Security Deposit Carpet Replacement Fee

[meghanporter]

My dad rented an apartment in CA from 2/05 to 7/13 (8yrs, 4mo) and the landlord is trying to deduct $300 for carpet replacement. They claim a total cost of replacement, from their invoice, of $1063. Can they charge for this after that many years? Thanks for any and all help!

 

[Betty3]

A landlord must expect a certain time period where paint and carpet have a useful life. Even if no damage to the rental property carpet has occurred, age and normal wear eventually triggers the need for replacement. Under California landlord-tenant guidelines, a carpet's useful life is eight to 10 years. The cost of replacing the carpet after 10 years falls to the landlord. A tenant who has lived in the property for 10 years and has caused no damage to the carpet other than wear and tear has every right to ask the landlord to replace the carpet.

A tenant's security deposit is used to reduce the potential financial losses for a landlord in case the tenant does not complete the lease agreement. Landlords often deduct the cost of damages to the rental property from the security deposit, then refund the remainder to the tenant. A landlord cannot deduct the cost of repainting or replacing carpet from the security deposit for normal wear and tear, or even when the walls and carpet have met the useful life terms. A landlord can only deduct from the deposit for damages. If you move out of a rental property after 10 years, don't allow the landlord to deduct the cost of paint and carpet from your deposit -- it's against California law.

reference SFGate homeguide