Inherited Smoking Tenants That Are Hitting the Road

[Marie S.]

I inherited tenants in my recent investment a few weeks ago. I decided to put a new lease in place that prohibits smoking in the building amongst other loosely address issues. Two of the tenants decided that they wanted to leave prior to the lease ending.

Is it wrong to charge a tenant for “de-smoking” their apartment when they leave even though the last landlord said nothing about the smoking in the first place?

The carpet will have to be replaced, the walls will need to be painted etc. etc. etc. and God help me etc.

I’ve been living in the building and have to wash the hallway walls and spray and polish the banisters/stairs to keep the halls from smelling so bad. The apartments are worse.