Tenant Damage to Stove

[David Henderson]

Looking for a little help on this one. Can I charge my tenant for a new stove due to damages and grease build up? They lived in the rental for 3 years and the stove was near perfect when they moved in. Also, can I still charge for carpet cleaning?

One last question. In California, the landlord must provide a refund of the security deposit minus deductions within 21 days of the termination of the lease. If I sent the refund via certified mail on the 20th day, but it was not delivered to the tenant until the 23rd day, am I out of compliance? Can the tenant request their entire deposit back and force me to pursue action through small claims court?