Carpet Cleaning Security Deposit Georgia

Sometimes a security deposit is called a damage deposit and is generally some amount of money that the landlord is able to hold on to if a rental property needs any cleaning or repairs in order to return the property to the condition it was in when the renter first moved in.

Carpet cleaning security deposit georgia.

Normal wear and tear means the declining condition of the rental property that occurs over time even though the tenant has been regularly cleaning and maintaining the property. In disputes over security deposits courts have often considered basic carpet cleaning to be part of normal wear and tear. Here are seven basic security deposit rights tenants have in georgia. Some states prohibit landlords from withholding money from the deposit for basic cleaning.

Deductions cannot include normal wear and tear essentially a landlord would have to sue a tenant as a separate matter if they did not pay for routine carpet cleaning required by the lease. If a landlord does not return a security deposit within 21 days or the required amount of time in your specific areas tenants can take legal action against the landlord to have the money returned. Your security deposits may also be withheld for actual damages caused by breach of the lease or rental agreement. If the carpet cleaning does not exceed a professional cleaner s normal rate and the carpet doesn t have any actual damage.

One common dispute between landlords and tenants is carpet cleaning. And the longer a tenant has lived in a place the more wear and tear can be expected. For example if a tenant left the carpet stained dirty and or ripped then the carpet would be damaged beyond. Landlords can only keep money from the security deposit for damages that are beyond normal wear and tear.

Typically they would need to file in small claims court to get the money returned. Thus carpet cleaning wall painting and other like expenses cannot be deducted from your security deposit if such resulted from normal wear and tear. Typically landlords may use a tenant s security deposit for any cleaning or repairs necessary to restore the rental unit to its condition at the beginning of the tenancy landlords may not however use the deposit to cover the costs of ordinary wear and tear. If you left obvious stains and dirt on the carpet while living there then it could be considered damages beyond normal wear and tear and the landlord could deduct carpet cleaning costs from your security deposit.

Any carpet cleaning charges they collect in advance must be treated as part of a security deposit which must be subject to a refund. The statewide security deposit laws in georgia only apply to landlords who own more than ten rental units.