Renter's Cats Urinated on New Carpet

karenestelle on 24/08/2024 - 17:12
Last edited 24/08/2024 - 17:32 by 1 other user

Hubby and I are overseeing a two storey property which is managed through a Real Estate.

We are inspecting the house with the agent to keep an eye on things as the previous Real Estate failed to report a lot of damage including holes in carpet and kitchen doors hanging off. The tenants left and the home had to be renovated which included new kitchen and new carpets throughout. The new tenants moved in and had two cats. After 8 months they moved out when the rent went up. After 6 months we inspected the home but didn't notice anything wrong. They did have perfumed candles around the home which were lit when we viewed it.

After 8 months they moved out and we inspected the home when the carpets were still wet and heavily deodorised. Just 3 days later the new tenants moved in by which time the carpets had dried and they now smell strongly of cat urine. This is throughout the carpet area of the house.

My first question is has anyone used a company to treat carpet to rid the smell? Also has anyone had success with the Bond Board in getting the tenant to pay to have similar problem fixed? We would be grateful to receive any advice.

Thank you.

Home & Garden Investment

Comments

  • randomusername2017 on 24/08/2024 - 17:29
    +51

    overseeing a two storey property which is managed through a Real Estate

    Username checks out 🤔

    • Save 50 Cent on 26/08/2024 - 00:09
      +4

      Are you saying they could rely on the property manager to take care of it.. because I wouldn’t either.

    • whiskeyjack89 on 26/08/2024 - 13:17
      +23

      They raised the rent after 8 months too! No pity found here lol

      • navshaf on 27/08/2024 - 10:57
        -8

        Maybe his mortgage payments went up by 70%, maybe his council rates went up 20%, maybe he is now paying covid tax, maybe he is now required to get smoke alarm, electrical checks and gas checks bi yearly, maybe his own living cost went up more than 40% maybe his land tax nearly doubled but who am i question your sincerity of your compassion towards the poor tenant. Afterall all landlords are just devils right? All the media seems to agree with you

        • subwoofer on 27/08/2024 - 11:30
          -2

          My rent went up 25% I doubt their mortgage went up that high, most landlords are cashing in on the rent crisis

          • Mugsy on 27/08/2024 - 12:03

            @subwoofer: I can't comment on what the situation is like at the moment but I sold my last rental property a bit over a year ago and the overall increase in costs was NOT covered by the rent increases. Council rates, water rates, and insurances have all gone up too. Not to mention body corp fees having to increase with inflation too.

            Of course, every property is different but you'd think a 2brm unit (where rental income typically outstrips capital gains) within 20min bus ride to the CBD, 7min walk to a train station too with easy access to the airport, and close to amenities would do OK when it comes to the asking rent in a high demand/low supply market. But the maths worked out better before covid.

          • navshaf on 27/08/2024 - 12:03
            +11

            @subwoofer: Interest rate on 550k loan 2% before fixed loan expiry installment $550 per week
            Interest rate on 550k loan 6.72% after fixed loan expiry instalment $856 per week
            That is 65% increase in cost. Rent increase $500 per week to $620 per week in 2 years

            Land tax before covid tax $2400 after covid tax $4800 increase of 100%
            So spare your compassion for landords too and focus your rage on mismanagement by government.

            • subwoofer on 27/08/2024 - 12:34
              +4

              @navshaf: You have to pay council rates / land tax regardless, and it's minimal on units, the average interest before covid was 3.5% not 2%, not to mention negative gearing comes to the rescue if your expenses outweigh the profits.I very much doubts landlords were negatively geared in the last 2 years.

