Has your Aquarium Stand Stained carpet?

[J2FcM]

Hello all,

Due to a recent landlord dispute I was just wondering if anyone's ever heard of, or had their own aquarium stand stain a carpet.

I lived for 9 months in a unit with my 90gallon fish tank and left the unit with ZERO carpet staining, and or damage.

I lived for 3 months in a condo with the EXACT SAME 90gallon fish tank + stand, and left with zero stains. UNFORTUNATLY... having minimal experience with landlords... I did not take pictures of the carpet upon move out.

The management informed me that;

"The pedestal/stand leached wood stain onto the carpet in an outline of the stand. I am sure the weight of the aquarium contributed to the staining. We tried cleaning the stain with no success. In addition, we consulted with our property manager and a flooring expert and all indicated that furniture stains of this kind will not come out"

My stand is a 5' 1/2ft long wooden stand for a 90gallon tank.

I wanted to know opinions because I told the management about the fish tank, and they OK'ed the fish tank, but 2 months later said they had no insurance... at which point I provided them proof of insurance.
They said nothing, and now they are bringing this up " I also want to remind you that we had previously instructed you to empty the aquarium and you did not comply." Despite my communicating to them that I had purchased insurance.(and they also offered that I provide insurance as an alternative).

 

[Tswifty]

Man that stinks... landlords are brutal.

I had a dispute with one when I was in college. The house the apt was located in was sold with 2 months left on the lease.

The landlord tried to up the rates on me, and I backed out of the lease, which was stated in the lease that if the property changed ownership I could do.

Anyway, the guy would call me an leave harassing messages and was threatening to keep my deposit and sue me for the amount remaining on the lease... until I called a lawyer, that the previous landlord (great lady ) referred me too.

Once he contacted them I had an apology letter, and my deposit back within 2 weeks.

Scum.

Good luck, I hope it works out for you.

 

[Tswifty]

That being said... I had a metal stand that stained my carpet, but it came out easily with that cheap spray foam cleaner you can pick up for like 99 cents at wal-mart.

 

[J2FcM]

thanks for the well wishes.

Yeah, it was an odd situation with me. I talked to the landlord and said I had a fish tank, and they even saw it in the bathroom before they installed new carpet.

Then they show the unit 2 months later and even admit in emails to "OK'ing" it, but sorry for the inconvience we forgot about insurance!!!

But (also in an email) they tell me I could get insurance, and so I did and I sent them a PDF of the policy, and now they're like "WELL THERE WAS A STAIN, and OH WE TOLD YOU TO REMOVE THE AQUARIUM"... a big told ya so if I ever saw one.

The crappy part is I looked at the carpet on move out day, stood there and said "OK, nice the carpet is in perfect condition, no spills, or stains" (not even considering the tank stand)... and I took no pictures.

Right now, we're hoping the landlord took no pictures either so that way we're kinda equal in small claims (I hope!)

 

[fatdaddy]

That is always a problem with renting. If it wasn't the aquarium stand, then pick another problem.

I think the question is how to solve it. I can't think of a time where I ever got back the full amount of my deposit although I consider almost all wear to be usual and customary. I just got used to giving up 20-30% of the deposit as part of the cost of renting.

As a carpet stain is cosmetic, I'd think you be in good standing to just propose a damage amount and then bury the whole mess.

 

[cdness]

Whenever I move into a place I make dang sure they mark EVERY little think wrong in the apartment. Also within 3 months of move out if there is anything damaged, call the repair guy to come fix it. Then it is in pristine condition when you move out.

With the stains I'd tell him to prove it. If you have all the emails they can do nothing to you in court regarding removal of the aquarium. Landlords will try ANYTHING to get the deposit out of you, or at least that's what I found.

Nice thing to find out upon moving in is how old are the floor coverings. Each covering has a different legal useful life. If it is beyone the useful life they cannot keep your deposit, especially for worn flooring.

A big recommendation to all renters out there. Go to the local doughnut, I mean police station, and get a copy of the local renter's rights booklet. It has loads of information many people never even heard about.

I am on third floor of a building so I worry about the tank leaking. I have renter's insurance so I am covered but boy would that just be a pain.... I have never had any furniture stain carpet before so I think they are pulling your leg.

 

[J2FcM]

Yes, I'd be VERY INTERESTED in any cases where a piece of wooden furniture stained a carpet... and the weight contributed to it. It makes no sense to me...

Currently, I am going back and forth with written letters to the landlords, who are basically standing by their claim and not really providing any hard evidence (such as invoice or photo's).

The problem is, despite the landlord failing in several instances, and even admitting through e-mail they OK'ed the tank, I have no pictures as proof.

It is entirely possible for them to make a mess, take pictures, and then charge me the 540$ that they charged.

With the emails, I basically have proof of them admitting they said I could have the aquarium... then realizing I couldn't, and them requesting I remove it or provide proof of insurance... and me providing proof of insurance.

 

[Toddrtrex]

I will see if I can find the pictures from my old landlord.

But, my 58, with a black wood stand, did leave marks on the carpet of my old place -- from me spilling water. I saw it when I was moving out, so didn't question my old landlord when he charged me for it -- plus he did send pictures.

 

[kevin2000]

No offense intended but an aquarium can damage the carpet and has good chance of permanently depressing the padding underneath. Whether thats true in your situation I don't know but I would not discount the landlords concern.

 

[old salty]

I have to say "yes" to the question about a stand staining the carpeting. I purchased a used tank and stand locally. I set it up as a holding tank while I upgraded aquariums. When I was done, I moved the tank to a new location and noticed that it had stained the carpet. Since I own the house, I don't care; it's actually getting replaced next week, but for other reasons.