My neighbor on the island recently gave up his apartment in the city. He lived in the apartment until he retired and kept it as a convenience for over ten years after he moved to the island.

The landlord gave him the option of cleaning the drapes or not getting back $65 of his cleaning deposit. The neighbor opted to not get back the $65.

A previous landlord of mine explained to me that if a renter stayed for at least six months, that justified new carpets and new paint before renting out the apartment to a new tenant. I would think that the cost of new drapes would be easily paid for when collecting rent from the same tenant for over ten years.

To my mind, the monthly rent goes toward replacing items such as carpets, drapes, paint, and appliances. It seems incredibly petty to charge a long-term tenant a cost for cleaning drapes (which should be replaced as a matter of course).

Todd's class-action keyboard?

sounds like a stingy landlord. The landlord may legally be able to charge the $65, but it's kind of a dick move on a 10 year tenant (who was likely a good tenant).

Your friend is probably best served to pay the $65 and just move on with life.

Been through this, best just to let it go and move on. Best not to be worried about $65.

...but you're right.

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I don't think that a 6 month stay warrants new carpets and paint. Depending on the economics of renting in your area that could put a landlord deep into negative cash flow. As for your friend, the $65 thing does sound like a cheapskate landlord thing unless your friend did something to mess up the drapes or the cash flow on the rental is not good. The bottom line is always "what does the contract say"? Good contracts remove misunderstandings.

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"In science it often happens that scientists say, 'You know that's a really good argument; my position is mistaken,' and then they would actually change their minds and you never hear that old view from them again. They really do it. It doesn't happen as often as it should, because scientists are human and change is sometimes painful. But it happens every day. I cannot recall the last time something like that happened in politics or religion." (1987) -- Carl Sagan

Seems to me that normal wear and tear should NOT be passed on to the renter. I rented for many years from multiple landlords and always received my damage deposit back. I was never never charged for cleaning.

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Northern California Coast

sounds like one of the typical NYC landlord scams.

Did you know that you are legally entitled to interest on your rent deposit? Before interest rates sank close to zero, I always asked for the annual interest on mine...and they sent the check. I'm probably the only person in the history of my building to do this.

The neighbor is in Pt. Bob, and the apartment is in Canuckistan? Sounds like a real slimelord move, make it small enough that the round trip to appear in court would cost more than the deposit penalty. It looks like BC has the Civil Resolution Tribunal section of the court system for Small Claims. It is only worth filing if the neighbor wants to follow through to fight for his rights.

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In tha 360. MRF User Map

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Steve G.
I'm probably the only person in the history of my building to do this.

Why does this not surprise me…

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Saint Cloud, Minnesota, where the weather is wonderful even when it isn't.

Oh, my neighbor was quite okay with it. He determined the -$65 from his cleaning deposit wasn't worth the time/energy to either clean the drapes himself (or pay someone else). The landlord did include a laughably-small amount of interest on the remainder of the cleaning deposit. (I think it was under $10 for a deposit that was held for well over ten years.)

Good memory. I sold the house in Point Bob last year during the pandemic. The details are a future story.

The current house (and neighbour, note Canadian spelling) are on Gabriola Island in British Columbia. His former apartment is in one of the suburb cities of Vancouver.

Our house on the island turned out quite well. Another future story is how much I love the bathroom.

Todd's quay board

Normal wear and tear should not be taken out of a security deposit. Security deposits are for damage above and beyond.

Clean the drapes after 10 years?

What about carpet, walls, paint, etc. Draped seems so insignificant after 10 years especially if he was not living there as your post implies. This is one @#$%& landlord that should burn in hell.

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Todd's keyboard
Oh, my neighbor was quite okay with it. He determined the -$65 from his cleaning deposit wasn't worth the time/energy to either clean the drapes himself (or pay someone else).

That's the thing: Your friend was not obligated to clean the drapes, either.

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It is what it is.

Reminds me of college apartment complexes.

They would always keep you cleaning deposit, but the apartments never seemed to be clean when you moved in.

And whoever paints them just takes a spray gun and covers everything.

New carpet?

Not unless there was a crime scene anf the police took the old carpet as evidence. Even then...

Depending on state law, often illegal to charge for normal wear and tear against cleaning / security deposit. Here in MA the landlord can be in for triple damages if taken to court and the judge finds against them.