Carpets and a Shorthold Tenancy?

[herald]

I am a landlord of a flat let to a tenant unfurnished, so far now for 14 years on an Assured Shorthold Tenancy. Carpets had been left by a previous tenant. I did not provide them. At that time it was not uncommon for ‘unfurnished’ to mean bare floorboards, tenants laid their own floor coverings and it was not a requirement of the law then to my knowledge. However, the tenant has just been advised by a solicitor friend that I am responsible for providing new carpets for those worn out. 1. Is this now a requirement of the law? 2. If so, when did this law come in effect and 3. Would it apply to an AST granted 14 years ago. (There is no mention of such in the Agreement or any ancilliary documents).