              • navshaf on 27/08/2024 - 12:43
                +1

                @subwoofer: Point is most landords are still paying out of pocket after such a drastic increase in cost and not enough income to offset. So rent increase are well within the bounds of reason while still short of where it needs to be. It all wages to need to grow to catch up to inflation. So peoples hatred of landlords in terms of rent increases are misplaced

                • tikei on 29/08/2024 - 08:20
                  +1

                  @navshaf: It's called an investment. Investments have risks and can go up and down. You're not suppose to offload all the extra costs to tenants and expect 0 risk

                  • navshaf on 29/08/2024 - 08:39
                    -1

                    @tikei: I cant offload extra costs to tenant even if i tried, market decides what the rent is going to be, not landlord. If i raise rent too high, tenants will leave. Btw we have rent control by this government capped at 10% and now new rule states rent cant be increased on consecutive lease years. Thats a socialism. While banks can raise there interest rates 13 times in 2 years but hard working average man cant do that without facing penalties. Infact banks are encouraged to raise rates by government so more businesses can go bankrupt quicker and unemployment can rise quicker and therefore inflation can go down quicker. While all this game is being played people keep putting tenants against landlords like they are some kind of enemy. In reality someone takes a risk to provide a service to the tenant but still get demonised like crazy. That capital gains people keep talking about are neither gains nor loss untill i sell the property and its irrelevant until that point.

                    • brandt on 06/09/2024 - 14:28
                      +2

                      @navshaf: That's not socialism, that's just government doing its job to keep people housed. If the regulatory control on roi is not to your liking, then sell the property and invest in a productive business rather than rent seeking endeavours.

                      • navshaf on 06/09/2024 - 18:16
                        -2

                        @brandt: How many homeless have you housed? I can say i have housed atleast 4 by giving my house for rent? Meanwhile you are just all talk and no action. Do you not care about unhoused people sleeping in the street? Shame on you

                        • tikei on 08/09/2024 - 11:07
                          +1

                          @navshaf: "Housing homeless people"? You mean leasing? Lol you make it sound all lofty like your are doing it for free.
                          Were they already living out on the streets, or were they "housed" elsewhere and were shopping around to be "housed" in a new place?

                          Truly homeless people wouldn't have been able to afford to pay for it. Please house those homeless people like you claim you have done.

                          • navshaf on 08/09/2024 - 14:11
                            -2

                            @tikei: Dont worry about what i am doing? Tell me what are you doin for the houseless? I recommend salvation army for you to contribute money. Show me the receipt when you done with your donation

                            • tikei on 11/09/2024 - 21:36

                              @navshaf: I volunteer at salvation army weekly. Also used to volunteer at RSPCA. Yes, for free. Not charging people anything or asking for a wage.

                        • brandt on 09/09/2024 - 11:49

                          @navshaf: How many homeless have I housed? More than you because I support policies that remove perverse incentives for people like you who are only out here to take advantage of those seeking a basic human right of suitable shelter. Shame on you for rorting the tax payer to line your own pockets AND extorting the renters.

                          • navshaf on 09/09/2024 - 16:59
                            -1

                            @brandt: Another keyboard warrior and armchair do gooder. Put your money where your mouth is, open your house to the homeless you selfish fraud. Do you want homeless to die of cold on the street while you type on your thousand dollar phone and comfortable house. Come on show some balls and accept the needys plea for help.

            • Vanceer on 28/08/2024 - 15:18
              -3

              @navshaf: Now do the capital gains from property prices constantly increasing.

              Oh, you don't factor that into the rent? Weird.

              There are costs associated with property investment and you want big gov to help out property investors? Maybe if you can't afford to have an investment property, sell it, or make better investment decisions.

              As per the ABS, property prices have increased 23% this past year, you already have a 50% CGT discount once you sell the property after a year, and a measly $2400 increase in property tax requires "compassion for landlords".
              The 550k loan you took out on a $800k property means you paid $44,500 in repayments ($856/week x 52), while getting $26,000 in rent ($500/week x 52) while your house appreciated $184k in value (23%). Since you held it for over 12 months you're only taxed on less than $90k in capital gains, lets say $40,000. So after 12 months you have gained let's say $125k. Oh no, I forgot to deduct the tyrannical $4800 land tax, that will destroy Western civilization, from the $125k gained from doing nothing…

              Can all the renters on Ozbargain please donate to the Landlords Require Compassion Fund to help them out? Such a sad state of affairs they're not looked after with guaranteed returns on investment and profit yoy…

