Does everyone really change the carpets when they move house

[Flickersy]

(Inspired by a few threads)

I've seen quite a few posters say they have to put down new carpets when they move into a house, or at least get rid of the previous owners carpets.

Now if they're irretrievably stained, ripped, or blindingly hideous, I would understand it. And perhaps I'm too used to living in house shares and rentals where you just have to live with whatever's there.

But I'm hoping to buy somewhere this year, if I'm lucky, and frankly having to change all the carpets isn't an expense I'm factoring in. Unless they're in such a condition which renders them unusable, I plan on changing them slowly over time as and when it's needed. Is that completely slovenly? And if so what else should I be watching for?

Our last house had newly-laid carpet in the bathroom, bafflingly.

When we moved into this one, the carpets were so filthy we used a company of cleaners who usually do crime scenes, and even they said their machine was almost defeated by the living room. So we pulled it up and just had floorboards which we eventually sanded and polished.

No I only change them as and when they need replacing or when we redecorate the room. We've lived in our house more than 10 years and still have original carpets in 3 out of the 4 upstairs bedrooms.

We've changed the front room and DS' room and that's it so far.

Depends on what's left behind. If the house was fully laminate I personally would swap that out for carpet. If the carpet was good condition I would clean and keep until I wanted to change them.

We changed all the carpets for wooden flooring when we moved into our last house, but we were a couple with no dcs back then. This time around we had a 4 yo and baby, so we've kept the carpets as we had a ton more stuff and haven't had time to change it (the cost isn't an issue). Wr paid for a deep clean when we moved in. We've had one vomit incident and one wee incident on the carpet while living here for a year, and I know the previous residents had young dc so it does feel a bit yuck to keep it as I'm sure their dcs did similar (and have our dcs rolling all over it). But we're planning a bedroom makeover for the dcs room and that takes a bit of time to plan, plus we need to potty train dc2 so we might wait until that's sorted.

Dear god, no. We put new carpets and flooring in a few years ago and that’s the first time over ever done it and I’ve owned property for 20+ years. We’d previously just lived with whatever was down, which was thankfully good enough, until it really wasn’t!

Nope we didn't. The bedroom carpets had all been removed though so we did put new ones in those rooms before we moved in, but the carpets and flooring that were already here have stayed.

I have always bought new carpets . The existing carpets were always removed prior to me moving in.
However, when my parents moved house, they took their carpets with them.

Nope, lived here 8 years, swapped the hall carpet for lvt a few years ago and am just about to change the stairs carpet, the bedrooms ones were and still are fine, I’d change them if we were redecorating but we’re probably moving in a couple of years so seems pointless now.

Usually depends on condition of the carpet. When we moved here, the place was spotless so we just cleaned as normal. After a couple of months we realised that we'd 'inherited' moths so I bitterly regret not changing it.

Can anyone work out if there's a consensus? Possibly keep the old carpets?

Our previous owners had had a big black hairy dog and very thick carpets. They place just stank and there was no way we were getting them clean despite seeming in pretty good condition. It was annoying as we hadn't factored in the cost of replacing them.

No, haven’t changed carpets (didn’t know this was a thing) if they’re a decent colour and in good condition.

Aren’t carpets as fixtures and fittings? Did they leave bare floors?

I’ve changed all the carpets but they were a bit tired and it took me around 4 years. I wouldn’t expect to change them again they’ve all been here 7 years. Perhaps the next owner when I sell in ten or so years will think the same

A rug would sort that problem surely?

OP we moved in here about 14 years ago and the carpets in the two front bedrooms are what was here. I dont like them though but its a faff to arrange to change them, moving furniture and that so Ive not done antyhing about them

It depends what state they are in. First house had no carpets. Second house was infested with fleas and covered in animal urine so they went within a week and we loved without carpet till we'd decorated which was about 2 years. Current house lived with them but they were cream and very stained so replaced when we could afford to....about 8 years.

What? I’ve bought and sold 5 times,no one has ever tried to charge extra for fitted carpet. It is part of fix and fittings. and removing never works, as it doesn’t stretch the same.

op, no we don’t unless the carpet needs replacing unless due to condition or style. We still have the same stairs carpet and bedrooms a decade after moving in, as they are expensive wool carpets, in a neutral cream or pale beige, we do have them professionally cleaned.

That’s so thoughtful of your father. Is there a reason he doesn’t install hard flooring (laminate etc) that could be thoroughly washed between tenancies?

Our last house had a new carpet in the living room just a couple of months before we sold, just due to accidental damage.
I was horrified when the buyers came to measure up up for new carpet.
It was a living room through to dining room with an archway, so effectively two new rooms of brand new carpet. Such a waste.
When we moved in there we lived with the old peoples carpets for several years before changing them because we didn’t have the money to buy at the time.
Had to change these ones as the single bloke living here for twenty years wasn’t a clean person.

Depends on the carpet, our house was a probate sale and the carpet was quite old as it usually is with these properties so we did. I wouldn't change a fairly new good carpet though.

This is a significant difference between purchasers, private renters and social housing.

People who can buy a house can choose to save money by not replacing. People who can afford private rent don't have to spend out on flooring and carpets when they move in (and usually have appliances already there, window coverings, curtain poles, lampshades, bulbs...).

People in need of social housing have no choice, as any floor coverings usually have to be removed by the previous tenants (or they'll be charged for removal) or if it's a new build, will have bare concrete/hardboard upstairs that they have to cover at their own expense. Or find themselves over a decade later still standing on subfloor.

No reason other than the fact he doesn't think it's comfortable so wouldn't subject tenants to that either.
Sorry that in reply to @Lurkingandlearning

Well typically it's the best time to do it if they arebt in nice eboguh condition, as you won't have to move furniture out the way although depends on how much stuff your bringing with you.

Mine was okay I just washed it. But I did repaint asap whilst everything wasn't properly put in place to save having to move things again

We've twice had vendors offering to sell their fitted carpets. I'm not sure everyone understands what comprises fixtures and fittings.

Not an issue for me or people I know.