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$750 deduction for drain cleaning services?

By Charlie

After explicitly informing us on the day of our move-out that our $2400 security deposit would be refunded in full, our landlord has (three weeks later) decided to withhold over $1000 for a series of charges that we view as bogus as best, and legally indefensible at worst. The charges are (from least expensive to most expensive):
-around $100 to hire a professional cleaning service to clean the lower floor of our house. We spent an entire day cleaning our house to avoid such a charge, and left it in much better condition than when we moved in. Unfortunately, we didn’t take any photographs before move-in or after move-out, and we realize that the burden of proof is on us. However, the lease doesn’t stipulate her right to hire a cleaning service for regular wear and tear.
-around $200 to clean the rugs in three rooms. By her own admission, these rugs simply dirty (as can be expected after 1 year of foot traffic), and not stained or damaged. To me, this feels like regular wear and tear. Once again, there is no clause built in to the lease that entitles her to a rug cleaning. The rugs were in nearly as good condition as when we moved in.
-$750 (?!?) to professionally clean the drains, which, according to her, had an “inordinate amount of hair in them.” The drains weren’t clogged, but simply “draining slower” than they should be. This charge seems logically untenable to me. My roommates and I are three males with relatively short hair. We had no pets. We had no extended guests. By her own admission, she didn’t have the drains snaked professionally before we moved in. I understand that drains will accumulate hair after years of use by tenant, but holding us entirely responsible for their cleaning sounds excessive to me.
Thankfully, the landlord forgot to give us a receipt of our deposit stipulating our right to be present for a move-out inspection, which is required in Maryland. Not doing so entitles us to a full refund of our security deposit.
So, Rental Protection Agency community, what are your thoughts? I feel like I can wipe the floor with her in court, to the tune of 3x our deposit plus reasonable attorney’s fees. Or, should I just let it slide? We enjoyed an otherwise fantastic relationship with our landlord, so this is all souring things a bit. It’s also probably important to note that she hasn’t yet returned any of our deposit, and simply wanted to clarify the charges before sending us far smaller of a check than expected.Do you have any suggestion for this drain cleaning services ?
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Edited on: Monday, July 23rd, 2012 8:55 am
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