Security Deposit, the age old quesion of how much to deduct.

[Ryan Phillips]

My tenants lived in the home for just 11 months. (Thank God)  While preparing for us to move back in as the primary residents, we scheduled to have the floors of the entire home redone with wood.  So we told them not to steam clean the carpets.  The tenants moved out and we are moving in, but the estimate on the floors was way over our budget so we cancelled our install.  However, in the 11 months they destroyed the 2 yr old carpet.  Stains everywhere.  Dog urine smell on many of those stains.  One stain looks like red wine where the rocking chair was in the baby's room.  Of the three rooms, two are trashed.  Should we request they pay for steam cleaning, and if it doesn't fix it, then charge them for new carpet.  Or give them the choice to bite the bullet and pay for carpet for two rooms.  The were negligent in many areas of the home but this was the only area we intend on charging them.  They routinely turned off pool equipment against the lease, they secured the yards irrigation system (we just had the entire front yard done right before they moved in), 3 foot tall weeds in the front yard, and let brown widows infest the back yard.  (Yes brown widows exist in San Diego- google it) and many other issues.  I feel like this is beyond normal wear and tear in two rooms.

[Mike Cumbie]

Hi @Ryan Phillips

In this case you told them not to get them professionally clean. You can't tell them not to clean the carpets and then charge them for cleaning the carpets. Had you let them clean them and they were still bad, then sure charge for a replace.

I know it's not what you want to hear, but it's just my thoughts on it. Good luck with whatever you decide.