Recovering Cleaning Costs After A Tenant Moves Out

**blackhawk** · 08-07-2007, 04:43 PM

My tenants left my house dirty when they moved out. I will not go in to detail but it is annotated on the walk out checklist. It states in the lease and in a move out letter what needed to be cleaned. On their application they said they did not smoke but the house smelled of cigarette smoke and there were numerous butts left around the outside of the house.
I have paid a cleaning company $400 to clean the house. I am asking my tenants to pay $200 of that. They are threatening me to take me to small claims court.

My question is if I charge them $200 and we go to court will I then be able to recoup the other $200? I am hoping that by charging them half we can avoid to go to court but if they waist my time then I want the full amount.
Should I tell them the aforementioned? That is if they take me to court I will seek full reimbursement of cleaning?
Yes, I have my ducks all in a row, documentation to include photographs. I feel very confidant that I will win in court but I am willing to pay $200 not to go. Your thoughts and guidance is most appreciated

**Mr. Knowitall** · 08-08-2007, 03:19 PM

Landlord-tenant laws are different in each state. Also, the amount you will be able to recover may depend upon what your lease provides, and whether this is simply a routine cleaning or the apartment required special cleaning. If you paid lots of extra money because the apartment smelled like cigarettes, but the lease didn't provide for additional cleaning costs or otherwise prohibit smoking, I don't think that will get very far.