Can the landlord charge me for deodorizing if he has replaced the carpet and can he charge me for maid service after moving out?
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Can the landlord charge me for deodorizing if he has replaced the carpet and can he charge me for maid service after moving out?
Former landlord is charging me for carpet, deodorizing and maid service after I moved out. I have accepted responsibility for the carpet since I had pets and failed to make note of any existing problems with the carpet when I moved in.
Asked on February 1, 2012 under Real Estate Law, Georgia
Answers:
SJZ, Member, New York Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney
Answered 12 years ago | Contributor
A landlord cannot charge a tenant for the ordinary end-of-tenancy cleaning, or for normal wear and tear. The landlord can charge for either damage or cleaning which is beyond the norm--such as deodorizing a carpet with pet smells. Therefore, if you had pets, it seems as if he could charge you for the carpet; as for the maid service, that depends on the facts: did you leave a more-than-usual mess, which would require bringing in an outside cleaning service (if one would not normally be brought in) and/or paying a cleaning service more than usual (if the landlord generally brought them) to clean up? If so, you could be charged the extra expense.
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