We have a list that we give to tenants. Basically, we expect you to leave it as you found it and that was clean, neat and tidy from dusting the baseboards and ceiling fans to having the carpets professionally cleaned to scrubbed appliances (particularly the stove and oven, and don’t forget to clean or replace the drip pans).

^^^ In California ones deposit covers the carpet cleaning and any other damages above normal wear and tear if needed.
Yes, leave it as clean as possible, wash the windows and clean well all appliances in, out and under, behind.
Your landlords should also be able to show you that your deposit has been held in an interest bearing acct.

Few people are aware that this is law and it is very easy for a landlord to trump up damages and attempt to over charge you. CYA, when it comes to expecting all or some of your deposit back.

Most real estate is expected to be left “broom clean.” Which basically means no trash left behind, no stains or yuck.

They will have it cleaned between tenants no matter what, so no matter what you do they will likely send in a cleaning crew. Anything they have to “fix” that wouldn’t easily be cleaned by a typical cleaning crew can be cause for them to keep some of your security deposit.

Take a few photos with the date on it when you leave.

@Mama_Cakes We offer to do the carpet cleaning and take it out of the deposit but we encourange the tenant to shop around and save themselves a few bucks. We don’t add to the charge but there are less expensive cleaners than the one I use. The pictures are a good idea. We take pictures before we begin cleaning/repairing and provide them to the tenant if there is any deduction from the deposit. We don’t jack people around but if you think you might have a problem do it.
Also, in Texas you are not entitled to any interest on your deposit and it says as much in our lease.

I sure don’t think @rojo and @Coloma are talking about the sort of apartments I rented as a young person. “Broom clean” was more like it, as @JLeslie says. If you really wanted your place nice when you moved in, you cleaned it yourself.

I don’t think any apartment I lived in even had carpet. Old places had hardwood, many with lineoleum on top of it.

Probably @Mama_Cakes has something much nicer. My point is just that the expectations may vary across a range that’s more or less consistent with the rent.

Probably so, @Jeruba our base line is whether or not we would move into a unit ourselves and we try to provide a nice place to nice people who will take care of our rental as we ourselves would.
Admittedly, as a college kid I was probably not as picky as I am now but even then I wanted my deposit back.
I will say that some of the college age adults we get now do not seem to care about their money and will just move out leaving things a mess. I am not their maid and if I have to have it cleaned they have to pay for it. We send notices out at least twice before they leave, with the list, so it is not like it is a surprise. But then again, it is probably mommy and daddy’s money. If it was my kid, I would take whatever I did not get back out of their hide but that does not seem to be the prevailing attitude these days.

This isn’t about me. It’s actually my partner who is moving out.

Here’s a previous related thread.

We spackle and paint every time – though not really thoroughly with trim and tape and all that, just enough to cover all the shelf- and picture-hanging holes. And it’s actually quicker and easier than going at the walls with one of those dissolving chalky scrubbers.

With the exception of ordinary wear and tear it is expected to be in the same condition as you received it.
Dirt is not considered ordinary wear and tear. That includes ovens, refrigerators including gaskets and window tracks. One place everyone forgets is the top of the shower door.

Every apartment I have lived in has given me a pretty complete check list of all cleaning that could pretty much possibly be done. Generally I do not schedule a carpet cleaner if I have carpet, I let them take care of that and take it out of my deposit. Otherwise, everything needs to be cleaned or it will most likely be deducted from the deposit if they bring in a professional cleaning service to do it.

As you can see, the requirements vary by complex. The best thing to do is review the contract signed upon moving in, and once giving notice, ask for clarification. Work with the complex manager to create a win/win situation.

When I was actively managing our apartments I had everyone sign move out policies when they moved in so they would know exactly what was expected.

When I moved out of my previous apartment I gave it a pretty thorough cleaning. I made sure it was spotless. I gave them no excuse to jip me out of my money.

The damn landlord took about 5 or 6 weeks to get me my deposit. I got all of it back though. It was such a good feeling.

The obvious, really. But most do forget to clean the stove/range. The oven, under the burners, everywhere on the stove!

And behind the refrigerator and under the stove if it’s free standing or you can pull the bottom drawer out and clean the floor under it.

So true @Judi, it is unbelievable how many people do not think that the world exists under and behind the refrigerator. Some of the things you find there (I mean, really, a condom?? at least it was still in the wrapper).

and, @flip86 I am not familiar with other states but here we have 30 days from the end of the lease to return the deposit.

In California it’s 21 days.

California always has to be different. I understand that they require women to have 26 day periods as well

Behind the refrigerator? Holy cow. I clean my apartments and houses really well when I move out. I upkeep where I live pretty well in the first place, so it is just a regular cleaning when I do, although admittedly I would not think to clean behind the refridgerator. If I was dinged for having something behind or under the fridge I would be annoyed.

Cleaning is not only important at the time of moving out or in. Everyone like clean area & we expect clean place from others so its our responsibilities to provide a neat & clean surface to others.

Everything everyone has said is pretty spot on. My boyfriend and I moved out of our old place. The toilet seat broke for us so we were only out $20 on the deposit. I hired someone to clean the carpets for me. All appliances were scrubbed.

@JLeslie, now you know! You would be surprised at how dirty it gets and most are on wheels now to make it easy.
@seekingwolf, I wouldn’t charge you for a broken toilet seat. I would consider it ordinary wear and tear unless you abused it.
It’s funny to me that a lot of people think they’ve cleaned when they clean the mirrors but the rest of the bathroom is disgusting.

@Judi

I don’t know if it’s abuse but I’m very obese and I think it broke one day when I was on it (wake up call to lose weight?). It was pretty embarrassing regardless.

We bleached the whole bathroom and scrubbed it all.

@Judi I wouldn’t check behind the fridge when I move in, so I wouldn’t know whose dirt it is. I have never lived in an apartment very long term, I guess the most was two years, I moved in as a roomate though. I only clean behind my own fridge once every year or two. I would replace anything I broke like a toilet seat.

Don’t you or a crew clean the apartment no matter what? Why charge someone for that? Unless it doesn’t clean up easily. We always cleaned our apartments before a new tenant. One apartment I rented they charged a separate one time clean up fee. I think it was $200. That seems better to me than squabbling over dust under the fridge or a smudge on a window. I have always had my full deposit given back to me.

@seekingwolf, even so, for $20 I wouldn’t risk saying “you’re fat broke it.”
One very difficult situation was when we had an obese woman who had very large poop and kept clogging the toilet. We spent hundreds of dollars and even bought an upgraded toilet.
I had to have an awful talk with her telling her she would be responsible for future plumbing calls. The plumber suggested she take a stick and break it up before she flushed. Totally embarrassing for both of us.

@Judi How awful. I have a relative who blocks a lot of toilets for the same reason. The low water toilet ordinances/laws in some places are a nightmare regarding this.

@Judi well he didn’t say i was fat or anything but he did say “oh it broke, I’ll just take it out of your deposit”. Heh, I was just embarrassed when I actually broke it.

I couldn’t imagine having a conversation like that with a tenant. I’m so glad I haven’t had any plumbing issues or clogged toilets.