Q: Just left an apartment who is charging us $300 in move out cleaning costs, despite us cleaning for 8hrs. Help?!
We lived in this apartment for 1 year. Upon move out, they are claiming we owe an $85 cleaning fee, a $35 carpet cleaning fee, and an $85 partial painting fee (we did not pay a deposit upon move in). I cleaned for 8 hours before move out and scrubbed the apartment clean! The only damage to the apartment was normal wear and tear, and they claim the need for $85 in painting was due to nails in the wall (all we hung were pictures on small nails!). They did not provide us with a move out checklist before we moved out, or any guidelines for how the apartment should be left. Is there any way we can dispute this? I have requested pictures from the apartment.
A: Take a look at the Utah Fit Premises Act, Utah Code 57-22. (You can find it through Google.) Also, check your city's ordinances; some cities provide more protection. Small claims court may be your best and only real option.
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