Legal Question in Landlord & Tenant Law in California

Re: How much of my deposit can my landlord keep or deduct for wear/tear?

The landlord's not supposed to charge for normal wear and tear. If you think the landlord's retention of a portion of your security deposit is excessive, first discuss it. If you get no satisfaction, you can consider filing a small claims action.

Re: How much of my deposit can my landlord keep or deduct for wear/tear?

Steam cleaning a carpet would likely be something a landlord has to do after a tenant has resided on the premises for even a year. They should not charge you for it and you should point that out to them.