Moths Damage carpet do I pay

[sam joyce]

Hi We moved in our flat 2 years ago which had new carpets when we came in, we noticed moths a while back and when I looked into getting read of them it suggested they could eat the carpet bare so I did a survey of the room (bedroom) where we see them and when I removed a chest of drawers there was a hole of bare carpet about 8 inches square.

 

Do I have to replace the carpet? We rent with Savills and the flat is property managed by them!

 

Thanks

 

Sam

[Steve__M]

You may be held responsible.

 

It may depend on how conspicuous the damage is and the attitude of the LL.

 

To get rid of moths you need to forensically vacuum clean (under all the furniture) and then spray the carpets and skirtings in the whole house with specialist moth insecticide.

[unclebulgaria67]

Hi We moved in our flat 2 years ago which had new carpets when we came in, we noticed moths a while back and when I looked into getting read of them it suggested they could eat the carpet bare so I did a survey of the room (bedroom) where we see them and when I removed a chest of drawers there was a hole of bare carpet about 8 inches square.

 

Do I have to replace the carpet? We rent with Savills and the flat is property managed by them!

 

Thanks

 

Sam

 

If you have an infestation of moths, you just have to advise Savills and they should work with the LL to resolve the problem. Your only responsibility is to keen the place clean and advise Savills/LL of any issues.

 

Having a few moths is pretty normal. They may have been in the property for ages. You can use natural substances like lavender to put moths off from coming back.

[Steve__M]

If you have an infestation of moths, you just have to advise Savills and they should work with the LL to resolve the problem. Your only responsibility is to keen the place clean and advise Savills/LL of any issues.

 

That attitude is too casual for a moth problem. Moths have become a bigger problem (possibly with the recent warmer winters). They just come in and one can't stop them. One has to be aware of any increase in small moths appearing in doors, and occasionally look under furniture, which is where the larvae like to hide.

 

To forensically vacuum every square inch of carpet is quite an intensive process and requires tenant to manage their things (i.e. move their personal belongings out of the way).

 

I suggest that showing a united attitude to solve the problem is a) the only way to solve it and b) the best way of avoiding a landlord blaming you.

 

I've dealt with two moth problems - one in my own home, and one in a tenant's house that I help to maintain. The tenant was a bit useless and lazy, and in the end all the wool carpets were replaced with synthetic. The tenant is a long term tenant and we did not charge them.

[The Carpet Cleaners]

Steve is correct... You should really get a professional in for the problem. Carpet moths are definitely on the increase, and are becoming more resistant to natural remedies. Industrial carpet insecticide is getting to be the only solution. If you get the carpets cleaned when you move out, as most LL's insist on, then the carpet cleaner will be able to deal with this during the pre-spray phase of the cleaning. You will not be able to deal with it if you rent a rug doctor and do it yourself.