When I moved into my apartment it was very dirty, is the landlord responsible for giving it to me cleaned?

Question

Bathroom is dirty, hadn't been mopped, paint chips on floor. I moved in about a week ago, Can I make him clean it without worry of being evicted or charged?

Answer 1

Most leases require you to leave the place "broom swept" when you move out. The thing is, that's pretty vague, so a lot of times leases will say exactly what needs to be done (for example, my current lease says that, among other things, I'll have the carpet professionally cleaned when I move out).

Odds are, when you move you're going to be responsible for leaving it a lot cleaner than you're getting it now (there's even a chance that your landlord kept part of the previous occupant's deposit since it wasn't cleaned).

I would take pictures of all of it (and make sure they "turn out" and show the dirt and the paint chips) and hopefully have a date time stamp on the pictures (either with your camera imprinting it on the pictures or by taking film in to be developed and having the date on the back of the prints).

Then, call your landlord and tell them that there seems to be some discrepancies with the cleaning job that was done by the previous occupants, and that just so there's a record and no problems later you've taken pictures of the mess, and that you're taking care of it (otherwise you're stuck in the mess until they get around to sending someone), but you just wanted a record of the condition of the property, and just wanted to let them know as well, and to ask if, as a courtesy, would they like a copy of the pictures (but DO NOT give them your only copy).

At the least, this covers your butt when you move, and at best they'll send someone over right away to take care of it, But no, if you signed a lease, this is NOT something they can kick you out for.

You can also write down all the discrepancies (do it quickly though - you usually have 10 days from when you move in), and take 2 copies to the landlord and tell them it's your list of discrepancies (dirt encrusted tub, chipped paint in kitchen, etc). Give them a copy and ask them to sign your copy. They might want to come see the problem for themselves before they sign it.

Answer 2

When renting a house or an apartment you should always have a walk thru with a authorized representive from that company. If the rental property was so dirty I would advise them to put this on the back of my contract stateing they will clean the promises etc.
Then if they refuse to clean it I would hire some to clean it and send them the bill. Also by having a walk thru you write down damages, stains on carpet, items are no fault of yours. Then get them to sign your document etc. At the end of your contract they could come back and make you pay damages that was already there. This happened to me and I was on a 25 year lease in a Commercial Building. jpc

Answer 3

Sad part about it all is you were supposed to check the apartment out first BEFORE you moved in. Now that you're in you have to take care of the mess yourself.
The apartment should have been cleaned out and everything repaired. Any repairs you notice now should be reported to the manager. The sooner you get it looked at the better. Then you won't be charged for anything you did not do.
Good luck

Answer 4

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Answer 5

You should have made him clean it or at least discussed him cleaning it as soon as you moved in. He could now say that you made the mess in the week that you have lived there.

At least you know for next time. Also, take lots of pictures in case he asks for the property to be left in the manner it was found in when you move out. That way he can't keep your deposit.

Answer 6

of course he has to clean it, that's what a security deposit is for. The last tenants gave a security deposit before they moved in, if they left the apartment dirty, they don't get their deposit back, it's used to clean the apartment, paint, put new flooring or shampoo rugs and stuff.

apartment shouldn't be dirty when moving in, it should be clean, you should only have to do topical cleaning (meaning like vacuumning again, wiping counters before putting appliances, etc.) to your degree of cleansiness, and really should be minimal depending on how clean you like it.

Answer 7

He should have given it to you cleaned (especially if he charged the previous tenant for cleaning). However, if it's not a big deal, I'd just go ahead and clean it yourself.

Take photographs of the place as is, and give them to the landlord. When you leave the place, you're expected to leave it as you found it. If there's any dispute over returning your cleaning deposit, you could refer to the pics.

Answer 8

You should have done a walk thru with him, having him put on your rental agreement all the problems. I would have taken pictures before I moved furniture in, and not moved in until it was cleaned. You can ask him to clean it, but IMHO, whenever I moved into a new apartment, I usually cleaned it myself, no matter how clean it was.

Answer 9

Did you read the lease you signed? Did you see the apartment before you moved in? Did you mention something before you moved into the apartment?

*you should have said something before you moved in
*but California law would make him liable if he told you that it was going to get cleaned...no he can't charge you

Answer 10

Take pictures (to document the condition), clean it yourself, and send the landlord a bill for the cleaning supplies and your time (and then deduct the amount from your first rent payment).