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  1. #1
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    Dec 2012
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    Default Re: Excessive Charge for Carpet Replacement Over Alleged Pet Odor

    1. How do you know the carpet was 10 years old?

    2. What type of pets did you have?

    3. Keep in mind that folks with pets often become immune to their pets odors. And steam cleaning a carpet and doing a walk through the next day will often NOT pick up odors that remain in carpet pads/floors/subfloors at that time. It is only later that any remaining odors will become obvious. In some cases the carpet, padding, floors and subfloors have to be replaced to remove the offending odors.

    If you disagree with what was kept from your security deposit, you can consider writing a demand letter to the landlord, demanding what you believe you are fairly owed and giving them a certain amount of time (say, two weeks) to remedy the situation. If no success, then your next step is to consider a lawsuit over the matter. Such lawsuits are typically handled through Small Claims court where you would represent yourself and would not need to hire an attorney to present your case.

    Keep in mind that in cases such as disputes over pet odors the landlord will often keep a piece of the carpet and/or padding in a zip lock bag to present as evidence to the court regarding the odor. In some cases (especially when the former tenants have had cats) the odor upon opening these bags is enough the clear the court room.

    Gail

  2. #2
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    Oct 2006
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    Default Re: Excessive Charge for Carpet Replacement Over Alleged Pet Odor

    Quote Quoting gail in georgia
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    1. How do you know the carpet was 10 years old?

    2. What type of pets did you have?

    3. Keep in mind that folks with pets often become immune to their pets odors. And steam cleaning a carpet and doing a walk through the next day will often NOT pick up odors that remain in carpet pads/floors/subfloors at that time. It is only later that any remaining odors will become obvious. In some cases the carpet, padding, floors and subfloors have to be replaced to remove the offending odors.

    If you disagree with what was kept from your security deposit, you can consider writing a demand letter to the landlord, demanding what you believe you are fairly owed and giving them a certain amount of time (say, two weeks) to remedy the situation. If no success, then your next step is to consider a lawsuit over the matter. Such lawsuits are typically handled through Small Claims court where you would represent yourself and would not need to hire an attorney to present your case.

    Keep in mind that in cases such as disputes over pet odors the landlord will often keep a piece of the carpet and/or padding in a zip lock bag to present as evidence to the court regarding the odor. In some cases (especially when the former tenants have had cats) the odor upon opening these bags is enough the clear the court room.

    Gail
    Just as a bit of FIY trivia.

    The odor you are talking about (the kind that can clear a room) is only from the spraying (not peeing but marking territory) of an unneutered male cat.

    Neutered male cats or female cats do far less damage than dogs. Its the rare cat that won't confine their bodily functions to their litter box.

  3. #3
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    Default Re: Excessive Charge for Carpet Replacement Over Alleged Pet Odor

    Unless litter boxes aren't cleaned regularly.

    Gail

  4. #4
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    Default Re: Excessive Charge for Carpet Replacement Over Alleged Pet Odor

    Quote Quoting gail in georgia
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    Unless litter boxes aren't cleaned regularly.

    Gail
    Even then, the odor goes away once the box is cleaned. I have had cats all my life. An odor coming FROM the litter box does not equate to carpet damage. You would have to let the box go a VERY long time without cleaning before the cat would resort to going outside the box.

    If I had a rental home, and I allowed pets, I would require that the tenant provide proof that the cats had been spayed or neutered before I would approve them.

  5. #5
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    Default Re: Excessive Charge for Carpet Replacement Over Alleged Pet Odor

    Quote Quoting llworking
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    The odor you are talking about (the kind that can clear a room) is only from the spraying (not peeing but marking territory) of an unneutered male cat.
    Cat pee on a carpet, if not fully neutralized, will continue to react with the carpet and carpet padding. That smell can pervade the premises, and it won't be fixed by steam cleaning -- the carpet and pad will need to be replaced.

  6. #6
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    Default Re: Excessive Charge for Carpet Replacement Over Alleged Pet Odor

    Quote Quoting Mr. Knowitall
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    Cat pee on a carpet, if not fully neutralized, will continue to react with the carpet and carpet padding. That smell can pervade the premises, and it won't be fixed by steam cleaning -- the carpet and pad will need to be replaced.
    I am not disputing that.

    The thread has really gotten sidetracked a bit by me and Gail.

  7. #7
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    Default Re: Excessive Charge for Carpet Replacement Over Alleged Pet Odor

    I've had cats all my adult life too.

    What I was attempting to point out is that if the pets the OP had were cats and urinated on the carpet (neutered/spayed or not), the odor would remain in the carpet and the padding (and if used more than once often into the floor) and at least the carpet and padding would need to be replaced (although I can the landlord attempting a steam cleaning again first). In some cases the floors need to be resealed or (worse case scenario) sections cut out and replaced.

    Gail

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Aug 2015
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    4

    Default Re: Excessive Charge for Carpet Replacement Over Alleged Pet Odor

    Quote Quoting gail in georgia
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    1. How do you know the carpet was 10 years old?

    2. What type of pets did you have?

    3. Keep in mind that folks with pets often become immune to their pets odors. And steam cleaning a carpet and doing a walk through the next day will often NOT pick up odors that remain in carpet pads/floors/subfloors at that time. It is only later that any remaining odors will become obvious. In some cases the carpet, padding, floors and subfloors have to be replaced to remove the offending odors.

    Gail
    Hi Gail.

    I think I should highlight that we have 2 Chihuahuas. My brother has a retriever mix. No Cats.

    1. The house was built in 2003. The landlord purchased the house in September 2013. And rented it to me in October 2013. At the time he had purchased the home blindly (he lived in California at the time) to rent out. The carpet had a large stain at the entrance of the home that looked like that part of the carpet was used as a doormat by the previous owners of the home when we moved in. That stain remained there until we steam cleaned the house when we moved out. The carpet is the same cheap neutral beige/gray carpet that the builders out here tend to use.

    2. We have 2 Chihuahua mixes that spend the majority of their time in their crate (willingly might I add) and a house trained retriever. I am very familiar with Pet Odors. When we moved out, we had actually purchased a home where the previous owners had a cat and a hound. Needless to say the whole house smelled like cat piss mixed with wet dog. In fact the cat pee smell faintly exists in 2 of our rooms which we treated with steam and vinegar.

    Though our Chihuahuas are crate trained, and retriever is home trained, I would be lying if I said they never had accidents; although when they did we took care of them on the spot with spray cleaners.

    3. I understand that smells can linger; which is why I can understand the charge for the second steam cleaning. But it's the carpet charge that really gets me. He charged me 100% of the cost to replace old carpet downstairs.

  9. #9
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    Default Re: Excessive Charge for Carpet Replacement Over Alleged Pet Odor

    He's entitled to the depreciated value of the carpet and pad. If he doesn't accept that fact and reduce what he charges, it looks like you'll be heading to small claims court.

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Aug 2015
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    Default Re: Excessive Charge for Carpet Replacement Over Alleged Pet Odor

    Quote Quoting Mr. Knowitall
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    He's entitled to the depreciated value of the carpet and pad. If he doesn't accept that fact and reduce what he charges, it looks like you'll be heading to small claims court.
    I know. I really do not like to go to court for anything.

    Hopefully, he can reasonably admit he's in the wrong.

    - - - Updated - - -

    Quote Quoting llworking
    View Post
    DO NOT send the check back. Keep it as evidence for court.
    Duly Noted!

    Thank you!

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