Move out charges

[Logan Gilbert]

Hi all, 

I was wondering if you can legally charge Tennants for cleaning and painting fees on move out? or I'm thinking these tasks are the responsibility of the landlord/owner of the property. 

I guess a simple solution would be to keep the security deposit if move out fees were mentioned in the lease... Any advice is appreciated! 

Also I am in Texas, which is a landlord friendly state. 

[Robert Melcher]

I posted this earlier today for a landlord in Oklahoma:

We provide a clean house at lease start, including professionally cleaned carpets.

The outgoing tenant is expected to leave the house clean and to have the carpets professionally cleaned when they depart (its in our lease, in Texas and in Oklahoma). If they don't, we use professionals to clean and bill it against the deposit.

Normal wear and tear means use consistent with proper care and cleaning, over an expected life of "X", which varies from item to item. Paint and carpets of reasonable quality should have a life expectancy of 6 to 7 years. One year's normal wear and tear would be about 15% of the cost of replacement. Someone who messes up your paint or carpet the first year could expect a charge of 85% of the cost to replace. In the third year, 55%. and so on, presuming you only touch-up or professionally clean between tenants. I have defended this depreciation in court.