Can a landlord charge me for extra days of rent for cleaning after my lease is over?

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Can a landlord charge me for extra days of rent for cleaning after my lease is over?

Our lease ended on the 16th and he wanted us to move out earlier so he could start repairs and cleaning. We were unable to leave any earlier and now we are being charged 7 days of rent because it took his workers 7 days to repair and clean the house afterwards. He claims he had people ready to move in by the 18th but is unable to because we left the house in a terrible state.

Asked on August 31, 2011 California

Answers:

FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney

Answered 12 years ago | Contributor

Under California law, a landlord cannot charge his or her tenant extra rent because the tenant did not move out earlier than agreed to. The tenant is required to pay rent for all days that he or she is occupying the rented unit.

For the landlord to try and charge the tenant for days the landlord had to clean the unit formerly rented beyond the agreed upon and paid move out date has no legal basis. If you left on the final day that you had paid rent for even though the landlord wanted you out earlier for cleaning purposes, you are under no obligation to pay for "cleaning days" by the landlord for your former unit.

Cleaning a rental after a tenant has moved is the costs of doing business by the landlord.

Good question.


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