Legal Question in Real Estate Law in California

Tenants Rights

I share a townhouse with 3 other people including the landlord. When I moved out she had the entire house steam cleaned and is charging me $100 for my portion of the steam cleaning. Further, she says there are stains in the carpet that wont come out and is charging me to have the carpet replaced. Can she do all this? I thought the landlord was responsible for the carpets being cleaned. It has been over a month since I moved out and have received nothing back from the deposit. Please help!


Asked on 8/06/02, 3:48 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys
Judith Deming Deming & Associates

Re: Tenants Rights

A landlord is only responsible to provde clean carpets before you move in. Now she is cleaning for the next tenant, and yes, she can do that. $100.00 is not a great deal, and technically, if there were bad stains, she could have sought to charge you with cost of replacement carpet. A landlord has 21 days to provide an accounting and a return of any monies owing after you vacate; however, she only needs to send it to the last known address.

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Answered on 8/08/02, 2:34 pm


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