My carpet is old & dirty

[SMILESFRSD]

I've lived in this apt. for 8 yrs. this Nov. Now, new owners have come in & are remodeling the apt. as they go vacant. Well, beginning this Aug. I will be charged the same amount of rent as the new tenants in the newly remoled apts. NOT FAIR! The remodeled apts. are getting new carpet, new floors in the kitchen & bathrooms, new paint on walls & cabinets & who knows what else. I did get the new owners to change the kitchen & dinning room floor, about 2 months ago, well the fridge went out & they changed it, & while they did this, they damaged the kitchen floor. Anyways, my question is, how old does the carpet need to be before a landlord is forced to change it by law. This is really my major concern. I live in CA. I've searched the web, but have not been able to find an aswer. Any ideas?

[wanderlusting]

The base-owned homes here get completely remodled every 5 years. This is new carpet, bathroom and kitchen updates, tiles, water heater, and anything else that needs updating.

[Jaded]

I don't know about privately owned places, but the government apartments have to be repainted every three years. I found this out when they refused to give me paint to do mine when I was living there when I was in college. I called housing, and they made them come paint it, and clean and wax all the floors. So I'm gonna say that you should call your local housing authority and ask about the rent thing. You're right, that's not right. It's like they're charging you for work before they do it.

[Edna_E]

These laws vary by state, so you'd need to find the ones that apply to you. You might try asking the new owners if they'd prefer for you to move to one of the remodelled apts in oreder to facilitate their being able to remodel the one that you are in (ONLY offer this if you are willing to do it, because they may take you up on it). Sometimes the resistance to such things is based on outside issues like the carpeting contractor gives them a lower install rate for unoccupied units or concern about liability for missing or damaged goods. You also might try saying something along the line of "Well, I really had hoped to stay here for the next 20 years, but I'm not willing to keep the same carpeting that long." and smile, and say it laughingly so that it doesn't come out catty, but the implication is still that it is a ridiculous plan to refuse to refurbish an occupied apartment.

[FrugalMomof3]

I agree, I would talk to the owner and state about moving into a newly remodeled apartment, even that wouldnt be a bad idea since you will have everything new and still pay the same.

[SMILESFRSD]

It is an option to move to one of the remodeled apts., if there is one available. Which I doubt, because we live in a small complex of 12 apts. only 6 are 2 bdrms & only 2 of those have been remodeled and been rented out recently. I spoke to the manager & expressed my concerns, she says 3/4 tenants of the 2 bdrm. apts. that have not been remodeled have already expressed their concerns, all have a problem w/the carpet. So the mgr. will talk to her supervisors, to let them know, we all want to stay, but the carpet is a major problem for all of us. If they do not change the carpet, I will have to move.