[Madelaine Amee]

Originally Posted by big guy

We "inherited" a tenant when we bought our house. They had paid $500 damage deposit but no cleaning fee. They paid their rent on time and asked to rent it again next year, They departed and I went over with 2 other people to clean. They hadn't cleaned anything for the 3 months they were there. It took 3 of us 6 hours to clean the place. I would like to write them a check for $400, keeping out $100 for cleaning, and return the $400 to them in hopes they get the message that they aren't wanted for Jan, Feb, and March 2015. My husband doesn't want me to do that because he thinks that it's the norm rather than the exception. Is this so?

Some years ago I was looking for a rental for a friend of mine, the wife is immaculate and was not too keen on coming to Florida for the whole winter, so I knew I had to be extra careful in finding a rental.

I found one in the paper, called the guy who owned it who lived in the UK and rented the house out for just six months a year. He told me where to find the key, to call the present renters and to go see it. The house was in a really nice area of Glenview CC. When I walked into the house I could not believe what I was seeing. The tenants were having a Village home built and had been there six months, it was beyond filthy. They were literally hoarders. You could not see an empty table top or work space, even the end tables were covered with Publix shopping bags. They had chips and snack thingees all over the furniture, empty soda bottles on the floor. Then the "piece de resistance" was the carpet - it had been off white, it was now so discolored where they tracked from the front door to the rest of the house that it was literally grey, somehow or other the carpet had stretched and lay in folds, because they had tripped on the stretched carpet they had layed heavy duty plastic lengths (which are usually used to keep the carpet clean) over the stretching, so the folds were firmly entrenched in the rug. And, to top it off, the renters were so nice, a happy, jolly laughing couple!!! happily living in their own filth.

So, had to contact the owner and break the news to him. He was shocked, but also told me nine people had been to view it and had never got back to him so he was beginning to wonder if he had a problem. This poor man had to come over to supervise the restoration of the home. What a dreadful rental experience for him. I never contacted him again, so I don't know the outcome.

So, yes, some renters are filthy and some are just great! If you rent on a long term basis is it possible to have it checked, or is this illegal?

[OCsun]

Big Guy,

Just a note of encouragement that not all renters are disrespectful. My sister has rented several places in The Villages. One rental unit did not provide hangers, towels, or cleaning supplies. She purchased hangers, cleaning supplies, some small kitchen items and even a used floor steamer at a yard sale. All of these items were left for future renters. Her rental agreement required an upfront $100 cleaning fee as well as a damage deposit.
She cleaned the house weekly and spent three hours cleaning the day she left. I fussed with her since she had paid $100 cleaning fee but, she could not leave the house unless it was clean.
I was proud of my sister but, disappointed that the owner (who came in after she left), did not acknowledge her with a phone call or note of thanks when her deposit was returned.

Years ago when I rented a vacation home, I would thank clients who treated my home like their own. I even gave them the option of doing a self checkout clean on the next years rental.

Don't rent to people who don't respect your property and show respect to those that do.

[2BNTV]

When I rented, the rental agreement, included a non-refundable cleaning charge of four hours. If extensive cleaning was required, ( more than four hours), that cost would be deducted, from the security deposit.

Being a neat person, I just paid the non-refundable cleaning fee. The owner who was careful to who he rented his home to, drew up a contract, that very clearly stated, what he expected of his tenants.

After I bought my home, he called me up, and asked if I wanted shelving, he was removing form his garage. I did, and had them installed in my new home. Saved me a few hundred bucks.

You give what you get. Obliviously, I must have done something right.

[nitehawk]

Originally Posted by Indydealmaker

Just a thought. You really have no way of knowing the condition of the house at the time that they initially rented. It is possible that they left it in like condition to which they originally encountered.

[karostay]

Originally Posted by big guy

We "inherited" a tenant when we bought our house. They had paid $500 damage deposit but no cleaning fee. They paid their rent on time and asked to rent it again next year, They departed and I went over with 2 other people to clean. They hadn't cleaned anything for the 3 months they were there. It took 3 of us 6 hours to clean the place. I would like to write them a check for $400, keeping out $100 for cleaning, and return the $400 to them in hopes they get the message that they aren't wanted for Jan, Feb, and March 2015. My husband doesn't want me to do that because he thinks that it's the norm rather than the exception. Is this so?

That's what a deposit and cleaning fees are for

[TheVillageChicken]

Did the previous owner pass the $500 damage deposit on to you at closing?

[BritParrothead]

We always leave a rental home in Tip Top condition, AND always get the cleaning fee back. Always leave a home as you would like to find it!!
We did rent one home from The Villages 6 years ago, well, dog kibble under every chair, bed and table, and the villages said it had had a deep clean! I don't think so!!

[mixsonci]

Originally Posted by Bobbie416

What you are describing is damage to your property. I feel you have every right to keep the damages deposit. You need to replace the decorative pillows on the sofa and you may need to paint if you cannot remove the red wine easily. I would never leave a house in that condition. If a major accident occurred, I would tell the owner immediately. I would not want these people back either. This is more than filth. It is damage IMHO.

I agree, this definitely sounds like property damage as opposed to just simply dirty and/or even filthy. I think you have a case for keeping some of the deposit if not all, especially if you have to repaint.

[asianthree]

just to have our carpets cleaned every year is $150

[big guy]

Originally Posted by Indydealmaker

Just a thought. You really have no way of knowing the condition of the house at the time that they initially rented. It is possible that they left it in like condition to which they originally encountered.

I certainly do know the condition of the house when they rented it. We live in The Villages, we manage our own property and pride myself on renting an immaculate house. When we rented, we always left a house better than how we found it.