Fair Is Fair! Landlord Wants Us To Pay $100 Cleaning Fee For Former Tenant!

We received a call from a former client who we rented a home for them 12 months ago.They live out of the area.The tenant that we located,moved out yesterday.

The landlord found a new tenant on their own and it appears they`re moving in next week.

The landlord called us yesterday to find out if we can send someone over to the home to clean the home.

We use a cleaning service that charges $100. They do fantastic work.

I recommend to the landlord that he contact them to arrange for their service.He seemed OK with it until i mentioned the $100 fee.

The conversation is as follows:

Landlord: How come I have to pay the $100 fee, shouldn't it be coming out of you`re end, after all you rented the home for us, the tenant moved out, why aren`t you and you`re company paying the fee?

Me: I`m sorry, we rented the home for you 12 months ago, the former tenant moved,you located a tenant on your own. How is it my responsibility to send a cleaning service to your home?

Landlord: It`s a service I thought a Real Estate office should perform, besides it`s good business practice on you`re part! Next time, I`ll give you the house to rent again, how`s that?!

Me: Good business practice? If I follow you`re advice I`d be out of business. The former tenant paid the rent, the lease expired, you found a new tenant and I have to pay for the home to be cleaned?

Landlord:Yes, I think that`s fair.

I`m deadpan serious, his response "Fair is fair" floored me! It`s his home,his tenant and we`re supposed to compensate the landlord a $100.00 fee for a tenant we located for them a year ago!

Why me?

scott daniels
florida list for less realty,inc.
954-275-0200.
http://www.listfloridahomesforless.com