URGENT ADVISE NEEDED

Tenancy Deposits

I have a tenant who wants to dispute the cost for replacing the carpets and I would like some advise before I reply to them.

The carpet was fitted in march 2010 and the tenants resided at the property from jan-july 2011.

The hallway carpets have servere stains from their cats and does need replacing.

The carpet was quite costly when it was laid because it was my home first.

To replace the carpet with a similar style it would cost £265 fitted for 8' x 6'.

The tenant is saying that a relalistic cost is £65 + £95 fitting for a carpet this size for a cream carpet.

The carpet is highlander speckle carpet that follows up the stairs and top landing also.

The tenants have also mentioned no photos were taken of the property at the inventory, however I did take photos the morning they moved in, they just wasn't aware of it.

They also mentioned that they have already paid out to have the carpets cleaned prior to leaving.

I would like to know where I stand in regards to the amount requested to cover the costs.

1. how much is realistic based on the qoute being £265.
2. it had been laid 10 months prior to them moving in.
3. did I have to tell them the day we checked the inventory out if there was any deductions?
4. they have said there was a stain already on the carpet which they added to the inventory, I haven't added this to mine and they did not mention it to me.

Please can I have some advise.

kind regards