Carpet Charges In California

Deductions cannot include normal wear and tear essentially a landlord would have to sue a tenant as a separate matter if they did not pay for routine carpet cleaning required by the lease.

Carpet charges in california.

Below is information that is listed by the california department of consumer affairs www dca ca gov regarding deductions on these specific items. If the carpet cleaning does not exceed a professional cleaner s normal rate and the carpet doesn t have any actual damage landlords should not charge a tenant for dirty carpets. At the home depot the cost of carpet installation is free on purchases of 699 or more. Many states allow a landlord to deduct legally a tenant s security deposit to replace the rental carpet by the time the tenant decides to move out.

In california a lease exists whenever there is an oral or written agreement to exchange rent for inhabiting a property. In other words landlords bear the cost of the routine carpet cleaning when a tenant moves out. According to california law ca civil code 1940 1954 05 under a lease tenants have certain rights such as the right to a habitable dwelling due process for evictions and more landlords also have rights such as the right to collect rent and to collect for property. If the carpet originally cost 1 000 and had a life expectancy of 10 years the depreciation charge would be 100 per year.

Carpets and drapes useful life rule a landlord cannot routinely charge each tenant for cleaning carpets drapes walls or windows in order to prepare the rental unit for the next tenancy. Listed below are some facts you should know about carpet replacement. According to california law landlords can only charge tenants for carpet and paint under certain conditions. Any carpet cleaning charges they collect in advance must be treated as part of a security deposit which must be subject to a refund.

Many landlords charge tenants to pay for carpet replacement for no apparent reason. It does clarify that worn or aged but otherwise undamaged carpet does not affect a property s habitability. Most carpet is made from nylon and other polymers derived from virgin oil. Discarded carpet is one of the 10 most prevalent waste materials in california landfills comprising about 3 2 percent of waste by volume disposed of in california in 2008.

Introduction to california s carpet stewardship law. California law does not specify when landlords must replace carpeting in rental units. Once you learn whether or not you as a long term tenant will pay those costs you.