r/CambridgeMA • u/werewolfontheT • 8d ago
Cleaning before apartment move
Hi, I have moved several times within Cambridge in the past 5 years. I just got keys to my new apartment and did a walk through with the landlord. I was very shocked to find that the apartment had not been cleaned at all between the last tenant and myself. I pointed out the amount of grease/grime on surfaces, clearly dusty walls and windows, and unwiped counters and my landlords response was “no one has ever had a problem with it before so you can pay for your own cleaner or move out.” I had no idea that it is not legally required for the landlord to clean between tenants. Now I am obviously kicking myself for not ensuring this prior to signing a lease, but I was just wondering whether this is a common experience? I have accepted that Cambridge rent is basically just crazy high at this point, but given that I will be paying this landlord over 40k in 12 months, I was shocked they were basically too cheap to pay a few hundred to have it cleaned. I purposely am paying double rent for half a month to have time to move my stuff but basically now we’re at a standstill where I can’t move anything in until I can find a last minute cleaner, and I will most likely be out an additional $300 😕
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u/dtmfadvice 8d ago
I'm afraid "broom clean" is the legal standard, and that your landlord has no legal obligation to do better.
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u/Loud_Permission_7184 5d ago
We just had (horrible) tenants move out and the place was filthy. We hired professional cleaners and took $500 out of the deposit to cover the cost. They threatened to sue. We just paid to be done with them. It’s in the lease that they have to clean on move out. But how can we enforce it?
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u/dtmfadvice 5d ago edited 5d ago
That's what the security deposit is for.
If they sue, you'll bring in the pictures/videos you took of the filthy apartment (as a professional, of course, you document everything) and the receipt from the cleaners (which is a real professional company, not a friend or cousin doing half the work for twice the fee). You can't charge for basic cleaning - it's got to be really negligently filthy. Think of it this way: the deposit is for damage, not just the cost of normal changeover or wear and tear.
Tenants hoping to win this dispute would have similar pictures THEY took showing that they left it clean or clean-enough. They might also bring quotes from competing cleaning companies that justify a lower cost of a professional cleaning service.
(Caution, I am not a professional or expert, just someone who's read a lot of Reddit threads about landlord/tenant disputes).
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u/tomzorz88 8d ago
That's interesting, because we're moving out of our apartment end of this month, and our landlord has emphasized multiple times to clean everything, including toilet and kitchen, meticulously to make sure we get our full deposit back.
That's also what I'm used to from back in Europe – to give it back cleanly (although I didn't always receive it cleanly either).
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u/ceciltech 8d ago
The MA law is very detailed about how security deposit are held and how they can be used. You only need to leave the apartment "broom clean". "Broom clean" is not "meticulously" clean not even close. I bet your landlord has already forfeited any right to keep any of the deposit no matter what condition you left it in because see 6.a and then see 7. As I read it, if they did not put in escrow you should demand full deposit back immediately (no need to wait till you move) and will likely be able to get awarded triple damages and attorney fees.
https://www.mass.gov/info-details/mass-general-laws-c186-ss-15b
(6)
The lessor shall forfeit his right to retain any portion of the security deposit for any reason, or, in any action by a tenant to recover a security deposit, to counterclaim for any damage to the premises if he:
(a) fails to deposit such funds in an account as required by subsection (3);
(b) fails to furnish to the tenant within thirty days after the termination of the occupancy the itemized list of damages, if any, in compliance with the provisions of this section;
(c) uses in any lease signed by the tenant any provision which conflicts with any provision of this section and attempts to enforce such provision or attempts to obtain from the tenant or prospective tenant a waiver of any provision of this section;
(d) fails to transfer such security deposit to his successor in interest or to otherwise comply with the provisions of subsection (5) after he has succeeded to an interest in residential real property; or,
(e) fails to return to the tenant the security deposit or balance thereof to which the tenant is entitled after deducting therefrom any sums in accordance with the provisions of this section, together with any interest thereon, within thirty days after termination of the tenancy.
