A renter said a carpet replacement caused coughing and gagging, leaving them struggling to breathe after their landlord refused to act.
Here's what to know
"My home became unlivable after carpet replacement," they wrote on Reddit's r/HomeImprovement thread. "What can I do? Really scared." The issue began when the landlord replaced carpet that had been buckling. The renter said the landlord provided somewhere else to stay for a few days before they went to a friend's.
"I don't know what the heck happened during the carpet install, but the off-gassing is so bad that anyone that is inside for more than 10 minutes with windows and doors closed coughs, gags, gets very red eyes, struggles to [breathe] much," they detailed. "I can't live there at all."
After a week away, the original poster was desperate for solutions. "Landlord says they will do nothing about it. What do I do? How can I solve this?"
What can be done?
The OP noted they had used four commercial fans 24/7 for five days. "A major cross breeze" and heating up the apartment to 90 degrees at night before burping it three times a day for two days did not fix the problem.
"What you're smelling and inhaling are the VOCs," one commenter stated.
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The Environmental Protection Agency says volatile organic compounds include "a variety of chemicals, some of which may have short- and long-term adverse health effects."
Some users questioned whether the carpet was really the source.
"I've had carpet replaced several times and never had an issue with off-gassing. Did they paint the subfloor by chance?" one wrote.
Another commenter added, "Cheap carpet has much worse off-gassing."
Someone else urged: "If you have a renters rights organization where you are, speak to them. The advice on what to do is wildly different depending on whether you live in a place where landlords are legally required to keep the house habitable."
Another person suggested: "Tell your landlord to come see how bad it is for themselves. They might not believe or understand it's that bad. Also get some air quality monitors and set them up in your apartment for proof."
One user warned: "I work in construction in NYC, and this sounds way beyond normal new carpet smell. … I wouldn't keep going inside." They added that the renter should find out "exactly what they installed" and advised contacting the installer directly for a solution.
After another commenter recommended an air purifier, the OP responded: "Got better air purifiers today. Probably enough to purify an airline hanger."
Where can I learn more?
Other renters have also said odors or poor air quality have made their homes hard to live in.
• A tenant said an upstairs neighbor's paint fumes made their apartment unlivable.
• After a foul apartment smell surfaced, a renter said they would stay in a hotel.
• A renter posted about a filthy AC unit, and commenters warned that it looked like black mold.
• Tenants said a dismissive landlord left them to endure unhealthy air quality.
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