Previous landlord trying to bill me for carpet replacement despite carpet being bad beforehand. (apartment complex, lease)

[TShann93]

I moved into a cheap apartment in Oklahoma to finish my last semester of college. The apartment was what I expected for the price, and the carpet was bad but I didn't mind it. I lived there for 7 months. I didn't have any pets and I don't smoke. I also don't recall ever spilling anything on the carpet. The previous occupants obviously smoked and had pets due to scratches on the door and the smell of pet food in the closet.

I was accepted into pharmacy school so I paid to break lease, cleaned the apartment, and moved out. Two months later I started to receive calls from a collection agent. He told me that the apartment complex is billing me to replace the carpet/pad. He forwarded me the bill sent to him and I was being billed $670 for the carpet/pad replacement, $105 for a full unit clean, and $276.16 for unpaid rent (it doesn't specify what month the rent is for, and before I left I paid the lease break fee and the rent amount for the month I was leaving early).

I can understand the full unit clean I guess (even though I'm a clean tenant), but can they really charge me to replace a carpet/pad for only living there 7 months with minimal wear and tear? Why didn't they make the previous tenants replace it who obviously hurt it more than I did? Why did a collection agent call me instead of them contacting me? Am I really responsible or is this shady apartment complex just trying to get a new carpet out of me?

I lived in the complex the previous year in the apartment directly under the one I'm being billed for. Last time I moved out I received my full deposit back and they were courteous. I know the management changed a month or two before I moved out.

Sorry for length of the story. This is the first time I've been in this type of situation. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

[AZ Manager]

Do you have proof of the condition when you took possession? As for the unpaid rent you need to talk to them to figure that one out since you don't know what specific days that is for.

[TShann93]

They gave me a checklist when I moved in and I noted most of the broken items, however when I called the office they claimed I didn't write down that the carpet was bad. I had help from family when I moved in and they mentioned how bad the carpet was, I don't know how solid family members opinions are though. Thanks for the rent advice.

[LifeIsGood01]

Take them to court if you weren't smart enough to take pictures of the carpet condition when you moved in the landlord would still have to provide proof of the condition of the carpet then the age of the carpet also dispute the charge with the collection agency and ask for an itemized list of the charges and receipts for any work they claim is already done

[TShann93]

Ya I wasn't smart enough to take pictures of the carpet. I was dumb and thought if I was fine living with the condition of it then that was it. The collection agency forwarded me a ledger report that says how much I'm paying for the carpet/unit clean/rent, but I haven't asked for receipts yet.

Haven't actually been to court before so looks like this will be another first for me. Thanks for the help.

[Floorist]

If the carpet was over 7 years old, the LL should be out of luck.

[hawk55732]

Originally Posted by Floorist

If the carpet was over 7 years old, the LL should be out of luck.

Depends on the type of carpet. Where I am at the carpet has an expect life of 10 years.

[Floorist]

Originally Posted by hawk55732

Depends on the type of carpet. Where I am at the carpet has an expect life of 10 years.

The IRS depreciates it out in 7, anyway they did.

[MainLineMommy]

Originally Posted by Floorist

The IRS depreciates it out in 7, anyway they did.

In a residential rental property, the IRS depreciation is 5 years.