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Can a Landlord Charge for a New Stove for Cosmetic Damage

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  • 11-10-2018, 02:14 PM
    AAARennelle
    Can a Landlord Charge for a New Stove for Cosmetic Damage
    I leased a house in San Dimas for 1 year. Once we were moved out I hired professional cleaners to clean the house. The landlord did a walk through after and noticed there were scratches on the stove where the clock is and is stainless steel. This is a black on stainless steel stove gas stove. The landlord now wants to charge us to replace the part but prefers to buy a new stove.
    I don’t think it really needs to be replaced as there is no damage to the stove and is in great working condition. I believe it is wear and tear caused cosmetically.
    There are also some discoloring from the grease that is not coming off and also wants to charge us for the time she has spent trying to clean it herself and for the time she has spent on the phone trying to find the part that she claims to be 7 hrs. I believe it took this long because it is a cosmetic part.

    She wants to hold $1000.00 of our security for the parts/labor/ or a new stove and additionally $50 for her time.
    She does not have an estimate of the charges.
  • 11-14-2018, 06:06 AM
    Mr. Knowitall
    Re: Can a Landlord Charge for a New Stove for Cosmetic Damage
    If the part can be replaced, then your liability would not exceed the cost of replacement (part cost plus installation). If the landlord prefers to spend more to purchase a new stove, the additional cost is on him.

    Is it wear and tear vs. damage? If it is ordinary wear and tear, then the landlord should not charge you -- but I cannot comment on the scratches, as I have not seen them and do not know how they were caused. As for grease damage, if the damage resulted from ordinary use with appropriate clean-up, then that should be ordinary wear and tear, but if you were using the stove unconventionally or the problem is that the grease was left in place or allowed to build up when prompt cleaning would have prevented damage, the landlord may be able to claim that the stains are damage.

    Your landlord is required to follow California's security deposit law, so making up fees and charges is not an appropriate means of estimating the cost of repair.
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