LANDLORD KEPT SEC DEP BECAUSE OF CARPETS

[VANESSA]

PLEASE HELP MY EX LANDLORD CLAIMS THAT MY DOG RUINED THE CARPETS SHE HAD INSATLLED WHEN WE FIRST MOVED IN FIRST OF ALL SHE CHARGED ME 500 SEC DEP FOR DOG PLUS ONE AND A HALF MONTHS RENT, ALSO SHE INSTALLED BERBER CARPET THE CHEAP KIND THAT COST 79CENTS SQUARE FT IN HOME DEPOT, THE FIRST MONTH I COMPLAINED OF THE CARPET NOT HAVE BEEN GLUED IN CERTAIN AREAS AND SHE SAW IT AND SHE AGREED WITH ME. i EVEN PAID 95$ TO A CARPET GUY COULD GLUE SEAMS BECAUSE THEY WERE IN SUCH BAD SHAPE. THEN 8 MONTHS AFTER COUNTLESS COMPLAINTS SHE SENT IN A CARPET INSPECTOR THAT CLAIMED IT WAS MY FAULT FOR OVER CLEANING THE CARPETS, THIS CARPET WAS A NIGHTMARE IT WOULD GET A PULL EVEN FROM VACUMMING THEM, I EVEN BOUGHT AREA RUGS BECAUSE I COULD BARELY VACUUM. ANYWAYWHEN WE GOT THE REPORT FORM THE INSPECTOR SHE CLAIMED THAT SHE KNEW HOW CLEAN AND THAT SHE WOULD SEND ANOTHER INSPECTOR BECAUSE THE ONE THAT CAME WAS SENT BY THE MANUFACTURER OF THE CARPET, WHICH WAS ON THE MANUFACTURERS SIDE, ANYWAY WHEN WE MOVED SHE TOLD ME TO CLEAN THE CARPETS AND ACTED LIKE EVERYTHING WAS FINE AND THEN ALL THE SUDDEN SHE PUT HER BIG MOUTH HUSBAND TO SCREAM AT US WHEN WE WENT TO GIVE KEYS AND GET DEPOSIT, I AM TAKING HER TO COURT NEXT WEEK AND JUST WANTED TO KNOW IF ANYONE KNOWS ANY LAWS ON CARPETS IN NEW JERSEY, ECAUSE FOR ME IF SHE KNEW I HAD A DOG SHE SHOULD HAVE PUT REGULAR CARPETS NOT LOOPED BECAUSE MY DOGS CLAWS WOULD GET CAUGHT UP ON THEM. PLEASE SEND ME ANY COMMENTS THAT MIGHT HELP ME IN COURT, i HAVE NEVER BEEN TO COURT AND AM VERY NERVOUS ESPECIALLY BECAUSE I AM PREGNANT, THANKS AGAIN

 

[wilbergris]

I'm no law specialist, but I did rent 2 apartments in NJ. Yes, the landlord can require 1 1/2 months rent for a deposit and an extra $500 deposit for the dog, the latter being because there is an increased chance of damage from the pet. If I were you, I would hire my own inspector for the carpet. With the inspector's help, you could possibly claim that a faulty installation led to the premature destruction of the rug. In either case, don't let them get any more money from you than they have to. Ask for receipts for the original carpet. Chances are it won't be much more than the $500 for the pet deposit.

These are only my opinions and am not repsonsible for any actions taken as a result of this advice.

 

[vanessa]

Hi thansk for your response but I already moved out of the house and they change the carpets so I have no acccess to anyone checking them, but also I saw a real estate attorney and he did tell me that its illegal for the landlord to charge more than 1and a half mnths rent in the state of new jersey. thanks for the advice but 4 mnths ago we bought our own home and dont have access to carpets.