Landlords can charge the tenant or deduct the cost for cleaning the rental unit from the security deposit. State laws do not have a legal limit on how much a landlord can charge for cleaning, but the charges must be reasonable.
What Types of Cleaning Charges are Permitted?
Cleaning charges imposed by landlords generally fall into three categories:
- A flat non-refundable cleaning fee charged to each tenant
- Cost to restore the unit to its original condition at the start of the lease term
- Cost of deep cleaning needed due to damage (like stains)
| State | Which Cleaning Fees Are Allowed? |
|---|---|
| Alabama | For damage |
| Alaska | To restore unit to its original condition For damage |
| Arizona | Non-refundable fee For damage |
| Arkansas | To restore unit to its original condition For damage |
| California | To restore unit to its original condition For damage |
| Colorado | For damage Unpaid cleaning services requested by tenant |
| Connecticut | For damage |
| Delaware | For damage |
| Florida | Non-refundable fee To restore unit to its original condition For damage |
| Georgia | Non-refundable fee To restore unit to its original condition For damage |
| Hawaii | Non-refundable fee To restore unit to its original condition For damage |
| Idaho | To restore unit to its original condition For damage |
| Illinois | Non-refundable fee To restore unit to its original condition For damage |
| Indiana | Non-refundable fee To restore unit to its original condition For damage |
| Iowa | For damage |
| Kansas | Non-refundable fee To restore unit to its original condition For damage |
| Kentucky | For damage |
| Louisiana | To restore unit to its original condition For damage |
| Maine | Non-refundable fee To restore unit to its original condition For damage |
| Maryland | For damage |
| Massachusetts | For damage |
| Michigan | Non-refundable fee (can’t be taken from security deposit) For damage |
| Minnesota | To restore unit to its original condition For damage |
| Mississippi | Non-refundable fee To restore unit to its original condition For damage |
| Missouri | To restore unit to its original condition For damage |
| Montana | To restore unit to its original condition For damage |
| Nebraska | To restore unit to its original condition For damage |
| Nevada | Non-refundable fee To restore unit to its original condition For damage |
| New Hampshire | To restore unit to its original condition For damage |
| New Jersey | For damage |
| New Mexico | To restore unit to its original condition For damage |
| New York | To restore unit to its original condition For damage |
| North Carolina | To restore unit to its original condition For damage |
| North Dakota | To restore unit to its original condition For damage |
| Ohio | To restore unit to its original condition For damage |
| Oklahoma | To restore unit to its original condition For damage |
| Oregon | Carpet cleaning requiring more than a common vacuum For damage |
| Pennsylvania | To restore unit to its original condition For damage |
| Rhode Island | To restore unit to its original condition For damage |
| South Carolina | For damage |
| South Dakota | To restore unit to its original condition For damage |
| Tennessee | For damage |
| Texas | Non-refundable fee To restore unit to its original condition For damage |
| Utah | Non-refundable fee To restore unit to its original condition For damage |
| Vermont | To restore unit to its original condition For damage |
| Virginia | Non-refundable fee To restore unit to its original condition For damage |
| Washington | Non-refundable fee To restore unit to its original condition For damage |
| Washington D.C. | Non-refundable fee To restore unit to its original condition For damage |
| West Virginia | Non-refundable fee To restore unit to its original condition For damage |
| Wisconsin | For damage |
| Wyoming | Non-refundable fee To restore unit to its original condition For damage |
How Much Can Landlords Charge for Cleaning?
Cleaning fees must be reasonable, meaning landlords cannot charge for excessive deep cleaning or at a rate that is not typical for local cleaning services. Additionally, the charges must be limited to restore the rental unit to its original condition. Tenants can’t be charged for steam cleaning if the carpets were not recently steam cleaned when they moved in.
Landlords can charge for the cost of labor and materials required to clean the rental unit. To ensure the cost is reasonable, landlords can contact multiple cleaning companies to compare rates.
If landlords choose to complete the cleaning themselves, they can add a reasonable hourly rate for labor. Courts typically consider $15 to $25 to be a reasonable hourly rate.
