California Rental Carpet Cleaning Law

California law does not specify when landlords must replace carpeting in rental units.

California rental carpet cleaning law.

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. 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. In disputes over security deposits courts have often considered basic carpet cleaning to be part of normal wear and tear. Tenants are responsible for all damage they cause and any damage caused by their pets or guests.

The expenses of cleaning must also be reasonable. Check your local and state laws to be sure that there are no additional requirements. It does clarify that worn or aged but otherwise undamaged carpet does not affect a property s habitability. Once you learn whether or not you as a long term tenant will pay those costs you can.

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. California law also permits a landlord to deduct for the repair of damage to the rental unit including carpet damage as long as the damage is beyond regular normal wear and tear which is permitted by law. According to california law landlords can only charge tenants for carpet and paint under certain conditions. Additionally a tenant may be charged for cleaning where the tenant has caused filth beyond ordinary use.

Even if the landlord spent money deep cleaning the place whatever that means if you left it clean no deduction is permitted. Generally a professional cleaning company can clean an empty unit for 200 including shampooing the carpet. Because carpet cleaning is part of the overall turnover costs that is usually covered by the landlords. 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.