf of the landlord (they have a signed agreement between them) and wouldn't reveal them or provide their contact details.

        Contact your local tenant advice and advocacy service for free advice, no need for a lawyer.

        http://tenantsqld.org.au/need-advice/

        • enveloped on 04/09/2016 - 22:00
          +1

          Your professional answer is really helpful. You sound like you have been working in this field:) I signed a fixed term contract for 1 year and lived 3 months by now. Having job sorted out, I'm pretty ready to receive my toddler whom I left in my home country.

  • jenki on 04/09/2016 - 22:43
    +2

    Depending on the size of the place, I'd be tempted to do the cheapest and easiest thing and cover the carpets with some cheap rugs from Ikea or similar.

  • mrsi on 05/09/2016 - 09:01

    Don't get too excited about replacing it ''with floor''. I assume you mean wooden floors or similar.

    Carpet stops noise, which is a major issue in apartments. If you install wooden floors or tiles and the neighbours complain about noise, you might have to replace it all again with carpet at your own expense.

    • enveloped on 05/09/2016 - 17:24

      Yeah, never thought about that. You sounds right.

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