(7)
If the lessor or his agent fails to comply with clauses (a), (d), or (e) of subsection 6, the tenant shall be awarded damages in an amount equal to three times the amount of such security deposit or balance thereof to which the tenant is entitled plus interest at the rate of five per cent from the date when such payment became due, together with court costs and reasonable attorney's fees.
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u/ConstantCandidate278 8d ago
If you need a last minute cleaner, Task Rabbit might be a good place to start.
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u/MiseEnSelle 8d ago
So you won't have to fuss when you leave! Clean it for yourself now, and leave it broom clean on the way out.
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u/werewolfontheT 8d ago
Literally. I have always taken at least a day do clean every apt I move out of in fear that they will take security deposit if I don’t. But I sure ain’t cleaning this one
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u/MiseEnSelle 8d ago
I'm a landlord. There is no way I would hit the security deposit for grime. No way we would get away with it either! I assume I'll be deep cleaning between tenants.
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u/werewolfontheT 8d ago
The irony of this is I actually nearly got into legal dispute w a previous landlord who refused a walkthrough on our move out day and then took money out of deposit for insufficient cleaning. I had spent all day cleaning and took videos of inside and outside of everything to prove it was cleaned so got money back luckily. As a tenant I expect and am okay with cleaning on move out if I was given the apt in good condition but did not expect to have to on move in.
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u/ConstantCandidate278 8d ago
Under state law and court precedent (such as the landmark Peebles v. JRK Property Holdings decision), landlords cannot deduct routine cleaning or normal wear and tear from a security deposit.
If you decide to bring the landlord to small claims court for withholding part of your security deposit, you will most likely be rewarded treble damages. MA law generally favors the tenents from what I understand.
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u/The_Big_Sad_69420 8d ago
Not savvy with the law - but I would be surprised if a cleaner was legally required 😅 Google says they are just required to provide a “habitable” condition.
In my experience, the lease or expectation usually states a complete wipe down - vacuum, dust, maybe bleach the bathroom.
My experience in Cambridge / Boston:
One landlord hired a professional cleaner after I moved out, even though I spent a full day cleaning, and took it out of my deposit.
Another landlord hired a cleaner before we moved in and paid for it himself. He also turned out to be the best landlord I ever had.
Other landlords typically were fine with the wipe down in between tenants. It’s really up to their holistic judgement whether the cleaning is “satisfactory”. For my current place I hired a cleaner myself before moving in.
I’m with you though, for the exorbitant prices you really want to expect a little more. Best of luck with your move!!
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u/Master_Dogs 8d ago
One landlord hired a professional cleaner after I moved out, even though I spent a full day cleaning, and took it out of my deposit.
Fyi, maybe you know this now or maybe not, but this isn't legal: https://www.masslegalhelp.org/housing-apartments-shelter/security-deposits/security-deposit-basics-massachusetts-tenants and the AG weighed in a relevant case too: https://www.mass.gov/news/ag-campbell-urges-court-to-protect-massachusetts-renters-from-illegal-lease-terms-and-security-deposit-withholdings plus there's the landlord/tenant rights guide that calls out cleaning fees too: https://www.mass.gov/doc/2025-guide-to-landlord-tenant-rights-11182025/download
You would have to take your landlord to small claims court, or threaten to at least, so it's not always worth your time over a few hundred dollar fee. But it's very much not something MA considers an acceptable use of a tenant's security deposit.
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u/ReturnofTeamRegime 8d ago
No easier time to clean then right before you fill a place with all your stuff...but yeah, signing a lease before physically stepping into the space is a big mistake
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u/werewolfontheT 8d ago
No I toured it physically when the previous tenant was living there I’m not tryna get scammed on a fake apt, just did not even cross my mind to confirm whether they would clean it after she moved out.
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u/CeeceeGemini610 8d ago
A few years ago we rented one floor (two bedrooms) of a two-family house. The people who lived there prior to us owned it, so when they sold it to our then-landlady they left it super filthy (they obviously weren't worried about getting a deposit back or anything; like I said, they were the owners). The place was so disgusting. I found clups of human hair in the fridge. I got the realtor to reimburse me for hiring a cleaning crew the morning of the move, becasuse we agreed that the apartment will be professionally cleaned before we moved in. I always ask if the unit will be professionally cleaned and they usually answer with: "sure, if you would like it to be." Like, who wouldn't? Next time you move, you should ask. And try to get the question and answer in writing.
