Dog carpet damage

Our Experts Answer:

This question is rather topical in light of recent news items about a District Court decision over damage done by dogs to a rental property’s carpet. Rather than give you advice about your liability, I will address another question that you ask – whether it is possible for you to be responsible for damage over and above the bond. The answer is yes.

The bond is a security against tenant costs, such as cleaning, damage or rent arrears. It is not intended to be a maximum amount for the tenant to pay, or any other type of limit on your liability. It is an estimate of a likely sufficient security as at the start of your tenancy.

With regard to carpet value, the Tenancy Tribunal will usually depreciate carpet over a number of years, so that your liability should be the current value of the carpet rather than the replacement cost. The landlord cannot profit by claiming more than the value of the carpet. If you are unable to resolve a dispute you can apply to the Tenancy Tribunal for a decision.