Housing association / Council property.

[WhatToDoHmmm]

Hey everyone.

I have a property with a housing association and am possibly moving soon.

When I moved in I had all new carpet and underlay fitted.

My property is quite large and I'm sure I'll be able to use the carpet from 2 of the bigger rooms and stairs at least.

I'm debating if it's worth the hassle of pulling it all up and paying for it to be relayed?
Or do I leave it and eventually buy new stuff?

Which would be cheaper?

And would I get charged for leaving it in the property?

P. S I wouldn't be able to afford for new carpets straight away when we move.

Thanks in advance

Just to add the carpet is only 4 years old and in good condition as we don't wear shoes inside etc...

It depends on your contract. Most Councils will just rip flooring up (drives me to distraction) so it's a waste to leave it IMO.

Is it carpet, lino or laminate you have? If carpet, I'd take it with you if you think the rooms have a similar size. Or cut it into rugs maybe for an interim option?

Lino will be buggered if laid properly with glues, so you'll be unlikely to lift that intact.

Laminate may not go down well a second time as each plank bows slightly after a period of time, so is unlikely to be very good but could be a stop gap?

Yes it carpet and underlay :)

That was my thought if they're going to rip it up anyway I may aswel take it and use what I can. Or at least have some down temporarily untill I can afford stuff that fits.

Just wondering if it will cost an arm and a leg to get it relayed

I recently left carpets in good nick in a HA property with their agreement and also would be be aware that it's very hard to get people to lay carpet you didn't buy from them!

If your HA do a pre void inspection then they will highlight whether they agree you can leave carpets.

If any pets usually they will ask you to remove. If you don’t you’ll be recharged for the removal and disposal.

It’s not rocket science to lay your own - nail down gripper rods at edges, cut to size and then use a carpet stretcher to fit it taut. I’m sure there will be something on YouTube! Get a REALLY sharp knife for the carpet!

Also most fitters won’t relay used carpets.

This depends on the housing association, you need to ask them how you need to leave the property, many wish it put back as it was as that is the standard they maintain to, and if it’s carpeted it means they have to maintain to that.

However I would say carpet relaid seldom looks any good.

Why won't fitters relay used carpet? If you don't want to faff with gripper rods if you can't get someone to relay, it just cut it to size and lay it on the floor. Heavy furniture will keep it in place. Better than no carpet.

The housing associations around here make you take up all flooring before you leave....if you don’t you are billed for the cost of removal

Each HA works differently. My local makes you uplift it or pay them to remove. My MIL in next council let her leave hers. Easy to lift and relay carpets and I would take them. Not sure why carpet fitter won't relay though?

We called several as had some gifted to us which was going to be a stop gap. They simply said the dust and fact it’s hard to stretch made it not worth it.

We used a Stanley blade and double sided tape in the end until we could afford to replace.

Why on earth is this a policy? It’s incredibly wasteful and terrible for the environment.

To answer your question, I had carpet relaid in a different property - there was no problem with it at all. I used an independent fitter, who did a brilliant job and the carpet lasted ages (although it was a very expensive one to start with). Ask around your local FB groups or better still, a good independent flooring shop that doesn’t have its own in-house fitters - they should be able to help you with a fitter recommendation.

@thatonehasalittlecar it is wasteful. Which is why some HAs now gift decent carpets from previous tenants. However if there have been animals the risk of fleas means they are disposed of.

If stained or worn disposed of.

Problem is if you allow to keep carpets in when ex tenant leaves and new tenant doesn’t want them then the HA bears the cost of the removal. In effect it’s all tenants that pay for that as void costs over and above what is recharged to ex tenants end up getting passed on in rent.

I'd find out your local housing policy on removing carpets and how they expect the property to be left.
Then approach a few carpet shops and find out cost of relaying.
Will you be buying new for even one room? We recently had the whole house carpeted, the fitters did relay an old carpet into one bedroom at no extra cost because we were using them for the whole house already.