Disposition of Deposit related to Cleaning and Pest Control

[Chad Wilhelm]

My new tenants have found where the house was not clean enough upon moving in and I have had to get a cleaning service to come in.  They have also found ticks in the house, and I have had to get an exterminator to come in to take care of that.  My lease states pests are the tenants responsibility.  I gave the old tenants (who are also my first tenants) a heads up of the situation, and that it will affect their disposition of deposit.  I just had a short conversation with the wife where they say that the place wasn't clean to those standards when they moved in (which I will admit, that cleaning person did a sub par job with some stuff), and she also claims that their pets are on some flea and tick medication that is suppose to kill the ticks if they get bitten, to which I told her that they could still carry them in.  She is arguing that she should have been given notice to have a chance to come in to take care of it herself.  They apparently want to talk tonight when her and her husband can both be there for it.  They have been really good tenants, but...

I am leaning toward paying half or all of the cleaning bill since their move in condition was sub par, but tick issue they would be on the hook for.  Or am I off base?  Thoughts?

Thanks,

Chad

[Melanie Thomas]

Hey Chad,

Rather than dwelling on the issue and entering into a potentially draining battle, it's beneficial to use this experience as a lesson for the future. Investing energy, time, and resources into a dispute can often be counterproductive.

It's crucial to ensure that your properties are completely prepared for occupancy before tenants move in, and recording this condition through photographs and video is an effective method. A well-documented report becomes an undeniable reference point.

The reality is, anyone can file a small claims case, whether there's valid justification or not. This could result in higher legal costs, even when you're in the right. Hence, it's far more prudent to focus on reducing your risk before it escalates to that level. Good luck & happy investing!