Legal Question in Landlord & Tenant Law in Georgia

Post cleaning fees, not disclosed on the lease

After informing my landlord that I will be moving out, I was given an itemized breakdown of cleaning fees that will be charged if the unit is not in a certain condition.

Normally, this would come out of a security deposit, but I did not have to pay a security deposit because it was bonded through a third-party.

What would happen if I refused t pay these fees? I did not agree to these fees on the lease, nor were the disclosed to me.


Asked on 3/21/08, 11:05 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys

Scott Riddle Law Office of Scott B. Riddle, LLC

Re: Post cleaning fees, not disclosed on the lease

You leave out important information - what the lease says about any fees that may be due on move-out, whether they are called cleaning fees, damages, or whatever. If these fees "normally" come out of the security deposit, there is likely a basis in the lease. Merely saying you did not agree to the specific fees in the lease is not enough. The fees may not be valid, but most apartment leases provide for some possible charges. If you do not pay or resolve it, apartment complexes (if this is an apt complex), as much or more than most creditors, use collectors and report to credit bureaus. They also frequently want a reference from prior landlords, which may come back to haunt you. It would not be a wise move to ignore it.

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Answered on 3/22/08, 8:08 am


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