I am about to move ot of my apartment in a month, and there is a rumor going around that when you move out, maintence comes in a lifts up your carpet, if there is any stains on the underside of the carpet they will immediatly send a bill for 1000$ to collections for new carpets.

I know this has happend to one person, and they say at the office they will look under the carpets.

My question is that the carpet in my apartment is not new and it wasnt when i moved in, no where on the checklist on move in day did it say to lift up the carpet and check for damages underneath (only surface stains). If they find something when i move out can they legally charge me for it, even though i didnt know to look under when i moved in and filled put my check list.

I am about to move ot of my apartment in a month, and there is a rumor going around that when you move out, maintence comes in a lifts up your carpet, if there is any stains on the underside of the carpet they will immediatly send a bill for 1000$ to collections for new carpets.

I know this has happend to one person, and they say at the office they will look under the carpets.

My question is that the carpet in my apartment is not new and it wasnt when i moved in, no where on the checklist on move in day did it say to lift up the carpet and check for damages underneath (only surface stains). If they find something when i move out can they legally charge me for it, even though i didnt know to look under when i moved in and filled put my check list.

You may want to look at your rental lease again, usually there is a clause that states normal wear and tear is to be expected and so you shouldn't be charged for that. But there are a lot of rental properties that do try to get over and lift carpeting and charge you for it. They do the same thing where i live and then give everyone a different story. My rental office told a tenant that he had a pet and the stains came from a animal when the tenant never had a pet, and so they charged him anyway, and he was livid. But i did over hear the office staff telling a new tenant that requested new carpet in her unit, that normal wear and tear on carpet and in each unit was replaced about every 4-5 years, depending on the condition of carpet and so therefore they didn't charge a tenant for new carpet when they moved out if the carpet has been in the unit that long....but i am sure they will try to charge me when i move out next year, so all i can say about the situation is good luck, and read the lease and try to get things in writing in the future. Also go to aptratings.com and post a comment about the apt complex you live in and read what others may have to say about the complex. Also look up future apts that you may want to move too and it will give you a good idea about the apt complex and staff and you can make a decision on whether or not it is a place you would like to stay in....all comments posted on that website is made by present and past tenants, and no one knows more about a place but the people/residents who have lived there...good luck!

Consult your lease and I suggest getting some kind of independent carpet inspection be it from calling a carpet cleaning service that comes to clean the carpet and have them note the condition of the carpets the day of moveout- the top and under side. That way, if they try the carpet thing, you will have evidence that there is only ordinary wear and tear for a carpet ofthat age and condition. It sounds like they are getting new carpet on the backs of tenants when they move out.