Advice required on tenants request to change carpets

Hi Roberta. 20+ years ago I rented a little flat, I had let my own home own and become an accidental landlord myself just to make ends meet. That's another story though. Anyhow, the flat had green carpets and my then wife hated them. We were, therefore, in exactly the same position as your tenant is in now. Our landlord, at the time, agreed that if we wanted to have new carpets we could do so on the following conditions.

Option 1) That we paid for the new carpets but he would have to agree to the colour. On this basis we would also have to pay for professional fitting and disposal of the old ones and leave them when we left the property.
Option 2) That we would pay for the existing carpets to be professionally removed, stored and re-fitted when we left. We could then buy whatever carpets we wanted and we could take them with us at the end.

We went for option 2). In hindsight though, option 1) would have been better for us both.

I've never had a tenant ask me the same question but I would probably offer the above options. They would really have to hate the carpet to choose either and I suspect most would choose to stick with what's there already.

Hi Roberta, If you think she is going to be a decent tenant, it may be worth allowing her to change the carpets and just ditch yours, of course they would remain in the house when she leaves. Sometimes it is worth sacrificing small things to keep a good tenant.If the carpets are past cleaning I would just take it out of the deposit-did the inventory stipulate original carpet colour? Sometimes it's worth just doing it yourself, and not involving agents. Good luck

My advice would be that you allow her to change the carpets on the understanding that the carpet fitter delivers the carpets to you for storage. If, at the end of the tenancy, she wishes to take her own purchased carpets with her, she may, provided she understands that the cost of collection and refitting of the original carpets are an agreed deduction from the deposit. Alternatively, if the carpets she had fitted and left at the end of the STA are not acceptable to you, you reserve the right to replace them with the stored carpets at her cost from the deposit. You carry cost of storage but the life of the carpets are enhanced through lack of use.

Texting is an inadequate way to deal with anything that could lead to disagreement later. If you can get the agent to negotiate, do, but if they won't because it's outside the find tenant agreement, then do so your self. Whatever is decided it should be recorded in the inventory. But why not phone and ask? They might be happy with putting down 2 big rugs instead. If she puts down better carpets all to the good, I don't think she can take them with her when she goes (anyone know different?).

Hi there. I would agree colour of carpets and agree that the carpets must remain when the tenant leaves. If your tenant leaves dirty carpets then I expect the whole house would be the same so do what you would normally do and ask for cleaning costs. You can get the changes added to your inventory.

Roberta
Don't be frightened to ask the tenant questions
1. What do you intend on doing with the carpet when you leave the property?
2.What company are you buying the carpet from?
3.What colour will the carpet be?
At the same time don't be afraid to set strong guide lines of what you will except!

After all you'll be the one left with the problem at the end of the tenancy if it's not sorted now BUT ALWAYS ALWAYS whatever you agree get it in writing in reasonable detail.

Roberta, as an agent we would recommend Mark's 2 options detailed below to our landlords. This way you have control and the tenant has what they want. We would also recommend adding photos and descriptions to the Inventory/Schedule of Condition report with the tenants signatures and dates to ensure that you are covered (deduction from deposit wise) once the tenancy has ended.

Hello all, I may agree mark.But as Roberta has not meet the tenant yet and no idea about condition of carpet .My advise is Text tenant that you are away and when back in town you would like to meet her and talk about.Please wait until you come back.When you back you must talk to agent what condition he let the property too.Then meet tenant , inspect carpet get second opinion from agent too .After all you decide what to do? I think This is what I Do.Best bet do not control the tenant your property.You are inviting trouble your self.At last I have all the experiences of letting........

CANT UNDERSTAND WHY YOUR ARE POSTING THIS RATHER THAN DISCUSSING IT WITH YOUR TENANT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

For get other landlords opinions and experiences perhaps?