Can A Landlord Require Professional Cleaning? (Find Out Now!)
In my years as a young adult, I have seen some situations where renters proved to be serious pigs. As someone who is kind of a neat freak, it makes sense to me that a landlord should require a professional cleaning once a year. I’ve even seen this in rental agreements. But, is asking you to get professional cleaning legal?
Technically, a landlord cannot require you to get your apartment professionally cleaned. Whether they are allowed to ask you for a mandatory professional cleaning every year depends on the state you live in. A landlord cannot, however, charge you for professional cleaning after you move out.
The nitty gritty details that come with the legality of mandatory professional cleaning can get confusing. Heck, the nuances are enough to make most real estate lawyers’ brows furrow. Let’s jump into it.
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Before We Begin: Yet Another Legal Disclaimer
We might know a lot about renting and landlords, but we are not lawyers. Rental agreements change from state to state. If you have a dispute or want to find out the specifics, it’s best to discuss this matter with a qualified real estate attorney.
Are Landlords Allowed To Require Professional Cleaning?
This depends on both the state and the situation. Generally speaking, a landlord can request that you buy professional cleaning once a year. However, they don’t have the right to require you to show proof in most states. They also cannot really enforce that portion of the agreement in most states where this is actually legal.
You really should consider getting your home professionally cleaned at least once a year, regardless of what your lease says. Landlords generally will do a professional cleanout whenever a tenant moves out of their apartment. So, there’s always that.
Can A Landlord Charge You For Professional Cleaning?
Generally speaking, a landlord cannot charge you for professional cleaning. This is true, even when you are moving out. As long as your home is well-maintained and experienced regular wear and tear, your landlord is the one who will have to foot the bill.
There is only one exception that allows a landlord to charge you for professional cleaning. If you are found to have abused your living space or caused extreme damages to it, then they have a right to hold your security deposit for the amount that they need in damages.
What Is Considered To Be Extreme Damage?
The exact definition of extreme damage will change from state to state. But, the following examples would be reason for a landlord to charge a cleaning fee upon moveout:
- Your pet decided to use the carpet as their personal toilet. While many pet stains can be successfully removed, not all can be. If there seems to be a permanent stain or damage as a result of a pet gone wild, your landlord has the right to paint the walls.
- There are cigarette burns on the carpet. Yep, this is considered to be extreme by most people. This is especially true if there is no smoking allowed in your building.
- You totally neglected your kitchen cleaning duties and now it’s a grease-coated mess. Do you have roaches partying on your countertop? A thick coat of grease from years of cooking your famous stir fry foods? Neglect over the course of years can destroy an otherwise awesome apartment. This could lead to damage charges.
- You and your friends smoked indoors. Smoking is a major no-go in apartment buildings because it damages and stains every part of the apartment. The walls get stained, the carpet gets stained, and even the light fixtures can have problems. Unsurprisingly, smoke is also an allergen. Of course they would need professional cleaning!
Can You Ask Your Landlord To Clean Your Carpet For You?
A landlord is there to help you make sure that your home is in decent repair. This does not mean that your landlord is your maid. Therefore, you cannot ask your landlord to fund or perform regular carpet cleanings for you.
What Should You Do If Your Landlord Charges You For Professional Cleaning?
What you can do depends on your state, your rental agreement, as well as the damage that was done to your apartment. Here’s what we suggest you do:
- First, check your rental agreement. If it says that you need to do an annual cleaning as part of your terms, skip to step four. On the other hand, if this is part of a moveout, you should continue to the next step.
- Ask for an estimate from the company they want to use. If they let you choose the company, you might as well shop around to see the lowest fee that you could have.
- Then, ask for a reason for the cleaning order. Most states will not allow a landlord to charge you for the cleaning that takes place after you move, so that should raise an alarm bell. On the other hand, if they have photographs of serious damage (cat pee, dead animals on carpet, mold), then they may have a case. Ask for this in writing.
- Look at your state and local laws regarding landlord cleaning charges. In approximately half of the US states, your landlord can’t charge you if you kept your apartment in reasonably good condition. When in doubt, just assume that there may be a reason to believe your landlord is pulling a fast one.
- If you have any reason to believe that your landlord is trying to illegally charge you, call a real estate attorney. From there, your real estate attorney will help you avoid the charge and possibly work on a solution for both parties.
Does Refusing To Get Professional Cleaning Void Your Lease?
This is something that we strongly encourage you to talk about with your real estate attorney. Different states will have different laws. However, the general rule of thumb is that refusing to pay a cleaning fee will not void your lease. A better question, of course, would be why you want to stay in a place that would jerk you around like that.
Either way, it often costs less to get a professional cleaning than it would to go to court. When you think about it that way, the answer to what you should do might be clearer. (I strongly suggest just cleaning it, but I’m nice!)
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Related Questions
Can you leave an apartment without cleaning the carpet?
On a national level, it’s the tenant’s responsibility to return the carpet to the original state it was in prior to move-in. Minor exceptions are made for standard wear and tear, of course. The rules don’t say how you restore the carpet, so you can clean it with a vacuum or just hire a professional carpet cleaner. The choice is yours. But, you do need to restore it.If you do not clean your carpet adequately, then your landlord has the right to charge you a fee for the cleaning of the carpet.
How long is an apartment carpet supposed to last?
According to most statistics, apartment-grade (or rental-grade) carpeting is supposed to last at least five years before it needs to be replaced. Many states will have their own guidelines on how frequently carpeting is supposed to be replaced by a landlord. To find out how long your carpet should last in your state, check out your local laws.
When can a landlord charge you for carpet replacement?
If your carpet shows extreme signs of abuse, then cleaning alone may not be enough to restore it to a “proper” level. Carpets that show extreme oil stains, burn marks, and rips are carpets that desperately need replacement. If you destroyed your apartment to the point that your carpet is no longer considered usable, then your landlord has the right to charge you for a new carpet.
Ossiana Tepfenhart is an expert writer, focusing on interior design and general home tips. Writing is her life, and it's what she does best. Her interests include art and real estate investments.
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