STYLETHREAD -- LET'S TALK SHOP!

member · Hermes

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Farrah · Marc Jacobs

Can my landlord get away with this?

kenzie · Chanel

If it's stated in your lease, then you have to have them cleaned or they'll take it out of your security deposit. But they should have told you that up front. I am actually in a lease right now that requires that the tenant have the carpets professionally cleaned when they move out. However, I'm pretty sure that the tenant before me never did it and neither did the landlord because the carpet was nasty when I moved in (but that's another story).

Anyway, bottom line- check your lease.

-- Edited by kenzie at 15:59, 2007-04-27

theotherjess · Chanel

Your situation might be different because of the windows situation, but I have to have my carpets professionally cleaned too--it's in my lease. I don't know if this is standard or not though.

janey831 · Kate Spade

I don't know about Illinois, but in California, the landlord is required to have the carpets professionally cleaned before any new tenant moves in--unless there is an excessive amount of soiling--at which point a portion would be deducted from your deposit.

Here is a clip from this website:

http://www.tenantunion.uiuc.edu/hb15.html

Section 12.5-19. Interest: If a security deposit of $100.00 or more is held for six months or longer, the landlord must pay annual interest to the tenant, computed from the date the deposit was first paid and due within 30 days after the end of each twelve month rental period. The rate of interest required is equal to the interest paid by the largest bank in Champaign County on minimum deposit passbook savings accounts as of the June 30 immediately prior to the lease starting. A landlord who fails or refuses to pay the required interest can be sued by the tenant for an amount equal to the deposit itself, plus court costs and attorney's fees.Section 12.5-20. Refund: A landlord may not withhold money from a deposit for the cost of cleaning or repairs unless the landlord provides the tenant with an itemized statement of damages, including actual costs for each item, and copies of paid receipts for the work done, within 30 days after the tenant vacates the premises.If a landlord fails to provide this statement, the deposit must be refunded in full within 45 days after the tenant vacated. A landlord who fails to comply with these requirements can be sued for twice the amount of the deposit plus attorney's fees. These requirements, which under state law apply only to properties with 5 or more units, apply to ALL rental properties in the City of Urbana.Section 12.5-20 (D). Decorating: The costs of decorating, including painting and carpet cleaning, may not be deducted from the deposit unless the walls or carpets are damaged beyond normal wear.

-- Edited by janey831 at 17:11, 2007-04-27

luckylily · Gucci

Definitely check your lease and your local laws.

Every place I've rented has required a carpet cleaning fee, so there has been an automatic deduction from my deposit.

blubirde · Chanel

It sounds like every place is different but I'd laugh at a landlord here in Texas who told me to have my carpets cleaned. That's certainly his/her job upon move out. At least in Texas. I'd argue it no matter what if I were you, given your window situation.

member · Hermes

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Mandy · Kate Spade

Can my landlord get away with this?

HeatherLynn · Gucci

I agree with everyone else. Check your lease, but regardless of what it says I don't think you should have to pay to have them cleaned. If they can't do upkeep on your apartment why should you? =) Good luck!

Dizzy · Marc Jacobs

Having the carpets professionally cleaned is a common requirement in my crappy college town (where I'm paying as much as I would pay in downtown D.C.! To live in B.F.E.)

subwolley · Kate Spade

I think if it's in your lease that you have to clean the carpet, you're pretty much screwed. I think the landlord didn't really care about the windows because she knew you would have to clean the carpet anyway. Call the tenant union and see if they can help. However, I hope you have some sort of documentation of how long the window situation has been going on. I would continue to fight the issue with the landlord and make her realize it's her fault she didn't fix the windows, therefore her carpet needs cleaning.