We clean houses for a living, which means we spend a lot of time inside California’s rules about cleaning — what a landlord may charge for, what counts as wear and tear, what the law actually requires. Here is what we have learned, written out plainly and free.
6 guides on California security deposits and end-of-tenancy cleaning: the four things Civil Code 1950.5 lets a landlord deduct, what AB 2801 changed about carpet cleaning and photographs across 2025, whether a “professionally cleaned” lease clause is enforceable, how to use the pre-move-out inspection, and how to dispute a deduction. General information, not legal advice.
Start with the first one if you are not sure which applies to you.
Since January 1, 2025, California landlords can't automatically bill departing tenants for professional carpet cleaning. Here's what AB 2801 changed, when they can still charge, and how to push back.
Since April 2025, California landlords must include photographs with any security deposit deduction. Since July 2025, they must photograph units at move-in. Here's how to use both rules.
California law gives tenants the right to a walkthrough before moving out — with a written list of proposed deductions and time to fix them. Most tenants never request it. Here's how.
California landlords can only charge you for cleaning that returns the unit to its move-in condition — not "professional" cleaning, and not ordinary wear and tear. Here's what Civil Code 1950.5 actually allows, updated for AB 2801.
A step-by-step process for challenging an unlawful cleaning charge against your California security deposit — including a demand letter template and what small claims actually involves.
Your California lease says the unit must be professionally cleaned at move-out. Civil Code 1950.5 says otherwise. Here's why that clause usually can't be enforced against your deposit.
Move-out cleans come with a dated, itemised invoice and photographs of every room. Flat price in about a minute.
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