Are Tenants Responsible For Carpet Cleaning In California

Landlord s responsibilities in california regarding appliances and carpets.

Are tenants responsible for carpet cleaning in california.

Under california law unless the carpet is visibly damaged and that damage is not the result of normal wear and tear the landlord cannot hold the tenant responsible for the damage or the cost of replacement for the carpet. For instance an inordinate amount of pet hair or a urine smell left in the carpet would be beyond normal wear and tear as these are avoidable conditions and beyond normal use. If a tenant resides for less than a year then they are responsible for cleaning the carpet but if they are there for more than a year then the owner is responsible. A landlord has the responsibility to make a rental property habitable and california law specifies what a property must.

Additionally tenants cannot be held responsible for defects in the carpet that existed before they moved in. At american heritage we started using a one year time limit as the determining factor and we have never had a legal problem enforcing this rule. Under california landlord tenant guidelines a carpet s useful life is eight to 10 years. Charging a security deposit for carpet cleaning and painting depends on how long the tenant occupied the premises and in what condition the walls and carpet were left.

Additionally a tenant may be charged for cleaning where the tenant has caused filth beyond ordinary use. Below is information that is listed by the california department of consumer affairs www dca ca gov regarding deductions on these specific items. However if the tenant fails to do so landlords can t deduct the standard cleaning from the deposit. The accompanying note cites carpet cleaning as an example of an impermissible basis for withholding a portion of a security deposit.

My conclusion that carpet cleaning provisions are valid does not affect the prohibition against deducting carpet cleaning expenses from a tenant s security deposit as a means of enforcing such provisions. In california a lease exists whenever there is an oral or written agreement to exchange rent for inhabiting a property. This would mean the tenant is required to get the carpets professionally cleaned before leaving the apartment. Some landlords include carpet cleaning responsibility as part of the lease agreement.

Can landlord charge for carpet cleaning.