Security Deposit Deduction: What is reasonable for cleaning

[Robert Spiegel]

I recently had a long-term (5.5 years) tenant move out. She was a fantastic tenant—always paid on time, easy to work with, and took good care of the property overall. She did move in two cats during her tenancy (with my permission after the fact), and the house was left in fairly good condition when she moved out:

• Most holes were patched (though some in the basement were missed).
• It was moderately clean but needed extra cleaning due to cat hair in the carpets.
• Minor issues included:
  • A missing doorbell.
  • Missing shower hardware.
  • One of the window blinds needed replacement.
  • A truck bed full of items left in the shed that I had to haul away.

Since I was in a pinch between Christmas and New Year’s, I hired professional cleaners for a quick turnaround. This was my first time working with this cleaner, and their charge was $540. While they did a good job, I felt the price was steep, especially since the house wasn’t in terrible shape.

I’m debating whether the cleaning charge is reasonable to deduct fully or if I should waive part of it as a goodwill gesture. 

The Only other deductions that I have right now are $154 for unpaid water bill, and $45 for the minor repairs mentioned (doorbell, blinds, shower).

Questions for the group:

1. Does $540 seem excessive for a cleaning charge, given the situation?
2. If so what would be reasonable?
3. How would you handle deductions for a long-term tenant like this?

Looking forward to your thoughts and advice. Thanks in advance!