cleaning fee (apartment, lease, move)

[amjay]

So I am signing a new lease and there is one thing that I will have to pay $100 cleaning fee at the time of giving 2 months notice to vacate. and when I asked what it covers, the manager told me it covers only basic vacuuming, and cleaning the apartment and if there will be more cleaning required they will charge extra. Now its confusing, because is it a lot for just basic cleaning, which if I keep my apartment clean regularly ,will only take 1 hr. and even if they charge me this I just cannot leave without cleaning the apartment during move out. Do you think its fair ? Is it a common practice with apartment communities in scottsdale?
Thanks

[locolobo13]

Fair? Maybe, maybe not. They may pay a cleaning service a set fee. Or they may apply it to their own cleaning work. Seems steep to me too.

One warning tho. Depending on how you feel about the management after you've been there. When you leave make them go thru the apt with you. If there is anything that needs "extra" cleaning you can take care of it yourself. Maybe have a friend with you as a witness.

I didn't do that at one place. The manager told me, "I'm sure it's alright." I knew it was. It was cleaner than when I moved in. But they hit me with a $40 extra cleaning fee.

I called the manager up and asked what it was about. She hemmed and hawed. Finally she said I had left a water bottle in the fridge. But they didn't drop the fee either. Nor did I pay it.

Just something to think about.