              • navshaf on 28/08/2024 - 18:19
                +1

                @Vanceer: Your lack of understanding shows your contempt for a hard worrking small landlords. We do long hours to pay off the mortgage. Bought house in 2017 430k, current market price 510k on a good day. Now add stamp duty of 21500 on top of the cost, last 7 years out of pocket average around 6k multiply 7 years=42k net loss which includes many expenses. You dont work for free? We work in hope of getting some returns in future for the sacrifices we make now. Problem is lot socialist had been brainwashed into thinking that renter is always poor man and landlord a devil. When i bought i did not know the Victorian government is increasingly becoming communist minded in thier approach towards economy and you want me provide a service to someone with my money and not claim expenses. Btw all the capital expenses i claim now will be added to capital gains tax bill

          • ATangk on 27/08/2024 - 15:18
            +3

            @subwoofer: As much as landlords like to say things about the mortgage, rent is going up because of Supply & Demand, not because mortages are going up. That said, mortgages going up more than rent is not uncommon. Especially because insurance in Strata has doubled, all the costs are being passed to landlords.

          • meong on 27/08/2024 - 16:04
            +2

            @subwoofer: Since 2022 until now:

            my mortgage on my PPOR went up 60% on variable rate and this is not on the investment property.

            my mortgage on my investment property went up from 90% per month and this is already on interest-only investment property rate

            not everyone is the usual greedy landlords. i have an investment property because I moved into a bigger property after getting married. i was unable to sell the property earlier due to cladding issues which got rectified last year by VBA. even since then i still haven't been able to sell it at a price that is more than what i paid for due to the property price crash (it's an apartment). all the offers had been lower than what i paid for (not asking for significant profit on this, but at least break even while taking account all the maintenance and interests ive paid for it).

            the rent doesn't even cover the mortgage let alone council, water and body corporate charges.

          • knk on 27/08/2024 - 19:33
            +2

            @subwoofer: my mortgage payments doubled in 2 years, do the math .

            add land tax and all the extra expenses and yeah, its gonna go up.

          • dealsucker on 28/08/2024 - 10:24
            +1

            @subwoofer: Its not just the mortgage, its everything else - insurance, trade jobs (by a whole lot), the new land tax in victoria, real estate management fee, council charges, water supply charges, the whole lot and then you have things like bi yearly electrical checks and gas checks, yearly fire alaram checks which are again a huge expense.

            Inspite of all this I went against my real estate agent's advice of raising the rent by atleast 15% and only raised the rent by 5% on lease renewal. My tenants have been good and they have kept the house well. Not everything in life is about money.

        • justworld on 28/08/2024 - 10:41

          I raise rent to market rates regardless of my expenses (the only real expense I have is land tax anyway as my mortgage is paid off). You don't need to 'justify' a rent rise as the market sorts itself out.

      • McFly on 27/08/2024 - 16:46

        Let me guess. Never been a landlord?

    • skillet on 26/08/2024 - 13:46
      +1

      I have deal with plenty of these 'property scouts'. I can tell you never ever trust them. From landlord and renters point of view.

  • boomramada on 24/08/2024 - 17:32
    +24

    Ring a few carpet cleaners around your area and ask them?

      • flywire on 26/08/2024 - 11:47
        +23

        Username doesn't check out - leases can't change legislation.

      • gromit on 26/08/2024 - 12:06
        -7

        Sadly nowadays such a clause is basically illegal in most states. renters are free to destroy your property unhindered.

      • whatgift on 27/08/2024 - 12:23
        +2

        Disagree - it is not common for cats to pee on the floor unless they haven’t been given access to a well-maintained litter tray(s). The problem isn’t the cats it’s the tenants.

      • McSquintus on 28/08/2024 - 09:48

        When cats pee on carpet, it does soak to the boards beneath. We had our cat pee in an area and the carpet was shampooed multiple times. When we ripped out the carpet of the whole house, it clearly went through and the smell was still so strong.

      • simplystu on 01/09/2024 - 16:51

        clauses are common (at least in WA) …
        with my GF - while allowed pets (dogs/cats are to be restricted to tiled areas ONLY - main house living area - as per rental agreement… carpeted areas EG. bedrooms are off-limits for pets).

        OP … why weren't more checks being done at more frequent intervals ???
        EG. my GF has a rental inspection every 6 weeks … if that had've happened, would have picked up on pet urine on carpet far far earlier.

        As to getting rid of smell - it is beyond me.
        But good luck.

