Getting new carpet when you have a heart condition

September 18, 2017 5:42 PM

I live alone. I have newly diagnosed hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. I have no friends that live nearby. I can do light cardiovascular exercise but I am still in the phase of treatment where I am supposed to avoid lifting or moving heavy objects. Unfortunately, because I've lived in my apartment for so long (10+ years), my landlord is demanding that I get all my carpets replaced (on their dime) as part of renewing my lease. How do I do?

It really does need to be done; my apartment has experienced mild flooding at least twice a year for five of the years I've lived here. They finally resolved the issue causing the dampness and now they want to replace my carpet. Great, but I am just in no condition to prep my apartment for such a task and I have no financial means to hire someone to move my furniture. I am on disability, but for bipolar disorder, not the heart condition. How should I approach this with my landlord?

posted by xyzzy to Home & Garden (8 answers total)

Many flooring and carpet companies offer moving furniture from room to room so they can work. If you can handle ensuring your lighter objects are secured, I would begin by asking the landlord to verify that the carpet installers will be able to move the furniture as you will not be able to due to your heart condition.
posted by Karaage at 5:48 PM on September 18, 2017

There's always the "ask a favor, make a friend" approach. I'd bet you have some neighbors who would love the opportunity to lift and move heavy things, and to feel slightly heroic. Decide which ones you like best, then figure out what kind of pizza, Asian food, or home-cooked goodies they'd like to have at the after-moving-furniture-back-onto-the-new-carpet party.
posted by amtho at 6:07 PM on September 18, 2017

I would imagine that if the landlord is demanding that this be done... the landlord also needs to ensure that the furniture gets moved, and that means with professional help.
posted by TwoStride at 6:21 PM on September 18, 2017

You just need to tell them they need to arrange for the furniture moving because you can't do it.

IF they push back, which it's entirely possible they won't because they intended to pay to handle it (or at least intended to if you asked), then decide you have a crisis that will need to be resolved by some other means.

Now, this does mean a fairly deep clean and some kind of packing up of the general stuff that needs to be moved around. That part they may not handle, and you may need to figure out a way to get that accomplished by other means.
posted by Lyn Never at 6:26 PM on September 18, 2017

Oh man yes the installers will move all the furniture and whatnot (for more money, but that's not your problem). Most companies will also come to your house with samples to choose from and to measure. You will need to like... Pick up all the clothes from the floor and stuff, basic tidying, but you should not be responsible for furniture moving.
posted by brainmouse at 7:05 PM on September 18, 2017

Some High School students need to do community service to graduate. I used to get yard help once in awhile from my local HS. I found out about the program from the senior center. Maybe they would have some tips for you. In CA if you are under, I think 50, and disabled you can use their services.
posted by cairnoflore at 12:25 AM on September 19, 2017

Tell your landlord that you are not physically able to move your own furniture and you want to make sure the installers will do it. They don't need to know why, even if they push, just stand firm that you can't do it. One carpet place we talked to would only move furniture at $20 a piece and others include furniture moving with the install price. Either way, the landlords need pay for it. Most places will do a two day install where you move everything to half the area and they lay carpet in the now empty rooms. That night, you move everything to the newly carpeted areas and the next day they carpet the other half of the space. That means moving furniture 3 different times.
Other places to look for help include churches and Habitat for Humanity.
posted by soelo at 7:35 AM on September 19, 2017

Many if not most people can't move all their own furniture without help. My household has two healthy adults and we can't do it. I would assume the landlord's arrangements will take this into account, just call and confirm it to put your mind at ease.
posted by fingersandtoes at 9:31 AM on September 19, 2017