Q: Is there a life expectancy of carpet in Maryland that a landlord can no longer charge for excessive damage?
Tenants lived in a single family rental home for six years. Carpet was newly installed just prior to their move-in; addendum to lease noted that shoes not be worn on carpets. On move out, the carpet was filthy (beyond normal wear and tear) and had unremovable sticky substances (gum, candy from children), pet stains and odors- they had two dogs (that also were never approved per the lease). A landlord, do we have a right to withhold a portion of their security deposit to replace the carpet?
A: It could be argued that a carpet would have had to be replaced after 6 years of normal wear and tear due to its intended use. While the "no-shoes" addendum is creative, it may not be the thing to hang a hat on in court. Attempt to come to an agreement with the ex-tenant- preferably in writing.
Justia Ask a Lawyer is a forum for consumers to get answers to basic legal questions. Any information sent through Justia Ask a Lawyer is not secure and is done so on a non-confidential basis only.
The use of this website to ask questions or receive answers does not create an attorney–client relationship between you and Justia, or between you and any attorney who receives your information or responds to your questions, nor is it intended to create such a relationship. Additionally, no responses on this forum constitute legal advice, which must be tailored to the specific circumstances of each case. You should not act upon information provided in Justia Ask a Lawyer without seeking professional counsel from an attorney admitted or authorized to practice in your jurisdiction. Justia assumes no responsibility to any person who relies on information contained on or received through this site and disclaims all liability in respect to such information.
Justia cannot guarantee that the information on this website (including any legal information provided by an attorney through this service) is accurate, complete, or up-to-date. While we intend to make every attempt to keep the information on this site current, the owners of and contributors to this site make no claims, promises or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness or adequacy of the information contained in or linked to from this site.
