The carpets weren't shampooed when we moved in (we did it ourselves because they were so dirty). He also didn't repaint any walls before the move-in. The place is already so much cleaner now than before and he is telling me I need to provide receipts from professional cleaners for both the windows and carpets. Can he do this?
2006-07-07 12:16:20 · 7 answers · asked by Courtenay B 2 in Politics & Government ➔ Law & Ethics
You need to look at your lease, and your move-in inspection. There are a lot of questions that need to be answered before anyone can honestly answer that question. Do you have pictures from when you moved in, the judge loves to see dated pictures, like they say, a picture is worth a thousand words. Always do a move-in inspestion before you move anything in. Take pictures too. If that landlord does not like that , don't move in there. Talk to the courthouse and ask them who you can talk to about this, they have a special officer of the court that deals with this kind of problem.
Yes, you can be charged for the carpets , if they were done when you moved in, living there a year has nothing to do with it, you can live there 5 years and still be charged for cleaning. Normal wear and tear has nothing to do with a carpet being dirty, wear and tear , doesnt say anything about dirt, I get people trying to tell me that I have to replace the carpets between each tenant, bull, why would I buy 20 year carpets then. And the reason that they want them professionally cleaned is because people that do them themselves can either put too much soap in or not enough, and then they soak the carpet and not extract the water enough and it stays wet allowing mold or mildew. Professionals also spray the carpet for any type of mold or mildew.
Painting can be charged also with a yearly % being taken off, up to 6 years. I dont charge after 5.That's why I buy high quality paint. Otherwise I'd buy my paint at a swap meet. Windows being professionally cleaned is really pushing it, it is obvious, either they are clean or they are not.
Ive been in this buisness quite a few years so what I tell you is what I do, day to day. It's too bad that thier are landlords out there that do this to people and make us all look bad. I have several tenants that have moved out and yet they have moved back, so we are not all bad. I hope that this helps you. Also I am a member of C.A.A. , California Apartment Assoc. So my advice is, if you need legal advice get it from a legal representitive in your area, not off of the internet. You may get opinions that you may want to hear, but, that doesnt change the law.
P.S. I hope you put this guy in his place
2006-07-07 12:36:05 · answer #1 · answered by THOMAS 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Nope. You are required to return the rental in the same condition it was delivered to you, minus any normal wear and tear.
He cannot require professional cleaning of the carpets or windows and he can't charge for painting if you were there more than a year.
Check with your local tenants council for details and you should be able to look up the codes (laws) on the Internet, or go buy the California tenant-landlord handbook by Nolo Press (you might find it at the library).
Hopefully you took pictures and completed and inspection inventory when you moved in. (I've learned to do this the hard way) AND when you move out DEMAND that you walk through together. Take pictures beforehand (make sure he knows you have them) and a video while you walk through together. Ask him to sign off on the walk through list and get a copy immediately (take a photo if he can't copy on the spot, or be prepared with carbon paper).
Usually once they know you're not going to put up with any crap, they back down. The courts usually favor the tenants in CA.
2006-07-07 12:40:01 · answer #2 · answered by Lori A 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Fight it,
California landlords get away with murder,
Do you have pictures OR did you do a walkthru check list before and after, If not hard to prove....
Been there got screwed by that before, NOw photo documentation before and after, RULES!
2006-07-07 12:20:46 · answer #3 · answered by Self-Righteous. 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
No, if I remember my California rental law-- you either have to leave it in the condition you got it, or just in a clean state. But I know that he CANNOT make you professionally clean it.
Tell him he'll hear from your lawyer or from the state of CA.
2006-07-07 12:21:55 · answer #4 · answered by Lisa the Pooh 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
reread your contract....if it wasn't stated there, then you don't need to do it....but usually tenants is required to shampoo, clean their windows, n repaint walls to original color before they leave... if you don't do this, your landlord will take the expenses off your deposit....in other words, you lose your deposit.
2006-07-07 12:22:59 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you want to get your deposit back, and you don't feel like getting in a fight over it, get a fake receipt. You must know somebody who knows somebody in the biz. good luck.
2006-07-07 12:23:20 · answer #6 · answered by L-Rob 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It depends on what it says on your lease.
2006-07-07 12:19:47 · answer #7 · answered by Kristina B 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