Carpet Smell Rip Off

[preethi]

I stay in Michigan and recently moved to a new place. I generally keep my house neat and clean and I am a non-smoker/drinker and do not have any pets. I also spent couple hours cleaning every part of the house when I moved out. I had my friends walk around and inspect the entire place as I am a student and every dollar matters a lot to me. But still my landlord claims I had cooking smell in my living room carpet and would cost me around $200 for carpet conditioning and ozoning. If the problem persists, they will have to replace the carpet. I am pretty sure there was so no such thing. The only smell maybe due to fact that I lived in a basement house which prevented me from openning the windows which overlooks the backyard and thus makes insects and bugs come in. So I agree to the fact that there wasn't much of ventilation in the entire house. But other than that, I am pretty confident on the smell. If I argue, the manager is threating me that she will rip off my carpet and charge me for replacing the carpet as such. Please advice if I have a say in this.

Thank you.

[AFFA]

I wish to inform you that you may be made liable for the amount of cost of carpet if the carpet was damaged or if the smell is coming because of your activities. If you have not caused damage and it is general because of location being basement or any fault for which you are not responsible then you cannot be made liable. You may write a letter to the manager of your landlord that as smell is not because of you, therefore, you cannot be made liable and may keep the proof of letter as evidence. You may further ask your landlord to inform you under which specific law you are being made liable. It may be noted that you are allowed normal wear and tear of carpet. As per IRS depreciation schedule, the life of carpet is 5 years. So if the carpet in your premises is 5 years old then you cannot be charged as it has fully depreciated.

AFF

[sunlover]

You might have dealt with smell at time of cleaning but its possible the smell is within carpet itself and has returned.