ResidentIn

all messages by user

5/9/2016
Topic: Moving Out -- Cleaning/Repairs?

ResidentIn

Our landlord has been sending increasingly angry texts to us about the state of our unit. We are very tidy and the place is swept and kept clean, but some areas like the inside of the fridge and the oven, do need a bigger cleaning. We also hung a few pictures with screws.

Now we are moving out and our landlord is threatening to withhold the pro-rated rent that we are due (we are moving out a handful of days before the end of the month) if the apartment is not clean or she will use the money to pay for a professional cleaning service? Is this legal? I feel like no matter how much I scrub it will not be good enough to meet her standards or she might cite damage to the walls with the screws (there is also a small hole in the wall less than a inch wide and a few mm deep...we didn't take pictures when we moved in so we are not sure if that has been there the whole time).

Rereading our lease says that reasonable wear and tear does not cover holes no matter how large and we cannot use screws. It also says though that it is not meant to be construed as going against the RTA. Should I try to clean the place as much as possible but still be charged for some minor damage to the walls?