State Specific Question About: ALASKA (AK) Saturday was moving day and she wanted for me to do the walk through. I entered the apartment on Friday and no furniture had been removed. The refrigerator was full and there was clothing and stuff everywhere. I politely told her that it would be best that we conduct the inspection after the movers had done their thing and she had a chance to clean. She said the place was clean. I told her that it was impossible for me to determine that and that I would provide her with a guide list to cleaning the apartment. Saturday morning I get a knock on the door that she was ready for the inspection. All the furniture was gone but again nothing was clean. She said that she spent 6 hours cleaning and that she wasn’t going to make the place immaculate.

I told her that I entrusted a clean apartment and I expect a clean apartment. I opened up the oven and it was brown and cruddy inside, never been cleaned. I also pointed out that the cabinets, and the bathroom needed cleaning. She then got angry and stated that she was not a dirty person and that most of the stuff I was talking about was my responsibility because she never used them. I said then how do you explain the tub and toilet? She then said anyway, in the past when I rent an apartment, the landlord gives me a clean unit. That means it’s your responsibility not mine. I then said well, every time your landlord has to clean after a tenant the security deposit gets dinged. I charge 25.00/hr and you will be getting an itemized statement stating were your deposit went. I knew I should argue with people like this but I couldn’t help trying to knock some sense into her. Finally she agreed to sign the checklist and wrote in a comment that there was no damage to the apartment and that cleaning was the LL’s responsibility not hers.

Wow tunnel vision/attitude.

Dealing with this tenants SD accounting I would probably quote some code so she doesn't go off half cocked.

"She then said anyway, in the past when I rent an apartment, the landlord gives me a clean unit."

Sounds to me like her MO is to live in a unit until it is filthy, then move on to the next "victim".

I had a similar situation this past summer.

I've learned not to say much. She knew what the deal was and started explaining how she had spent all day cleaning, which really meant she spent all her time removing her stuff.

These types don't want to hear it and truly believe that they are right. Whatever I want to say will not make a difference in their thinking.

The tenant was the one living there: Ergo, the tenant is the one who is responsible for any and all dirt.

We all say this -- but you can easily get a judge that decides that dirt is, to him of course, "normal wear and tear." Happens all the time -- I've read that exact thing from numerous LLs on this site.

So, we can say it all we want -- but it won't make a difference if a judge decides that dirt comes from normal wear and tear.

- John...

When tenant said "she spent 6 hours cleaning and that she wasn’t going to make the place immaculate." that would have been the end of the conversation for me.

Of course she would have already recieved my "Move Out Condition" letter/checklist and list of charges for cleaning that will be assessed if she does not clean (she got this and signed for it when she took possesion of the property).

Security Deposit will be nicked for the chages, and is she wants to sue, I'll see her in court.

Reminds me of the time the ex-tenant sent me a scathing letter telling me I was too lazy to clean the place and he was thinking of suing me for the withholds on his security deposit.

I had two rolls of pictures,a VCT tile and mini blinds caked in layers of gunk. My only thought at the letter was to laugh and think, "YES - PLEASE SUE ME" as I was too generous in what I charged him. If he sued me, he was going to leave court owing me more.