Advice needed on tenant end of lease

[NetWareHead]

I have a tenant who has been in my property for 3 years with no incident and on time rent. He won't be renewing his tenancy since he just purchased a house and his lease ends on end of November. I have it written into my lease that the tenant cleans the rugs. The exact wording is "Tenant agrees to clean carpets prior to vacating". The tenant wanted to move in with a cat and I agreed to this if he agreed to the cleaning.

I don't know if this will be a problem yet but when I inserted that into the lease, I meant him to get a professional carpet cleaning service. I know I should have spelled it out clearer in the lease but it is what it is now.

What recourse do I have if he just vacuums and then sprays some fabreeze around to meet his definition of "cleaning"? This would arguably fulfill the lease. On the other hand, I don't know (as a landlord) if I can just take his word that cleaning was done. I would like to see a receipt so that I know a more thorough cleaning was done rather than just vacuuming and fabreeze for instance. The receipt would also be written proof. Obviously we may have different ideas of what constitutes cleaning.

I'm going to wait it out until he vacates and ask for proof of cleaning when I go and do the final inspection. When he informed me (in email) that he was not going to renew, I responded to him and listed what we will need to do (home inspection, return of security deposit etc...) In that same email, I also asked him to provide a receipt showing proof of cleaning. I think I am going to just wait for his move and see what he does. What would you guys do and how does my position look?

 

[Fayd]

wait and see if he balks at the thought of professional cleaning?

 

[Agent11]

I would call your tenant an talk to him if I were you.

 

[Sluggo]

Honestly, after 3 years of rental grade carpet, it's probably time to get it replaced anyway.

I he/she leaves and the carpet is serviceable, thats a huge bonus, if it's trashed, I wouldn't be a bit surprised.

 

[NetWareHead]

Honestly, after 3 years of rental grade carpet, it's probably time to get it replaced anyway.

I he/she leaves and the carpet is serviceable, thats a huge bonus, if it's trashed, I wouldn't be a bit surprised.

Its not cheap rental grade carpet. I lived in that unit prior to renting it out and installed expensive residential grade carpet.

 

[DAGTA]

Its not cheap rental grade carpet. I lived in that unit prior to renting it out and installed expensive residential grade carpet.

I think you should plan to have it professionally cleaned after the tenant moves out. The contract does not specify that it has to be professionally cleaned, and so I would not expect that from the tenant.

 

[Sluggo]

Its not cheap rental grade carpet. I lived in that unit prior to renting it out and installed expensive residential grade carpet.

No need to get so defensive.

How long has that "expensive residential" carpet been installed?

 

[Via]

The guy was a model tenant for three years and the lease does not specify professional cleaning.

There's no way he's obligated to pay for a professional service. Just wait and see - he might pleasantly surprise you and do it anyway.

 

[BoomerD]

Insist of a receipt for carpet cleaning...preferably from a professional carpet cleaning company.

Vacuuming and spraying febreze does not constitute carpet cleaning..

Since the lease doesn't specify "professional carpet cleaning," if he provided a receipt for a rental carpet cleaner...and the carpet at least LOOKS like it was cleaned, that may be all you can get.

 

[Via]

Insist of a receipt for carpet cleaning...preferably from a professional carpet cleaning company.

I have a steam cleaner. How would I give a receipt for cleaning with that?

 

[mikegg]

Ask here: http://www.rocketlawyer.com/landlords.rl

 

[rommelrommel]

I have a tenant who has been in my property for 3 years with no incident and on time rent. He won't be renewing his tenancy since he just purchased a house and his lease ends on end of November. I have it written into my lease that the tenant cleans the rugs. The exact wording is "Tenant agrees to clean carpets prior to vacating". The tenant wanted to move in with a cat and I agreed to this if he agreed to the cleaning.

I don't know if this will be a problem yet but when I inserted that into the lease, I meant him to get a professional carpet cleaning service. I know I should have spelled it out clearer in the lease but it is what it is now.

What recourse do I have if he just vacuums and then sprays some fabreeze around to meet his definition of "cleaning"? This would arguably fulfill the lease. On the other hand, I don't know (as a landlord) if I can just take his word that cleaning was done. I would like to see a receipt so that I know a more thorough cleaning was done rather than just vacuuming and fabreeze for instance. The receipt would also be written proof. Obviously we may have different ideas of what constitutes cleaning.

