Your landlord cannot legally deduct from your security deposit even if.
Can i be charged for carpet cleaning.
A landlord cannot charge for routine cleaning.
I moved out almost a year ago and received a letter stating i owed money for carpet cleaning services that non of my other roommates were charged for.
My dog only lived there a few months never went to the bathroom in the house and never ruined the carpet in anyway.
In disputes over security deposits courts have often considered basic carpet cleaning to be part of normal wear and tear.
So can a landlord charge for carpet cleaning.
The answer is both yes and no.
According to the department of agriculture trade and consumer protection landlords cannot charge for routine carpet cleaning during the lease or from a security deposit no matter what your lease says.
A landlord cannot routinely charge each tenant for cleaning carpets drapes walls or windows in order to prepare the rental unit for the next tenancy.
Also normal wear and tear to carpets drapes and other furnishings cannot be charged against a tenant s security deposit normal wear and tear includes simple wearing down of carpet and drapes because of normal use or aging and includes moderate dirt or spotting.
A landlord can charge for cleaning if the carpet is excessively dirty and or damaged.
But when it comes to a carpet that is badly stained or damaged a landlord can charge a tenant for cleaning costs or even to replace the entire carpet if it s that badly damaged or stained and they can do it by withholding all or part of the security deposit.
Because carpet cleaning is part of the overall turnover costs that is usually covered by the landlords.