I stapled carpet in the building I was renting and my landlord changed her story and is making me leave it!?

Question

Its mine and I have a receipt but she said her lawyer said it becomes her property. Her old carpet is under my new carpet but now she's actting like we never talked about it and it now belongs to her. I paid 900.00 for it and a lawyer told me that if we go to court it's basically the judged's decision to say how it belongs to. People are telling me to just remove it and let her take me to court.

Answer 1

The lawyer is technically right, the judge will decide whatever he thinks is best, but its clearly your carpet - he'll almost certainly decide for you.  

I agree with what the "people" are telling you - just take it with you and act like there is no big deal, it was your carpet.  if she wants to take you to court you can fight it out there, but she'll probably lose (and she probably knows this and therefore won't even bother taking you to court).

Answer 2

First, NEVER make any changes to something your renting without first getting permission.  In writing.  Second, what you did (if I recall my law classes in college correctly) was make a "material improvement" to the property.  Such an improvement becomes the property of the landlord, not you.  If you get permission from your landlord to install a ceiling fan, upgrade the wall sockets from 2 to 3 prong plugs, etc, these upgrades stay with the appt/house.  They don't belong to you.  

That being said, you didn't install the carpet right.  When carpet is installed, the old carpet and pad is ripped up, with new pad and carpet put down.  You are lucky the LL isn't making you pay for proper installation of new carpetting.  

Keep talking to your Lawyer.  Anything said here might not be right, even my post.  (not to mention things can vary by state.)  Seeing as it was never truly installed, you might be able to take it with you.  (seeing as there is still her carpet underneath.)  I wouldn't do ANYTHING however until after your lawyer ok's it.

Answer 3

take your carpet with you and hang on to that Ikea receipt to prove to Judge Hatchett that its really yours!! Tell them the Ikea sales associate told you to tack it down so you wouldn't "slip & fall" saving the LL a visit from Jacoby & Meyers!!