  • karenestelle on 24/08/2024 - 17:49
    -7

    I have contacted one. I am not confident cleaners can solve the problem thats why i was wanting recommendations from someone who has had success treating these types of stains.

    • 7ekn00 on 24/08/2024 - 20:58
      +23

      It won't get rid of the smell :/

      I spent $10k on a property trying to get rid of the smell … wait till you realise it has seeped under / into walls and under cabinetry :(

      It's the reason I gave up property investing, especially in states where you can't choose whether to allow pets or not!

      Much more lucrative to just own land and participate in carbon credit schemes …

      Good luck

        • 7ekn00 on 24/08/2024 - 21:46
          +20

          And there is nothing stopping them saying "yep, I have no pet", then they get a few a week later …

            • 7ekn00 on 24/08/2024 - 21:52
              +7

              @SnoozeAndLose: Not in Vic: https://www.consumer.vic.gov.au/housing/renting/repairs-alte…

              Rental providers must have a good reason to refuse the renter’s request.

              And there is no "good reason" in Vic … As I said, it depends on state … jack shit you can do in Vic …

              • SnoozeAndLose on 24/08/2024 - 21:55

                @7ekn00: Invest in NSW or QLD then

                • 7ekn00 on 24/08/2024 - 21:56
                  -1

                  @SnoozeAndLose: As I said, it's far easier and far more lucrative to just abuse carbon credit schemes on land rather than rental

                  • CaptainJack on 25/08/2024 - 07:51
                    +2

                    @7ekn00: How does this work?

                  • star-ggg on 25/08/2024 - 10:38

                    @7ekn00: don't you need to replant previous farming land before claiming carbon credits?

                    • 7ekn00 on 25/08/2024 - 10:52
                      +1

                      @star-ggg: Depends on the scheme you enrol in ;)

                      The most lucrative land is old farming land because the soil starts off in a carbon depleted state already, so there is far more potential to add carbon to that type of soil (and the more carbon you add, the more you are paid) …

                      • franz87 on 26/08/2024 - 17:09
                        +1

                        @7ekn00: Wow. Do not come between the middle class and their middle class taxpayer funded welfare

                      • serpserpserp on 27/08/2024 - 08:08

                        @7ekn00: As someone that has seen these schemes at large scale, they are hardly lucrative.

                        Plus your are at the whim of changing legislation from State and Federal governments.

                        But yes, if someone in your family owns a big old farm from decades ago and it isn't super dry all year round, you can definitely try and make some money out of it.

                • payless69 on 25/08/2024 - 06:45
                  +1

                  @SnoozeAndLose: Lol, lol, lol,
                  just call it housing crisis and cat pee becomes a hyped perfume!

                • Mugsy on 25/08/2024 - 07:08
                  +1

                  @SnoozeAndLose: It's just as bad in QLD. There's no real good grounds to refuse a pet these days. You just hope they move out with a rent increase.

                  Personally, I would never get carpet in an investment property… but it's also lucky I don't like carpet in my own home and my own homes have been the ones I've ended up renting out in the past.

                • paloverde88 on 27/08/2024 - 03:56

                  @SnoozeAndLose: Absolutely NSW where you can chain the tenants to the door for kicks!

              • HeWhoKnows on 25/08/2024 - 16:21
                +1

                @7ekn00: Yep, VIC sucks for property investors

                No wonder they are all selling out.
                And hence no wonder they have a shortage of rental properties

                • serpserpserp on 27/08/2024 - 08:10
                  +1

                  @HeWhoKnows: They have had a shortage of rental properties for a decade. Immigration and under building of stock will do that.

      • temporiser on 25/08/2024 - 08:20

        Do you make good money on carbon credit schemes?

        • 7ekn00 on 25/08/2024 - 10:58

          Depends on the land, the scheme you enrol and the country you purchase in …

          I have property in the US (depleted farmland) that is earning $3k/year/acre and it only cost ~ $5k per acre to purchase!

          • temporiser on 25/08/2024 - 11:03

            @7ekn00: Would like to more. Sounds interesting

          • star-ggg on 25/08/2024 - 12:35

            @7ekn00: I'm going to do some research on this first. Can I PM you in the future with questions?

