A carpet in good condition is something that people don't tend to notice too much. It might be appreciated, sure, but it's not exactly something to write home about. What's more noticeable is when carpet's in bad condition as this can effect both the rental achieved and quality of tenant.
In short, there's no law around how often a landlord should replace carpet other than it must be deemed "habitable". There's also no set requirement around how often rented properties should be redecorated at all. When it comes to how long to leave it before replacing carpet, it depends largely on the quality of the one installed.
A good quality or wool carpet that is cared for might last up to 10+ years, while something more budget could need replacing after just 3-5 years. At the very least, tenants look for homes that are comfortable and clean — so believe it or not, stained, threadbare and old carpet could be a deal-breaker.
The changes to minimum housing standards that come into effect on 1st September 2023, require all properties and as such carpets, must be free of mould (just to state one item) and clean for tenants.
Interior painting is a similar situation. Whilst there is no set guidelines on exactly when a property should be painted internally, most experts advise that a good quality coat of paint will last 7 – 10 years throughout a tenancy. Likewise as with fresh carpets, people love to live with new bright and fresh paint which will again increase the appeal of your property to a potential tenant.
Wear and tear will always influence the lifespan of paint. While tenants are responsible for any damage to paintwork caused by their tenancy and marks on walls, there is always fair wear and tear that can occur over time. Be sure to choose a neutral colour and try to avoid dark and bright feature walls as these will often date and show damage or marks more easily and may even influence a prospective tenants opinion of the home. Keeping a record of these colours on file and providing to your property manager will also help any repairs required as sometimes accidents can happen and a wall may need to be patched and painted.
As with any asset, maintenance is always important to ensure that you continue to give your home the best opportunity to age well and appreciate rather than slowly deteriorate and show signs of needing TLC. Great paint is also a protective cover to your walls especially in areas of high moisture in the hotter climates. Maintaining a homes exterior paint over time especially on timber trims and posts will also help keep away any wood rot and costly long term timber replacement. The end of a tenancy is always a good time for a landlord to liase with their property manager on the condition of the carpets, paint and home in general as it can be an essential element in attracting the best next tenant.