Can cleaning supplies, light bulbs, cleaning gutters be deducted from my security deposit?
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Can cleaning supplies, light bulbs, cleaning gutters be deducted from my security deposit?
Asked on October 29, 2012 under Real Estate Law, Texas
Answers:
SJZ, Member, New York Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney
Answered 12 years ago | Contributor
Normal end of tenancy cleaning (preparing for the next tenant) should not be deducted from the outgoing tenant's security deposit. But extraordinary cleaning costs may be: so if, for example, you spilled red wine, left grease on walls or the stove in the kitchen, hadn't cleaned the bathtub ever, so there was mold, etc., cleaning supplies for those beyond-normal stains could be deducted. The cost of lightbulbs could be deducted not if they burned out at the end of their lifetime, but if you or a family member or guest broke them. And if you were supposed to, under your lease, clean gutters but did not, or somehow caused the gutters to become blocked, then in that instance, gutter cleaning costs could be deducted.
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