Can I deduct a cleaning fee from the deposit if it's not specified in lease

My tenant moved out and left behind a dirty apartment which took me 2 days to deep clean to make it presentable. I know it’s not unusual that landlords request cleaning fees, but it’s not specifically mentioned in our lease. All it says is to return the apartment in original condition. Since they were the first tenant it was all new and meticulously cleaned appliances and cabinets. Also, they scratched a brand new acrylic bathtub and stainless steel countertop with abrasive scratch pads, scratched and dented the wood floors in a few areas, and corroded the inside of the bathroom vanity drawer with drain-o. They claim it’s all ordinary wear and tear, but I look at it as negligent behavior. What do people do? Deduct a flat fee, try to get quotes for repairs?

firsthome

in General Discussion 6 years and 8 months ago

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mozeeatupu | 6 years and 8 months ago

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Learning the hard way is still learning, which never ends for a LL

resident2 | 6 years and 8 months ago

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You are lucky they left on time not owing any rent. (I hope)
You need to clean before the next tenant moves in anyway, even if they had left it clean. If you said that they had allowed a major roach problem to take over, that would be grounds for exterminating services to be deducted. Any damages that do not require replacement cannot be deducted, scratches is “normal” ware & tear.

firsthome | 6 years and 8 months ago

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Thanks for your insights. It definitely hurts to have your first tenant ruin a brand new fixtures in an apartment you spent over a year renovating meticulously. The lease did have the standard provision for floor coverings, which the tenant did not install. But how do you hold them responsible for deep scratches in the wood floors, which should have been protected by carpet?

angelique.m.west | 6 years and 8 months ago

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Put it in the lease next time around. As for now, you are stuck. What would you charge them anyhow? $100? $200? My point: It’s not like you’d make a ton of cash from charging them. Besides, “clean” is subjective.

eman134 | 6 years and 8 months ago

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welcome to the wonderful world of being a landlord…. the standard for renters is to return the apartment in ‘broom clean’ condition…not immaculate brand new. That said, unless you sprcified that no abrasive cleaners were allowed and no drano could be used, it is definitely normal wear and tear. Man up. This is why you get to make money renting.I