security deposit

I am from Iowa. My previous landlord who I signed a lease with sold my apartment building to a property management company and my security deposit was transfered to them. They sent me a letter about cleaning, damages, etc. and in it they told me that they would withhold part of my deposit if I did not have a reciept proving I have had my carpets professional cleaned. This is not a part of my lease although it is a part of the leases this company signs with its tenants. I have never signed anything with this management company. Am I required to professionally clean my carpet?

[Cvillecpm]

Prior to moving, you should have inquired of new mgmt WHAT would be required of you when moving in order to get your full deposit back. If/when the required the professional cleaning, you could have THEN, before moving, addressed the fact that that requirement was not in your lease.

Now, you are doing after the fact which is much more difficult. Write mgmt that this requirement is not in your lease and ask that funds be returned to you ASAP. Otherwise, sue them in Small Claims Court.

I have not moved out yet. My lease ends on the 31st of July. I have called the management company and the told me that I would have to clean the carpet professionally. I am a college student and this company is know in my area for screwing over college students especially when it comes to their security deposits. Is there anything else I can do now before I move out?

I really doubt they can hold you to the carpet cleaning if it is not in your original lease. Get a copy of your state's Tenant's Rights...did you sign anything when the property was sold?it has been my experience that the Property Management Company's will try to intimidate you into doing what they want, but if you have a hard copy of your rights as specified by LAW, they are SOL. They cannot hold you to anything you did not sign! Good Luck! (PS here in WI, a landlard cannot keep any of your security deposit for anything considered "normal wear and tear" UNLESS a separate rider is attached CLEARLY stating that, for example, the carpets must be professionally cleaned, or the windows must be streak free, ...etc...and these new laws were passed because of the all of the college students who were getting screwed. AND, the penalty for the landlord is an autoamtic award of three times the amount of the security deposit to the tenant if it is shown that the landlord unfairly kept any or all of the security deposit.