Hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving!

So my tenant, who has been bothering me for years to replace good carpet, sent me a note from her child's doctor...apparently her teenage daughter now has asthma and the doctor wrote me a note to request that the carpet be removed.

My question is, of course, who pays? Do I pay for new carpet or does she?

She has been my tenant for 5 years, is now in the Section 8 program with the city paying $1100 of her $1200 rent. We pay plenty every year to keep the unit up to code so she can stay in the unit and in the program. Now I feel my back is up against the wall. Grr.

Thanks in advance, guys!

Ask her Physician if his medical malpractice insurance is paid up, with out an exam of your carpet I doubt he is qualified to make that decision.

What condition is the carpet? I have good quality carpet that is 10 years old and in great shape because I pay to have it cleaned yearly.

Hi guys-

in- I know, really? Is the doc qualified to make this decision? Now you have me thinking.

Jim- carpet is in good condition. Tenant is fussy and has been asking for new carpet long before her daughter's dx.

I know CA has some very state specific laws. BUT, I would treat this like any other disability. If they need a change, it is done at their expense by real contractors. They must replace quality carpet with another solid, quality surface.

yea asthma... my rear.

Our son had asthma as a youngster and we replaced his carpet with hardwood floors. You can't replace carpet with new carpet and expect the asthma to go away. In fact, our son eventually had to just plain outgrow his asthma before he kicked it. I love the idea of asking the Dr. to share his carpet expertise, and ask him what carpet he WOULD recommend replacing the "old" carpet with. Or just have a heart-to-heart with the tenant and tell them there's no way you're falling for this B.S.

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Yes, I would double check with a local lawyer,but generally disabled people can make reasonable modifications so long as they return the property to it's previous condition upon leaving. (Fat chance...)

They may be required to place funds on deposit to cover repairs.

You could tell them they can replace with hardwood or possibly a quality laminate, but they agree to leave it when they go.

Both require replacing the baseboard, and re-caulking and painting the base. It can be a lot of work. Especially hardwood.

I don't think Sect 8 can require you to do anything.

Great info and ideas, thank you!

It is so frustrating...I was just over there on Wed to replace a window screen, and the window sills were filthy. Yeah, but it's the CARPET that is causing the asthma.

I like the idea of treating this as a "disability" issue..as my tenant can be a drama queen. Let her know that we will replace, at her expense, the carpet with quality laminate, and then she has to pay for new carpet when she moves to return the unit to its original state.

Before an Oncologists will tell a patient they have cancer, they will do a bone morrow and send the tissue sample to a Hematopathologist

The Hematopathologist has to be 100% correct, after all a part if an organ is going to be removed, they will also direct a treatment plan...

Sorry Charlie further test need to be ordered, unless you want to pay for the carpet, should you be wrong...

Yes, this should be interesting. I didn't mention her request that we remove the air conditioning unit..and oh, did you know she has mold in her bathroom? The bathroom with a huge window next to the shower?