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Carpet Replacement & Apartment Renovation

By Blaine Klingaman

Hello,

This is a two part question!?
1) I’ve lived in the same Atlanta, Georgia Apartment now for 24 years (crazy right?) and I have never asked for carpet replacement before because quite frankly I have a lot of stuff in my apartment and moving it around while having the carpet replaced seemed too big of a chore!  ;-(
I’ve heard over the years that a tenant may ask for New Carpet once every 8 years (at no cost to the tenant) does this law still hold true?
===========================
2) Currently the Owner of my apartment complex is renovating the entire complex, all the while we are living in our apartments, I am told that this will be a two week process! (A complete inconvenience!)
New Doors inside and out
New Molding
New Windows
New Paint
New Lighting fixtures, switches and outlets
New Kitchen Counter Tops, Cabinets, Appliances and Flooring
New Bathroom Counter Tops and Tub & Sink Resurfacing

Carpeting is NOT INCLUDED in the renovation!

A few months ago I stopped by the Apartment Complex Office to pick up a UPS package that was left for me!
 I sat down to talk to the Resident Manger about something and the conversation came around the the upcoming Renovation mentioned above. This was very exciting to hear and almost unbelievable to think that I was basically going to have a Brand New Apartment and without relocatiing (which I hate with a passion — hence the 24 years).
It was explained to me that each day I would have to pack-up & move small personal things out of one room (large things would be moved by the contractors) so they could renovate that room and the next day move things out of the next room…. and so on! A lot of moving around for 2 weeks, but hey, I’m getting a Brand New Apartment, Right!?
I thought well, If I have to move everything I might as well (NOW) ask for new carpet, I was told "Carpet is Not Included in the renovation but if you want New Carpet your rent will go up $75.00…. I told him about the every 8 Year Carpet Replacement Law and he shook his head and said "Nope, if you want new carpet your rent will go up $75.00!
I was shocked, Not only that they are wanting to up my rent in the MIDDLE of my lease, but the belief that I could ask for Free Carpet Replacement once every 8 Years.
Replacement of windows began a couple of weeks ago on the buildings closest to the street!
I stopped in the Management Office last week to pick up another UPS Package and commented on how nice the New Windows were making the Complex Look…. I asked the Office Assistant about when they may begin renovating my building and she said that I will get a notice in plenty of time with the game plan of how things will work…. she went ahead and gave me an copy of the explanation that they had already given to the tenants that were currently having their Apartments Renovated.
Somehow the conversation got around to "A month after the renovation is complete your rent will go up $75.00" I told her, "They can’t do that, I can see if they up my rent on the next Lease (June of 2014) but they can not do it when ever they want".
With a slight smile, I could almost see it in her face that she was only saying what she was told to say, but did not believe it was right either!
1) Can they increase my rent for New Carpet?
2) Can they increase my rent whenever they wish?… and for a renovation that I did not request!
Awaiting a reply,
Blaine Klingaman
P.S. As of this writing, I have NOT yet received any letter about new windows, the inside renovation, the increase in rent after the renovation or anything… I’m sure that there are other tenants (that have not heard about this from the management), who see the Windows being replace, but are unaware about any of the Good & Bad surprises coming their way!!
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Edited on: Saturday, November 9th, 2013 7:59 pm
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