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Ottawa Landlord Charged $4,400 to Replace Carpet Tenant Says Was Stained by Her Cat, But Experts Say Cat Urine Is Impossible to Remove

Landlord Seeking $4,400 From Tenant

An Ottawa landlord is seeking $4,400 from a tenant to replace a carpet that she says was stained by her cat. The tenant, who has lived in the apartment for two years, disputes the charges, saying that the carpet was already stained when she moved in and that her cat has never had any accidents on the carpet.

The landlord has provided the tenant with an invoice from a carpet cleaning company that states that the carpet is “beyond repair” and that it will cost $4,400 to replace it. The tenant has refused to pay the invoice, and the landlord has filed a claim with the Landlord and Tenant Board (LTB).

Tenant Disputes Charges

The tenant, who wishes to remain anonymous, says that the carpet was already stained when she moved into the apartment. She says that she has never seen her cat have any accidents on the carpet, and that she has always kept the apartment clean.

The tenant has provided the LTB with photos of the carpet when she moved in, which show that there were already some stains on the carpet. She has also provided the LTB with a letter from her veterinarian, who states that her cat has never had any urinary tract problems.

Experts Say Cat Urine Is Impossible to Remove

Experts say that cat urine is one of the most difficult stains to remove from carpets. The ammonia in cat urine can damage the carpet fibers, and the smell can be very difficult to get rid of.

If cat urine is not cleaned up immediately, it can soak into the carpet padding and even the subfloor. This can cause the carpet to buckle and the subfloor to rot.

Landlord May Be Entitled to Compensation

Even if the carpet was already stained when the tenant moved in, the landlord may still be entitled to compensation if the tenant's cat caused additional damage to the carpet.

The LTB will consider the following factors when making a decision:

• The condition of the carpet when the tenant moved in
• The extent of the damage to the carpet
• Whether the tenant's cat caused the damage
• The cost of repairing or replacing the carpet

If the LTB finds that the tenant's cat caused damage to the carpet, the tenant may be ordered to pay for the cost of repairing or replacing the carpet.

Tips for Avoiding Carpet Damage

There are a few things that tenants can do to avoid carpet damage:

• Clean up spills immediately
• Keep pets off the carpet if they are not housebroken
• Use a carpet protector to help prevent stains
• Vacuum the carpet regularly
• Have the carpet professionally cleaned every 1-2 years