Can the landlord charge me for deodorizing if he has replaced the carpet and can he charge me for maid service after moving out?
Question Details:
Former landlord is charging me for carpet, deodorizing and maid service after I moved out. I have accepted responsibility for the carpet since I had pets and failed to make note of any existing problems with the carpet when I moved in.
A landlord cannot charge a tenant for the ordinary end-of-tenancy cleaning, or for normal wear and tear. The landlord can charge for either damage or cleaning which is beyond the norm--such as deodorizing a carpet with pet smells. Therefore, if you had pets, it seems as if he could charge you for the carpet; as for the maid service, that depends on the facts: did you leave a more-than-usual mess, which would require bringing in an outside cleaning service (if one would not normally be brought in) and/or paying a cleaning service more than usual (if the landlord generally brought them) to clean up? If so, you could be charged the extra expense.


Are you a lawyer?