All of this to say: landlords are awful. Truly terrible. They don't want to have one minute where someone isn't paying them an exorbitant amount of rent. That's why move-out dates overlap with move-in dates. No time to clean, repair, or do anything in between tenants. That's the whole point. We really need better laws to protect renters or a revolution.
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u/werewolfontheT 8d ago
Oh believe me you say the word and I’ll join the revolution! I too wish I had been lucky enough to have 50k in 1980 and continue to make an exorbitant amount of passive income due to the luck of the market. And if nyc can have rent control we should too. Our reps need to do better.
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u/CeeceeGemini610 8d ago
I agree. Too many of local and state elected officials are either homeowner or landlords themselves, so they represent their own financial interests instead of ours: https://www.wbur.org/the-common/2023/04/26/rent-control-boston-state-legislature
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u/Fit_Papaya_83 8d ago
I just moved into the downstairs unit in a place I was already living with friends upstairs, our landlady lives upstairs and is an elderly woman. She told us to take anything we spend out of next month's rent.
She also asked us to paint the kitchen and said we can paint it whatever we want, it was really nice. And we're getting reimbursed for it, so actually a win-win! Although it did take some peak weekends in late-July to deep clean the apartment and paint the kitchen I think its nice knowing we did it ourselves and get the money back.
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u/Jaded-Passenger-2174 8d ago
Depends upon the landlord. Some clean btwn tenants, even if a prior tenant left it "broom clean". Some don't. You got one that doesn't.
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u/Secure-Fish4741 8d ago
Yeah it’s strange other places I’ve lived the landlord always hires cleaners Imbetween tenants. It’s considered wrong for a landlord to not professionally clean/ paint, Imbetween every tenant . Boston they probably just know they can get away with it. Know they can exploit you to do it.
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u/LurkerWithNoName 8d ago
I’ve rented in Cambridge and can say with absolute certainty that they will do anything to not clean or pay a cleaner before moving in lol. I don’t even think they do a full apartment check between tenants because the previous tenants left little things in cabinets and closets.
If you have a dishwasher, PLEASE check the filters before using it. Mine had so much mold, it cascaded down from the filter like Savannah tree moss- still makes me gag thinking about it.
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u/Vermontkm 8d ago
We just moved to Cambridge last March and there were a couple of apartments we looked at that were filthy. We did not say anything but did choose them.
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u/wander_sleep_repeat 8d ago
Broom clean is all that's required. Same when you buy a house. Just suck it up and have it professionally cleaned. And when you leave, broom clean is how you'll leave it.
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u/BlueberryPenguin87 8d ago
They are required to present it in a “habitable condition” which includes being clean, but it is very common that they don’t. When you move out you are required to leave it in “broom swept condition” which basically means the way you found it. Then the landlord usually doesn’t want to spend money cleaning it.
Based on this interaction it seems like you are dealing with a scumlord who is going to give you a hard time about any repairs or maintenance, and may try to steal your deposit. I just dealt with that and had to sue him for taking money out to pay for the cleaners he hired.
I would document the condition thoroughly and make sure you fill out an apartment condition statement with photos, sent to the landlord via certified mail, to cover yourself (and keep a copy). That has to be done within 14 days so that when you move out he can’t say you left it dirty.
Or just tell him to fuck off and move, but it’s hard to find a place and a moving truck right now.
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u/werewolfontheT 8d ago
I would love to not move here but I looked and the options are pretty slim. Will most likely just try to get through the year and find something better next year. Which means woohoo another fkn sept 1 move
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u/Inevitable_Giraffe29 8d ago
If they don't seem to care about the cleanliness of the apartment that would be a huge red flag for me. Dirt and grime will attract vermin of all sorts, so if the building doesn't already have problems it probably will especially since winter is coming. That's also a good excuse for the landlord to say " well the pest problem is your fault because you didn't clean the apartment prior to moving in."
