Legal Question in Real Estate Law in California

Re: Renting a home how long for carpets

There is no statutory time when a landlord must replace carpets, nor is there a statutory definition of "normal wear and tear." The answer to whether you are responsible for part or all of the carpet damage is determined by the facts and circumstances of the situation, and what the judge thinks is fair and reasonable. I would tend to think after four years the carpets would not be in like-new condition, and even needing cleaning might be normal, but fraying and unraveling might fall into the tenant-responsibility category. In sum, there are no hard-and-fast rules that either side can rely upon to make their point to the other. Fairness and reasonableness are the principles that do apply.