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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Mar 2012
    Posts
    16

    Default Who is Responsible for Cleaning an Apartment After a Long-Term Lease

    My question involves landlord-tenant law in the State of: California

    I currently have someone in my family who's just vacated their apartment after leasing it for about 4 years. As he was expecting a portion of his deposit to be returned after they went through the inspection, he instead was charged for additional fees:

    • Apartment Carpet Cleaning - $185
    • Apartment Cleaning - $178
    • Leased Rent (11/12/2018) - 1 day - $92


    What's bothersome, is the "Leased Rent" is charged 1 full week after he was already fully out on 11/04/2018. We are both confused by this! It seems like they just added on an additional Fee almost as if to penalize him for having vacated.

    Throughout the 4 years, there's been no issues up until now as he is leaving. But, it seems they are just wanting to get a few extra bucks as he leaves which is really quite disappointing.

    It goes to the heart of the question: who's responsible for apartment cleaning after a 4 year lease? To be clear, yes he did clean the apartment: vacuumed, washed, and left the apartment looking very clean. It seems like after 4 years, they are going to have to clean the apartment and replace the carpet for a new tenant most likely anyway. Why is he being charged for that normal wear and tear? What bounds the Landlord from just adding any fee they want to charge to get additional money out of the tenant once they left? The landlord may as well add on fees for Dishwasher, Dryer, ceiling fan, stove, microwave....just have the tenant pay for it all....why not.

    The charges seem suspect. I'd like to know what others think? It's not the end of the world here, but it's simply understanding what is the 'norm' as to what people would often pay for vacating their apartment?

    They sent him a letter stating that he has 7 days to pay it. If he doesn't the delinquent balance will be sent to the credit bureau.

    It's fine to pay for things that one should pay for. But, it is bothersome if they are simply taking advantage of him like they may be doing to others as well.

    At this point, just kindly helping to look for some advice and to better understand for myself as well.

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Mar 2013
    Posts
    18,340

    Default Re: Vacate Fees. Who is Responsible

    Former landlord's point of view.

    Clean is in the eye of the beholder. 20 years and 3 rentals and I only had one tenant in all that time leave the house as clean as when she moved in.

    The cleaning charge to go through the apartment is reasonable. The carpet cleaning is reasonable.

    I don't understand that "one day rent" thing.

    Maybe the tenant should demand (in writing) an explanation for it.

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Jan 2016
    Posts
    473

    Default Re: Vacate Fees. Who is Responsible

    Here are some of the items that tenants have left for us to do:

    Clean 2 years worth of baked-on nonsense from the oven.
    Remove 2 years of dust from the blinds, top of cabinets, and windowsills.
    Scrub black yuck from under the rim of the toilet
    Remove pink nail polish(?) Lipstick(?) stains from granite countertops.

    And they would have ALL told you that they left the place "very clean." But there was no way we could lease it in the condition they left it.

    Also, carpets have more than a 4 year lifespan. If it was new when he got the place, then replacement shouldn't be necessary.

    Finally, was he supposed to be out at the end of the month but overstayed by a day or two?

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Sep 2005
    Location
    Behind a Desk
    Posts
    98,846

    Default Re: Who is Responsible for Cleaning an Apartment After a Long-Term Lease

    Did the tenant request a pre-move out walkthrough? If so, what did the landlord say at that time?

    What, if anything, does the lease say about carpet cleaning? When was the last time the carpets were professionally cleaned?

    Did the tenant take pictures to document the condition of the apartment at move-out?

    A California landlord may charge cleaning fees, but only in the amount necessary to make the apartment as clean as it was when the tenant originally moved in.

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