Renters Rights In California Carpet Cleaning

It does clarify that worn or aged but otherwise undamaged carpet does not affect a property s habitability.

Renters rights in california carpet cleaning. California law does not specify when landlords must replace carpeting in rental units. For instance an inordinate amount of pet hair or a urine smell left in the carpet would be beyond normal wear and tear as these are avoidable conditions and beyond normal use. Additionally a tenant may be charged for cleaning where the tenant has caused filth beyond ordinary use. Atcp 134 06 3 c states that a landlord may not withhold from tenant s security deposit for routine painting or carpet cleaning where there is no unusual damage caused by tenant abuse madison general ordinance 32 07 14 forbids withholding for routine carpet cleaning in the city of madison.

Thus if the tenant s damage cheated three years out of the carpets life the landlord under california law could only hold the tenant responsible for 300. If the carpet originally cost 1 000 and had a life expectancy of 10 years the depreciation charge would be 100 per year. Under california landlord tenant guidelines a carpet s useful life is eight to 10 years.