I'm going to wait it out until he vacates and ask for proof of cleaning when I go and do the final inspection. When he informed me (in email) that he was not going to renew, I responded to him and listed what we will need to do (home inspection, return of security deposit etc...) In that same email, I also asked him to provide a receipt showing proof of cleaning. I think I am going to just wait for his move and see what he does. What would you guys do and how does my position look?

You sound a little ridiculous. If he does pay for professional cleaning I would consider it a bonus. If you had wanted professional cleaning it should have been specified.

 

[akugami]

I think you should plan to have it professionally cleaned after the tenant moves out. The contract does not specify that it has to be professionally cleaned, and so I would not expect that from the tenant.

Pretty much this. Tenant is not on the hook for normal wear and tear. If they trashed the carpet to hell, you might have a case, but unless it's spelled out that they have to get it professionally cleaned, I don't think you have a case.

As it is, if he's got a home carpet steamer and some Febreeze, he's pretty much done. Assuming carpet isn't in complete crap quality at this point.

 

[FallenHero]

3 years of a good tenant and you are going to try to pimp him out for pro cleaning service? Weak dude, weak.

 

[Rakehellion]

The tenant is only liable for damages, not normal wear on the carpet.

If you want a professional cleaning, you do it yourself. You sound ridiculous springing this punishment on a perfect tenant after three years.

 

[BoomerD]

I have a steam cleaner. How would I give a receipt for cleaning with that?

Unless it's something like a Rug Doctor, that wouldn't really qualify as carpet cleaning. The crappy "home carpet steamers" suck...and very few landlords will accept that as "cleaning the carpet." BUT, as we've all pointed out, since the lease doesn't SPECIFY "Professional carpet cleaning," he may be stuck with whatever the renter says he did.

 

[Schfifty Five]

I don't know how big of a place he was renting out, but surely a professional carpet cleaning wouldn't run you more than $100 for a small place or $200 for additional rooms.

Just be on the safe side and do the professional cleaning yourself. That way you know the carpets are clean.

 

[Humpy]

It sure sounds to me that using a vacuum cleaner on the carpet would be fulfilling the terms of the lease. How could it not?

 

[BoomerD]

It sure sounds to me that using a vacuum cleaner on the carpet would be fulfilling the terms of the lease. How could it not?

Because "vacuuming the carpets" is not "cleaning the carpets."

 

[Via]

Unless it's something like a Rug Doctor, that wouldn't really qualify as carpet cleaning. The crappy "home carpet steamers" suck...and very few landlords will accept that as "cleaning the carpet." BUT, as we've all pointed out, since the lease doesn't SPECIFY "Professional carpet cleaning," he may be stuck with whatever the renter says he did.

I don't know ..... Maybe my standards aren't as high as a pro cleaner, but I think it cleans very well.

It cost like $450 and it really sucks bucket loads of dirt out of the carpet. It won't clean a red wine stain that's set, but it gets most minor stains.

 

[Humpy]

Because "vacuuming the carpets" is not "cleaning the carpets."

What exactly is it then? Dirtying the carpets?

 

[OCGuy]

The leases that I create make it so that if the tenant does not provide a receipt for a professional cleaning service, then I will send out my guy. Then his bill is taken from the deposit.

However, if you did not spell it out, is it really a hill to die on? Think of it as a lesson learned, and you selected a good tenant if you made it 3 years and rent was paid.

 

[NetWareHead]

No need to get so defensive.

How long has that "expensive residential" carpet been installed?

I wasnt being defensive. It is not a typical rental unit that uses below grade stuff. The carpet was installed 8 years ago and still looks great. Id like it cleaned for allergen reasons since I agreed to let a cat on the lease.

And to be factual, there were some stains near the entrance and other places too. Otherwise the carpet looks great, still springy amd no traffic pattern has settled on the nap.

 

[nageov3t]

take a look during the inspection. if it looks like it needs professional cleaning, give the tenant the option of hiring someone or having the cost deducted from his security deposit.

 

[waggy]

Unless the lease says professional cleaning he can go rent a rug doctor and be fine.

There is jack shit you can do until he leaves. Even then IF you are fallowing the law there is still little you can do. IF the carpet is clean that is all that matters.

The carpet is 8 years old. you need to get over the "expensive residential" carpet.


and frankly as a landlord you should do it YOURSELF after they move out.