Carpets are one of the largest household expenditures that many people take for granted on a daily basis. They’re used daily by family and friends, and they’re even trod upon by strangers. But carpets are also a major expense as replacing or cleaning them can be quite expensive.
That being said, landlords often pass those costs along to the tenants, which can lead to disputes between the two parties. However, the question still hands in the balance – Who’s to pay for carpet cleaning?
Who’s to Pay for Carpet Cleaning
Who is supposed to pay for the carpet’s maintenance? The tenant or the landlord. The popular notion is that it’s the tenant’s responsibility as they are the ones using it.
An equal number may say it’s the landlord’s responsibility as they are the ones getting paid for their house every month by the tenant. Despite different statements, it all boils down to responsibilities.
Landlords Responsibilities
As tenants owe landlords rent every month, landlords have a few key responsibilities towards tenants.
Landlords are bound to,
- Keep the receipt of their carpet, which is proof of the carpet’s aging.
- Clean the space after a tenant leaves and before a new tenant arrives.
- Provide the tenant with a carpet that is cleaned and hygienic. The carpet should be in a condition that will not harm or cause any health issues to the tenant.
- Keep a photograph of the house especially carpets before a new tenant arrives which is proof of what condition the carpet was in before the tenant arrived.
- Give the tenant some commercial cleaning agent to keep the carpet clean.
Tenants Responsibilities
As for tenants, it may seem they have fewer responsibilities since they don’t own the carpets. However, tenants are liable for quite a lot when it comes to maintenance.
Tenants are responsible for –
- Averting damage to the carpets.
- Reporting any damages to the Landlords.
- Keeping the place clean and tidy
- Cleaning up everything when moving out.
- Compensating for damages caused by themselves
- Conducting regular minimal maintenance on carpets
Can Landlord Charge Tenant for This?
When a Landlord Can’t Charge Tenant for Carpet Cleaning?
When it comes to carpet cleaning, a landlord can’t charge a tenant for regular tear and wear. It’s just not a general statement but a state law by the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection; an owner can’t impose any sum on a tenant for regular carpet cleaning regardless of what is mentioned in the lease.
If an owner does so and the tenant takes this matter to court, the owner might have to pay twice the amount of what he had previously charged the tenant. A landlord has to clean the space after a tenant leaves and has to offer a cleaned and habitable space to the new tenant.
When a Landlord Can Charge Tenant for Carpet Cleaning?
Renting a space for a living can be much less expensive than owning one. But renting comes with some responsibilities. The first and most important responsibility is you have to ensure the space is exactly in the same condition as it was when you moved into the apartment.
The same conditions apply regarding carpets. Now the question is, if I lived in an apartment for more than 5 years or almost 10 years what can I do then? The carpet will not be the same. Will I have to pay for professional cleaning or carpet replacement?
Answer is, that you don’t have to pay for any normal wear and tear. But anything which goes beyond normal wear and tear is an expense a tenant has to incur.
Though a landlord can’t charge a tenant for regular carpet maintenance or cut any amount from the tenant’s deposit. A landlord can make a tenant pay if the carpet is damaged beyond normal wear and tear. Such as stubborn stains on a large surface or burns on the carpet.
Otherwise, nothing is included in the cash receipt of the tenant. So the only responsibility a tenant has towards the house he or she rented is, taking care of everything within the house and not damaging anything, which is the same for carpets.
Normal Wear and Tear vs Tenant Damages
Did you know that according to a survey 23.8 percent of renters think a landlord has unfairly withheld part of their security deposit?
It’s important to mention this because –
This is where landlords and tenants never seem to agree. Now let’s make one thing clear, landlords can’t just withhold any amount they want from the tenant security deposit. This means they can’t dispose of it as they see fit there are laws in place regarding the use of security deposits.
For example, landlords must return the tenant security deposit in part or in full within 21 days of them vacating the property. If a deduction was made landlords must provide proof of costs.
Now, the law allows landlords to deduct from the security deposit to cover the cost of damages caused by a tenant. But landlords cannot deduct normal wear and tear of the tenancy or the expected depreciation of a property which is considered normal.
Normal wear and tear of a rental unit are defined as the physical deterioration that occurs with normal use. This does not include your tenants’ negligence, carelessness, accident with or abuse of the premises fixtures, or channel property.
Normal wear and tear is deterioration or depreciation in value by the ordinary and reasonable use signs of normal wear and tear include,
- Worn electrical switches
- Freight pull strings on blinds
- Lightly scuffed hardwood floors
- Loose caulking
- Peeling wallpaper
- Faded curtains
- Dirty window screens
Now, what is considered damage caused by tenants?
When a tenant causes damage beyond the normal use of your property, a landlord has the right to charge the tenant for the damages.
These include damages inflated by your tenants themselves, their guests, or their pets. Here are some examples of normal wear and tear versus damage,
- Matted carpeting versus burnt or stained carpet
- A reasonable number of small nail holes in the wall versus large holes in drywall fingerprints
- Faded paint versus large stains ripped wallpaper or broken moldings
Please keep in mind that if you deduct part of your tenant’s deposit to fix damages you must provide an account for the expenses, along with receipts. Something else to keep in mind is that, if the tenant disagrees with you, they may file a claim against the landlord in court.
To prevent legal issues make sure the damages don’t stem from neglected maintenance to your rental property for example,
- The wall behind the door is missing in the doorstop and now there’s a hole in the wall where the doorknob caused damage.
- Leaking or dripping pipes can cause damage quickly and destroy cabinets and floors.
- Windows which are not securely shut can allow water from outside to damage woodwork and flooring as well.
Any damages that could have been prevented by the landlord will certainly find this favor by a judge. Normal wear and tear are often determined by the length of tenancy coupled with the usage life of assets on your property.
Here’s an example:
A carpet’s usage life is anywhere between eight to ten years. If you haven’t replaced your carpet for eight years, you shouldn’t charge the tenant who lived on your property for two years, the total cost of replacing the carpet. If your tenant has occupied the unit for three years it’s reasonable to expect a fresh coat of paint and a deep cleaning of carpets once they move out.
At the end of the day property owners typically bear the cost of normal wear and tear maintenance.
Conclusion
Carpet is one of the most frequently cleaned items in a home, but few consumers realize that their landlord may be responsible for cleaning it. Most leases include a clause requiring the tenant to pay for professional carpet cleaning services when necessary. Landlords may also be required to clean the carpets if they are damaged or stained.
However, tenants may be able to negotiate lower fees or even pay for professional cleaning services on their own, depending on their lease and the specific circumstances of the carpets.
In the end, it’s clear that landlords bear the burden of carpet cleaning costs. Even the most dilapidated buildings are unlikely to contain enough mold, mildew, and other stains to justify the expense of a professional cleaning.
On the other hand, tenants are usually on the hook for any damage caused by a cleaning service. This places a financial burden on tenants, but it also protects landlords from having to pay for damages that weren’t caused by the tenant.