            • 7ekn00 on 25/08/2024 - 13:41
              +5

              @star-ggg: Some basic resources to explain the concepts (it changes based on country / scheme / land / testings):

              https://www.agdaily.com/insights/carbon-credits-101-how-they…
              https://carbonfarmersofaustralia.com.au/carbon-farming/avail…
              https://carboncredits.com/carbon-credits-farming-everything-…
              https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zZxYhau6YrQ

              My returns are based on 454 acres of sub tropical ex US farmland enrolled in multiple carbon credit schemes (there is nothing stopping you from signing up with multiple entities) that were introduced in the US under the "infrastructure package" in 2021 - A combination of soil sampling and satellite imaging determine the degree of carbon capture.

              • kiitos on 26/08/2024 - 13:43

                @7ekn00: Did that mean you can claim the same carbon credits multiple times?

                • 7ekn00 on 26/08/2024 - 23:05
                  +1

                  @kiitos: Nah, you can sign up with multiple governing companies. For example, one might monitor greening on satellite data and issue credits while a second might just take multiple soil samples and issue credits and a third might use an AI based approach with multiple inputs.

              • Mantzy on 27/08/2024 - 05:01

                @7ekn00: 454 acres, $3k per acre. Rolling in it.

                • 7ekn00 on 27/08/2024 - 07:46

                  @Mantzy: Yep, literally 10x more than I was making with the same money invested in rentals!

                  With far less headaches, demands, entitlement, etc

                  • MrFunSocks on 27/08/2024 - 08:27
                    +1

                    @7ekn00: You spent over $2mil on that land, so this isn't really something 99% of people can do.

                    • 7ekn00 on 27/08/2024 - 10:22

                      @MrFunSocks: People are getting $1m properties in NSW / VIC … they could do this with their money instead for a few years, then buy a residence …

                      An entrepreneur could setup a fund / co-op / micro-investment to do this kind of stuff, etc etc

                      • MrFunSocks on 10/09/2024 - 17:00

                        @7ekn00: There's a difference between $1mil for a property to live in and $2mil for some farm land on the other side of the world that is only useful at the whim of some carbon credit schemes.

              • serpserpserp on 27/08/2024 - 08:12

                @7ekn00: The American game is quite different from here. You can make a buck out of it for sure. Again, still at the whim of government changes though. Bank that money as fast as you can

                • 7ekn00 on 27/08/2024 - 10:25
                  +1

                  @serpserpserp: Yeah, certainly is a limited time type thing … But have been doing it since 2021 … so paid the land off and have a healthy bank account thanks to Biden (and Gates - who was secretly buying up farm land - I was just curious as to "why" he was doing that)

      • bashar20 on 27/08/2024 - 08:33

        Care to share more about this bit
        “ own land and participate in carbon credit schemes”

    • RPGPlayer on 27/08/2024 - 12:31
      +1

      Not sure why you are getting downvoted.

      This happened to me moving into a new property rental a few months into Covid. An area with a high concentration of international students. In my experience, they can be careless with pets and move on after a few years.

      I had the carpet deep cleaned twice to no avail. For the reasons people have mentioned here, the cleaning does not work.

      I had to replace the carpet as the smell was giving me migraines and the ducted air conditioning can exacerbate the issue. I was promised a refund by the real estate agent (who had an office on the ground floor; this was a high-rise) and chased up multiple times to no avail.

      In the future, I will go to my hands and knees and smell the carpet.

      This was an unbelievably stressful experience that I wouldn't wish on anyone.

    • zealmax on 28/08/2024 - 12:51

      I clean dog urine using pine o clean. I put pine o clean in a sprayer bottle and spray the area, give it couple of minutes to soak in, then thoroughly dry using toilet paper.

  • ihbh on 24/08/2024 - 19:24
    -2

    Did you agree for the tenants to have cats?

    If so, did you expect them to keep the cats outside or be toilet trained?

    • Loopholio on 25/08/2024 - 13:47
      +9

      Pets should be toilet trained. Pissing and shitting on the carpet is not okay.

      • gromit on 26/08/2024 - 12:33
        +10

        You can count yourself lucky if you can find tenants that are toilet trained let alone their pets.

