Can apartment communities in Washington State legally charge for cleaning fees?

Question

I rented an apartment in Washington State for a little over a month (month to month lease). I was actually only living in the apartment for about 3 weeks and have a hotel bill to prove it. 2 weeks after I moved out while I'm waiting for my security deposit back, instead I receive a bill for $238! The apartment community apparently charges their tenants $55 for carpet cleaning, $150 for overall cleaning, $20 for new drip pans, and $64 for 2 gallons of paint plus labor. I was shocked and furious at the same time! I only needed the apartment as a place to sleep temporarily and didn't put anything on the walls nor touch them! I was hardly even there! I went to complain to them, and they refuse to take off the charges. They said if the apartment wasn't left EXACTLY the way it was when I moved in, they do these things. I'm a very clean person, and honest... and I left the place spotless. Everything was left as it was found. Should take them to court??? Please help. Thanks!

Answer 1

Not worth the aggrevation.  Many leases have the cleaning clause.  Everyone has a different idea of what Clean is.

Answer 2

Jimmy, I moved from Washington to West Virginia last year, so I'm not sure who I could call to help you. Here is a resource of apartments in Washington that you can contact. http://www.findanapartmentonline.com/Was... Hopefully someone can help you.



Good Luck!

Answer 3

Is it in the rental/lease agreement you signed? I know you were month to month but surely you had some written agreement. If you did sign such an agreement you are likely out of luck. You could go to small claims court if it's worth it to you. I'm not sure of the law there, but I bet they would have to show the judge receipts for all the work and supplies.

L

Answer 4

I have ran an apt. complex and YES! They can do this. It is unfortunate that they have charged you so much though. Drip pans are only like $5.00 for 4 of them. You could even get them at the dollar store. (You could ask if you could just give them 4 if they would take off the $20.00 even. But the carpet cleaning is indeed a charge that every landlord of a house or apt. charges and is in the rental agreement. That is the average cost of carpet cleaning. You could call the management over the painting because that is a little absurd. I understand if you left the place a mess to have cleaning charges but you really should not have painting charges...unless it was in the lease. Get a copy of the lease and pre-read it before going to wild. If you bother the management enough and I mean owning management not the manager than you may get some taken off. Do not be mean but talk to them reasonably. They will work with you (hopefully). Other than that the only thing to prove this and you would have to have it is pictures. Generally-you schedule a moveout inspection and go through the apt. with the management and agree on what is damaged or dirty etc... they should have given you a day or two to repair or clean what ever before applying charges. If you just left then they did not have to make those arrangements but if you gave notice that is what should have happened. So, without pictures there is really no proof and you will not get far with a law suit. From now on before signing a lease make sure to read it thoroughly and then before moving anything in take a picture with the date showing and then when you move out take a picture with the date showing. That will prevent this from ever happening to you again. I have learned the same lesson too...even after being a manager...yikes!! I know it really stinks but to avoid further damage-like to your credit you may need to just pay it-even if it is payments. It will eventually affect your credit report and garnishments...they will get it one way or another. Just try reasoning out of some of the balance with the higher up management. Good Luck!!