 Cleaning Charges (by Sheryl [ID]) May 17, 2008 4:57 PM
 Cleaning Charges (by Irish [MD]) May 17, 2008 5:12 PM
Cleaning Charges (by Smokowna [MD]) May 17, 2008 5:27 PM
Cleaning Charges (by cpim [OH]) May 18, 2008 4:22 AM
Cleaning Charges (by T.T. [MA]) May 18, 2008 5:47 AM
Cleaning Charges (by Virden [OH]) May 18, 2008 7:32 AM
Cleaning Charges (by Tony [PA]) May 18, 2008 9:15 PM
Cleaning Charges (by Landlord/Tenant Services [ID]) Jul 28, 2008 4:40 PM
Cleaning Charges (by Sheryl [ID]) Posted on: May 17, 2008 4:57 PM
Message:
Can you have a predetermined cleaning charge list or do you have to send the resident the cleaning bill after they have moved out? What are somethings you other landlords do? --72.24.xxx.xxx |
Cleaning Charges (by Irish [MD]) Posted on: May 17, 2008 5:12 PM
Message:
Actual costs charged by our cleaning lady...
--70.16.xxx.xx |
Cleaning Charges (by Smokowna [MD]) Posted on: May 17, 2008 5:27 PM
Message:
A number of people spell out cleaning charges in advance. This list is included with the lease.
It would seem that "carpeting" should find its way to the top of those lists. --96.240.xxx.xxx |
Cleaning Charges (by cpim [OH]) Posted on: May 18, 2008 4:22 AM
Message:
This is what I have in my leases:
The following is a schedule of fees Resident will be responsible for if the premise is vacated in unsatisfactory condition (list subject to change without notice):
• Carpet Cleaning $150
• Painting $450
• Trash Removal $100
• Wall Repair $75
• Refrigerator Cleaning $75
• Stove Cleaning $75
• Plumbing Repairs (stopped-up drains/toilets, frozen water pipes) $175
• Broken Window Glass $175
--72.69.xxx.xx |
Cleaning Charges (by T.T. [MA]) Posted on: May 18, 2008 5:47 AM
Message:
Giving a list of preset prices essentially gives them the choice of doing certain things or leaving it for you to do. For example, if they know that it's only going to cost them $100 for trash removal, they might decide that it's worth it to them to leave the mountains of unwanted junk and/or trash instead of hauling it to the curb. They might decide that it's worth &75 to leave that crusty, stinky refrigerator/stove alone. You might see a couple extra bucks, but *you" will have to do a bunch of extra work.
I've found that sending a move-out letter that explains what I expect (cleaning-wise) and simply states that any excess cleaning/junk removal will be performed by a cleaning company or trash hauling service and that the full amount will be deducted from the deposit. The letter's prefaced by an explanation that I'd much rather return the full deposit to them and that the best way of assuring that will happen is to follow the checklist of cleaning items.
By wording it so that it appears they get rewarded for cleaning up after themselves (instead of getting punished for not doing it), they're more motivated to actually spend a bit of time cleaning. Who doesn't want to get money back, especially at moving time when money's going to be tight?
I've found that since I started doing that, units are returned as clean as they were at move-in (or darned close to it). It's been years since I've had to scrub an appliance, floor, wall, toilet, or tub, and I'm no longer getting stuck with unwanted furniture.
Also...some states do not allow a LL to charge for their own labor, so a preset price list could potentially be argued in court and, if done successfully, could result in the LL getting fined for mishandling the security deposit. You'd have to check to see what your state laws allow. --71.174.xxx.xx |
Cleaning Charges (by Virden [OH]) Posted on: May 18, 2008 7:32 AM
Message:
How can you estimate or charge for something you have not seen? After you have the keys to an empty unit you can asses what needs to be done, actual damages=actual repair cost. Photos are your best friend, have the tenant in the move in photos so when judge judy looks at them standing there she will not have to grill anyone about who took that picture of who standing next to the clean stovetop in your unit. Another set of moveout photos, on a disk in the file for that unit - dated so as not to mix up with the new tenant photos after the repairs were done. --99.128.xx.xx |
Cleaning Charges (by Tony [PA]) Posted on: May 18, 2008 9:15 PM
Message:
Some states do not allow a landlord to charge for his own labor but ONLY if it's not in your agreement.
If two people agree that say, $25 per hour will be charged for certain things (and put it in writing), a court does not get in the way of two people making a private agreement, they enforce it. --68.83.x.xxx |
Cleaning Charges (by Landlord/Tenant Services [ID]) Posted on: Jul 28, 2008 4:40 PM
Message:
It is ok to include a predetermined itemized cleaning expenses (a renter can expect to pay) at the inception of a lease agreement.
it is further ok to do a proper security close out at lease end and include all invoices from vendors that were related to the dispersement of tenants security funds.
It is not ok to charge a tenant an obscene monthly cleaning fee if you a landlord was horribly inconvienced, and are now angry they left pad in bad shape.
It has been found as a landlord that 10.00 hr. plus cleaning supplies is reasonable for a landlord to charge as it is a landlords lot to experience some sweat equity in landlord-ing responsibilities.
It is not reasonable to charge 25.00 an hour for cleaning and not justifiable and a judge is not likely to award this type of hourly fee in a court preceding.
Good luck and happy Landlord-ing --68.238.xxx.xxx |
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