California-trying to get rent deposit back

[ihot]

What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? California
We are 4 students. We rented a house for over a year and a month.
Our landlady wants to charge us for painting and carpet cleaning.
Does California law allow that? Is there not a law to protect renters from these charges because these are “normal use and wear” ?

 

[FarmerJ]

If you leave the carpets dirty its very fair for LL to charge you for cleaning them , dirt is still dirt= damage. If you left the walls so dirty that cleaning doesnt do it as in say cig smoking in the unit , greasy fry style cooking or other marks on walls that wont come off with washing yes charging you to correct that damage is normal. In the end if you think the LL has not been fair with deposit funds your free to choose to prove to a court that the LLs claim is not true.

 

[DeenaCA]

Here's the applicable section from the CA Department of Consumer Affairs Landlord-Tenant Handbook: http://www.dca.ca.gov/publications/landlordbook/sec-deposit.shtml.

See the sections on carpets and repainting walls.

 

[Who's Liable?]

What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? California
We are 4 students. We rented a house for over a year and a month.
Our landlady wants to charge us for painting and carpet cleaning.
Does California law allow that? Is there not a law to protect renters from these charges because these are “normal use and wear” ?

You must return the unit is as good a condition as when you rented it. However a LL cannot charge you for "extra cleaning" if the unit is returned to them in the same condition as when you rented it.

Additionally, since you have lived there for 13 months, the LL CANNOT charge you more than 1/3 the cost to repaint. CA assumes interior paint to only last up to 2 years.

You must follow CA state LL/T laws to redeem your deposit. The LL has 21 days to return said deposit once it is requested, and there are certain rules they must follow, itemized list, etc.. Sending a demand letter CRR is your best option.

 

[ihot]

Thank you all!!
You folks who take time off to answer are blessed with "Heart of gold"!!