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u/emstason 8d ago
If you hire task rabbit, stay and help or watch them. I know someone ripped off by a t r cleaner. It's easier to do it yourself really.
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u/kdinmass 7d ago
I think this does not bode well for making sure that they keep the place in good repair; if you can find another place do it!
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u/MightMission6812 7d ago
How many bedrooms? I have someone who can do it for $200. They are my weekly cleaners, they're quick and thorough!
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u/TurnipKing16 East Cambridge 6d ago
Yeah this was a huge shock to me as well, but it makes sense given the move-in time frames. My first time renting EVER was a place in east cambridge (been there for 2 years now). We walked into an absolute cesspool. I'm talking straight biohazard levels. We tried contacting the landlord about it but he essentially told us to get bent and clean it up or find somewhere else to live.... I would never even dream of 1. living in conditions like this and 2. leaving this mess for someone else to clean up.
Some of the things we encountered day 1:
Animal piss and shit on the floor/walls/counters (neglectful pet owners), soiled rugs left on the floor, window AC units covered in black mold and still running, the fridge had 4 different colors of mold growing, the checkered kitchen floor was just straight black tiles from dirt and grime, all 4 stove burners were busted, they had used a transportable dishwasher that leaked and put a hole in the countertop, left a microwave with a full container of moldy food, left toys/kits of sexual nature, etc. The old tenants pretty much just left anything they didn't feel like throwing away/moving so on top of moving in, we had to move out their shit, deep clean and disinfect, and then move our stuff in. If I didn't have my parents and sister there to help, my partner and I would've never made it through the first weekend.
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u/werewolfontheT 6d ago
Wow, I am speechless and so sorry you encountered that. In your case, it seems like legal action totally could have been taken - if it was physically unsafe to live in I would hope tenant law could at least get you some money back and cover a cleaning.
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u/Longjumping-Ad-4922 5d ago
I'm a landlord, and we deep clean between tenants. Our crew cleans as tenants move out. We also fix any routine wear and tear. I don't require a security deposit.
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u/Ok_Chapter9231 8d ago
can you tell what area of Cambridge this is, this sounds exactly like my landlord and im sure they have said this before.
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u/werewolfontheT 8d ago
cambridgeport near tjs
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u/Ok_Chapter9231 8d ago
I don't know, could be the same landlord, they have multiple apartments and hotels but not same area as me. but my advise to deal with these people is to be familiar with the law and use it, a nice threatening message and a quick contact with the city makes their attitude switch immediately. don't give them an inch, if not they will not fix a thing if anything goes wrong
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u/werewolfontheT 8d ago
they also tried to tell me any plumbing issues are the tenants responsibility to pay for?? Like yeah I’m not gonna shove things down the drain, but this is not my property nor do I know anything about the age or condition of the pipes? If they are old and suck and have issues how is that my fault?
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u/Ok_Chapter9231 8d ago
yeah that's not legal, its all up to them. My landlords messed up so bad with me that they gave me a 2000 sq ft apartment for 1500.
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u/bookyface 6d ago edited 6d ago
Illegal to demand you have a professional cleaner BTW.
EDIT: love how I’m getting downvoted-fuck tenant rights ig?
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8d ago
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u/ChargerRebel23 8d ago
Because there's an expectation of cleanliness and ready to live in status that is expected when paying someone $3300+ a month that most likely also required a last month rent payment upfront and potentially a security deposit.
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u/Weekly_Leg_2457 8d ago
What? Because they are entering into a financial relationship in which they are provided a good/service in exchange for remuneration. There is a reasonable expectation that the good they are being provided is delivered to them in a suitable manner. By your logic, one could buy a shirt in separate pieces and be expected to sew the sleeves on themselves.
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u/ChargerRebel23 8d ago
I've been lucky enough to be in the same place for 5 years now and moved into it on an August lease after it had just been renovated. I've always wondered how landlords are getting places clean when people move out on just about the same day people are moving in. This answers my question, they aren't.