 cleaning charge (by JIm [FL]) Jul 28, 2026 1:56 PM
 cleaning charge (by Gene [OH]) Jul 28, 2026 3:06 PM
cleaning charge (by JS [CA]) Jul 28, 2026 3:37 PM
cleaning charge (by Robert J [CA]) Jul 28, 2026 4:26 PM
cleaning charge (by zero [IN]) Jul 28, 2026 5:03 PM
cleaning charge (by Jason [VA]) Jul 28, 2026 5:04 PM
cleaning charge (by WMH [NC]) Jul 28, 2026 5:30 PM
cleaning charge (by zero [IN]) Jul 28, 2026 6:03 PM
cleaning charge (by plenty [MO]) Jul 28, 2026 7:04 PM
cleaning charge (by 6x6 [TN]) Jul 28, 2026 9:00 PM
cleaning charge (by David [MO]) Jul 29, 2026 12:35 PM
cleaning charge (by J S [CA]) Jul 29, 2026 12:48 PM
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cleaning charge (by JIm [FL]) Posted on: Jul 28, 2026 1:56 PM
Message:
I'm working on refunding a good tenant's deposit. I paid a professional cleaner $250 to clean the place, but it was "broom swept clean". They were good tenants for 6 years. Do I take the cleaning fee out of their deposit?
--97.102.xxx.xx |
cleaning charge (by Gene [OH]) Posted on: Jul 28, 2026 3:06 PM
Message:
If they were good tenant's for 6 years, I personally would eat the cost especially if you requested broom clean and that is what they delivered. --23.245.xxx.xx |
cleaning charge (by JS [CA]) Posted on: Jul 28, 2026 3:37 PM
Message:
Same. I bend over backwards for good tenants. If it was reasonably clean I would not charge anything except for broken items --162.204.xxx.xxx |
cleaning charge (by Robert J [CA]) Posted on: Jul 28, 2026 4:26 PM
Message:
California dealt with this exact issue, "What to deduct from a tenants deposit upon move-out". And for once, it was fair.
Unless you conducted a "Pre Move-Out Inspection" AND gave your tenant a "LIST" of possible Security Deposit deduction with COSTS, then you are not allowed to deduct 1 singe penny!
The reasoning is as follows: Lets say your tenants are LONG TERM, and you had carpeting in the rental. Your tenants were there 6 years so based on "Depreciation", the value of your carpeting is almost ZERO! HOWEVER, before your tenants moved out, and during your 2-week pre-move out inspection you listed the following:
The Wall to Wall carpeting was NEW and Clean at the time of move-in. Lease calls for thing to be returned in the same condition. Therefore the owner will hire a Professional Carpet Shampoo Service. They will first Vacuum then steam clean the carpeting. Cost Estimate $250.
However, tenant my vacuum the carpets themselves and rent a "Rug Doctor" professional shampoo machine from Ralph's for $12/hour with a 2 hour minimum. Cost doing it yourself, between $24 AND $35 (Rental Shampoo Machine and Shampoo).
So then if your tenant spent $35 and cleaned the carpets, in around 2 to hours, they could have saved themselves over $220 in fee's. If not, since the tenants had your written Deposit Deduction Costs and chose not to clean it themselves, you can then deduct the $250 from their deposit.
Fair to them and fair to you. --47.156.xxx.xx |
cleaning charge (by zero [IN]) Posted on: Jul 28, 2026 5:03 PM
Message:
I expect the place to be rent ready when I get it back.
If it is not then I make it so and charge them accordingly.
I have had good tenants that tried to get it all clean. Maybe they missed a drawer in the kitchen, or the top of the fridge needed dusted.
If I see things like this on my walk-thru I will handle it myself after taking pics for proof. Last one I did took me ten minutes, only because I also had to remove a Wookie from the tub drain. I noted the items and charged her a little for the time. She must have been happy because she cashed the check and didn't complain to me.
Right now I offer $100 above the deposit if the place truly is rent ready. I figure it will cost me to get a place cleaned so it is worth it.
I am torn tho as the tenant is responsible to return a completely move in ready place. I am essentially bribing them to do what they should do.
I am considering phasing that out. I have come close to doing it, but that one had forgotten to pull the oven out. I did give them a full refund tho. --47.227.xx.xxx |
cleaning charge (by Jason [VA]) Posted on: Jul 28, 2026 5:04 PM
Message:
Good, bad, or indifferent—-if I have to pay, they have to pay. I’m not a charity or volunteer service. What would the big boys do? --143.105.xxx.xx |
cleaning charge (by WMH [NC]) Posted on: Jul 28, 2026 5:30 PM
Message:
If I have to pay or do more than 10 minutes of work, they pay.
We provide a cleaning checklist at move-in (*in the lease) and when they give notice, and two weeks before they move. If they clean to the checklist, it's clean. If they do not, they get charged. Simple. --73.216.xxx.xxx |
cleaning charge (by zero [IN]) Posted on: Jul 28, 2026 6:03 PM
Message:
(remembering to put Make A Checklist down on the to do list) --47.227.xx.xxx |
cleaning charge (by plenty [MO]) Posted on: Jul 28, 2026 7:04 PM
Message:
Prepare as if you are going to court before the judge. Do you have pictures and receipts and documentation to support passing on this expenses? If so charge against security deposit. Or at least include verbiage in the refund that you ar we not charging for this service but could. Did they even try to clean? --172.59.xxx.xxx |
cleaning charge (by 6x6 [TN]) Posted on: Jul 28, 2026 9:00 PM
Message:
Yes.
Define good tenants. --73.19.xxx.xx |
cleaning charge (by David [MO]) Posted on: Jul 29, 2026 12:35 PM
Message:
6 yrs. good. I would return deposit and ask if they knew of anyone looking for a place to rent. The tenant pool is shallow in my area. Good will can pay dividends. --24.117.xx.xxx |
cleaning charge (by J S [CA]) Posted on: Jul 29, 2026 12:48 PM
Message:
I will add. Being flexible with good tenants has paid off for me. A few have come back to rent from me. Some have referred friends.
The opposite is unfortunately also true. You go out of your way for some and then get shafted. --162.204.xxx.xxx |
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