Tenant Getting Charged for Carpet Cleaning on Spotless Carpet

[Ryan Moody]

Hello,

I am currently a tenant in an apartment complex in Fort Myers, FL. I am an avid listener of the regular bigger pockets podcast and the bigger pockets money podcast. I have a couple questions about what our apartment is trying to charge us for.

We move out in two days and they did a pre inspection. The pre inspection they found had no problems at all. Not surprised as it’s just me and my wife who live here and we have no pets, are very clean, and don’t smoke. They are claiming that we must have the carpets professionally cleaned before move out or else they will charge us for it.

Keep in mind, this is a short term lease, we have only been here for 7 months and again, there is not a single stain, or any damage at all. If they want to clean the carpet it would be a normal routine cleaning, not because of any excessive damage. There is also no addendum, attachment, or provision to the lease that states we should pay for this if the carpet is clean. I have no problem cleaning it but they demand that we have a receipt from a professional cleaning company instead of doing it on our own.

I am not a rental property investor yet. But I’m working to that point. After being a tenant, there’s an obligation I feel as a landlord to not nickel and dime people, especially for things that are not tenant responsibilities.

What should I do? What are your thoughts? And what legal documentation should I know about to have some ammo?

[Justin Hammerle]

@Ryan Moody - if its not on the lease in any form, you haven no obligation to get the carpets professionally cleaned.  I would just be a little concerned about my deposit and what type of language is used with regard to when they have the right to keep it.