California Rental Carpet Cleaning Law

In disputes over security deposits courts have often considered basic carpet cleaning to be part of normal wear and tear.

California rental carpet cleaning law.

Requiring a tenant to pay for carpet cleaning in advance of moving also will not work any payments in excess of rent are considered security deposits atcp 134 02 and so withholding that money would also be considered a withholding from a security deposit and therefore illegal absent unusual damage. The expenses of cleaning must also be reasonable. In most cases landlords should not charge tenants for a standard carpet cleaning. Even if the landlord spent money deep cleaning the place whatever that means if you left it clean no deduction is permitted.

Tenants are responsible for all damage they cause and any damage caused by their pets or guests. According to california law landlords can only charge tenants for carpet and paint under certain conditions. Once you learn whether or not you as a long term tenant will pay those costs you can. 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 landlord can dictate the method of cleaning the carpet then they can dictate the manner that any other part of or the whole premises is cleaned. Additionally a tenant may be charged for cleaning where the tenant has caused filth beyond ordinary use. It does clarify that worn or aged but otherwise undamaged carpet does not affect a property s habitability. California law does not specify when landlords must replace carpeting in rental units.

California civil code 1950 5 allows landlords to use the security deposit to repair replace or restore personal property only if the rental agreement specifically authorizes this application. There is no legal reason to single out the. Generally a professional cleaning company can clean an empty unit for 200 including shampooing the carpet. On the other hand the landlord needing to call in a professional cleaning crew because the tenant didn t clean and allowed bugs to take over the property would not be the landlord s responsibility.