Cleaning deduction when housemate moves out?

[Kelly G.]

Greetings all;

Just making sure I haven't missed something. I'm in CA and I occasionally have a housemate (renting a bedroom w/ full house privileges in my home; single person only). When they move out, and do not clean 'common' areas such as the living room/kitchen and bathroom - all places they have used, can I deduct a cleaning fee? These areas are always cleaned before a new housemate moves in, and I generally clean every couple of weeks while they live here ('cuz I live here to and . . . ) , but I have NEVER had a tenant lift a finger to help clean while they are sharing my house or when they move out. Now - I'm not their maid - so it seems reasonable that they should, at the very least, clean the common areas when they move out. I don't ask them to clean "my" stuff: like dusting furniture in the living room as it's all my stuff (bookshelves, stereo cabinet, dog sleeping area), but I do ask them to clean "common" areas like sweep/mop floors in kit/living room, kitchen countertops, refrig., stove, and the full bathroom - which we share.

When they invariably don't clean when they move out - I clean and deduct the cost from their deposit - usually around $75-100 (3-4 hours @ $25/hour). Is there a problem with this method?

My last housemate turned out to be a complete BULLY - and is threatening to take me to small claims court if I withhold 1 dime of her deposit. We did a checklist at move-out (no checklist at move-in) and she had cleaned her bedroom fine - but nothing else. She claims that she is not responsible for cleaning "common" areas. That seems to work in an apartment complex and laundry rooms, but this is a shared house and she lived here and used the "common" areas - why shouldn't she clean?

thanks in advance

kelly

btw: I am soooo fed up with people I could SCREAM! What ever happened to common courtesy and responsibility?! (I sound like my mother!! ;-))))) )