        • skillet on 26/08/2024 - 13:51

          What are kitty litter for?

    • navshaf on 27/08/2024 - 11:00

      Yes shame on him for expecting tenant to pay for the damage done by tenant.

  • TALL1one on 24/08/2024 - 20:29
    +4

    In NSW, landlords can refuse to allow a tenant to keep a pet without providing a reason - unless it's an assistance animal.

    • 7ekn00 on 24/08/2024 - 21:01
      +1

      Doesn't stop them and there is no legal recourse

      • SnoozeAndLose on 24/08/2024 - 21:46
        +1

        It is what the bonds for.

        • HeWhoKnows on 25/08/2024 - 16:23
          +3

          Bond is only 4 weeks rent
          Pets can do much more damage than that

          • SnoozeAndLose on 26/08/2024 - 08:27
            +2

            @HeWhoKnows: Your statement can implies to many things not just for pets.

            A blanket statement that can be constructed as:

            Bond is only 4 weeks rent
            "Someone or somethings" can do much more damage than that.

            Investing always attract risk which is you want to take it or not, then you can buy a thing call insurance which of course cost some money and in this situation it may be an insured event.

  • thatonethere on 24/08/2024 - 21:16
    +6

    Sadly if the cats have really been doing at it (the carpet) cut your loses and put new carpet and underlay. Hope the urine hasnt soaked into the floor boards.

    It is impossible to really clean as any prospective tenant with a uv light will spot the patches. And when u try to steam clean the odour is reactivated.

    • Roman Sandstorm on 28/08/2024 - 15:02

      I understand that an extended exposure to high-level ionizing radiation may be a solution.

      Follow-up this with a thick asbestos underlay, and the 'bad smell' issue is resolved.

  • miwahni on 24/08/2024 - 22:25
    +14

    Cat pee is the worst. Your best bet (short of replacing) is to get a product like UrineFree or PetLab, and a syringe and needle. Don't dilute the product, just inject it directly through the carpet into the underlay, in the spot/s the cats have been using. Then use a diluted solution to treat the carpet itself. Petlab has a product to use with carpet shampooers as well. Whatever product you end up using, it has to be enzyme based in order to be successful.
    Assuming they're desexed girl cats, this should be enough. If however they're entire boys, just torch the whole house now because that smell is never going to go.
    Good luck.

    • borrisz0r on 26/08/2024 - 11:41

      Second this.ive had good success with let lab before

    • HerpinDerp on 26/08/2024 - 11:54
      +1

      Biozet is also cheap and effective.

      • kiitos on 26/08/2024 - 13:44

        The clothes washing powder? Do you wash it in, or sprinkle it over?

    • keejoonc on 26/08/2024 - 19:49
      +1

      Username checks out.

    • McFly on 27/08/2024 - 16:50
      +1

      Do you identify as a cat?

  • ssfps on 25/08/2024 - 00:34
    +28

    Who doesn't love a good implosion story. Pet owners? Shitty people. Landlords? Shitty people. Landlord gets shafted with cat piss, renter gets shafted with a rent increase. Win-win-win-win-win for ozbargain. Thanks OP.

    • AustriaBargain on 25/08/2024 - 06:02
      +11

      Yeah left after 8 months because of rent increase, sounds like OP has many years of frustration and annoyance ahead. Should have invested in a hotdog stand instead.

      • payless69 on 25/08/2024 - 06:48

        Or developed a potatoes wholesale business by recruiting 1000 unemployed with grants and get them to carry veggies thru them Coles sluice gates un noticed?

        • Paul B on 25/08/2024 - 08:55
          +1

          Or sell infinite tomatoes for $1 each /s

      • Loopholio on 25/08/2024 - 13:50
        +3

        Or invest in a banana stand. I hear there's always money in those.

  • AustriaBargain on 25/08/2024 - 06:01
    +6

    Probably shouldn't have put carpets in bruv.

    • Mugsy on 25/08/2024 - 07:09
      +1

      LOL… I just said the same thing above before seeing your post.

      I've been lucky in that I don't like carpets in the first place so in the past when I've moved out and rented my home out, I don't have the carpet smell issue.

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