Renters, how to replace carpet?

Question for those renting;

I rent a house in CA that I’ve been at over 6 years. When I moved in the carpet was not new. It was not in bad condition or anything but after 6 years it has been showing its age. I get it professionally cleaned once a year but I would like to get it replaced sometime soon. I intend to continue renting for another couple years.

From the minimum research I’ve done, CA has a law that carpet can be replaced after 8-10 years even if there is no damage and the cost is the responsibility of the landlord.

So the question is what is the best way to go about this? I don’t know the exact date it was installed or if it has been that 8-10 years. My guess would be yes, but I don’t know how to prove this.

My landlord is extremely cheap and does the bare minimum keeping the house up to date and functioning. The house itself is over 110 years old. I’ve been a good tenant for 6 years, always paid early, kept the place clean, and fix/repair basic stuff around the house. He does use a property management company to deal with the little things like yard work and larger repairs that I don’t do.

Thanks for the help.

if this person is cheap ande does the bare minimum, you should assume your good tenant behaviour will not be reciprocated. Insp;rect your rent to go up and things be delayed. I'd do it the last year I planned to stay there and be ready for retaliation.

My rent only went up 10-$25 a month for the first 4 years (which I thought like you was for good behavior). Then last year he upped it $110 a month. He said it was for some pest control or some BS. Ok whatever. Then this last year he upped it another $125 a month.

Now I don’t do the minimum repairs anymore and call the management company to fix everything. So that’s why now I want to push for new carpet because I assume next year he will do the same and up it over $100 again. It’s still a great location and price is reasonable, not great like it used to be.

Thanks for the post though, it was kind of what I was thinking too. My plan is 2 more years here then buying a house

Maybe go get an estimate. Than speak with him

hotcobra03 said:

Maybe go get an estimate. Than speak with him

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As a commercial landlord, I’d go with this approach. I had two small office tenants rip out their carpet and put down laminate “hardwood” without asking.

a) I was happy they paid for it, because the carpet was old
b) I took it into consideration by not raising their rent the next several years

terrible one said:

My rent only went up 10-$25 a month for the first 4 years (which I thought like you was for good behavior). Then last year he upped it $110 a month. He said it was for some pest control or some BS. Ok whatever. Then this last year he upped it another $125 a month.

Now I don’t do the minimum repairs anymore and call the management company to fix everything. So that’s why now I want to push for new carpet because I assume next year he will do the same and up it over $100 again. It’s still a great location and price is reasonable, not great like it used to be.

Thanks for the post though, it was kind of what I was thinking too. My plan is 2 more years here then buying a house

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If you're planning to move in two years, and you're renting, why do you care about the carpet? If you get it replaced now, you better bet the landlord will expect the carpet to be in like new condition when you move in two years.

How about just talking to the guy, man to man?

I had 3 rentals years back. I expected replacing the carpet every 2 years so I never bought expensive carpet. Most renters dont care to take care of carpet. They know its an owners obligation. I would pay for the cheapest I could get, if they wanted something different, i asked that they pay for the difference. That way they had some skin in the game, and some money. They werent just wasting my money, they didnt want to waste theirs. As it turned out, my absolute best renters were 4 college boys. I didnt want to rent to them because 19 years olds....you can imagine. But they were awesome. They took care of my little rental.

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Having BEEN (past tense)a California landlord let me weigh in on the other side. California tenants have ALL the rights. They’re almost impossible to evict, they withhold rent under ‘warrant of habitability’ for minor situations they create and they break shit constantly. I had one file a complaint with consumer affairs because they broke a glass top range and I replaced it with a coil element range. Renters should expect the cheapest, ugliest, most basic fixtures and furnishings because, quite frankly, it’s gonna get f’ed up.


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Forward him this thread


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I vote to just talk to the landlord, face to face... Why do you need advice from a bunch of strangers about something you can easily handle?

T.Man said:

I vote to just talk to the landlord, face to face... Why do you need advice from a bunch of strangers about something you can easily handle?

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I was just asking to see if there was a way he had to legally replace them and how I’d go about it. Obviously I can just ask him and as I stated he is super cheap so he will most likely say no. Not a huge deal, just seeing my options.
And even though I’m renting I’d still like to keep my place clean. Having an older carpet with holes in it, I’d like replaced if possible. Especially since I’ll be there 2 or more years.

roy_1031 said:

Forward him this thread


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Lol I should

terrible one said:

I was just asking to see if there was a way he had to legally replace them and how I’d go about it. Obviously I can just ask him and as I stated he is super cheap so he will most likely say no. Not a huge deal, just seeing my options.
And even though I’m renting I’d still like to keep my place clean. Having an older carpet with holes in it, I’d like replaced if possible. Especially since I’ll be there 2 or more years.

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Okay, that makes sense. I was just curious honestly... Most people these days generally just seem too timid to want to speak with someone else over an issue or whatever it might be. Best of luck man.

rolive said:

Having BEEN (past tense)a California landlord let me weigh in on the other side. California tenants have ALL the rights. They’re almost impossible to evict, they withhold rent under ‘warrant of habitability’ for minor situations they create and they break shit constantly. I had one file a complaint with consumer affairs because they broke a glass top range and I replaced it with a coil element range. Renters should expect the cheapest, ugliest, most basic fixtures and furnishings because, quite frankly, it’s gonna get f’ed up.


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Have had properties in PRK since mid 80 till trading the last one this year. THIS exactly.

Rentcels....will you ever learn.

Catch the house on fire. He'll have to get new carpet when the reconstruction starts. And you can get new appliances too.

Lol good idea

link to the law you are talking about? If you brought this to my attention, I would probably laugh. YOU are the one ruining the carpet. Think about it. He's not walking on it. You are.

If you are renting a house. Unless the carpet actually needs to be replaced your asking for basically 1 of 2 options.

1. Your rent goes through the roof when your lease is up.

2. You do not get another lease.


What are you really trying to accomplish?
Ive never heard of the law you speak of. Ive also never had any tenants ask me to replace carpet.