Odenton, MD. I'm renting from a property management agency who rents on a first come first serve basis. I missed out on a beautiful townhouse "A" by one day. After I had
Gotten the certified security deposit check and the certified rent check. So I chose townhouse "B" because my furniture was in route. Before moving into the townhouse I had asked the property management agency was the house clean because when I saw it last it wasn't clean, I was told that it was. When I moved in on December 19, 2008, it wasn't clean and as I went through the walk through by myself there was a mountain of repairs that had to be done, which the agency is still repairing and replacing appliances as of this date Feb. 6, 2009. I took pictures of everything. Even the fireplace wasn't cleaned out. I will not clean that. I had to scrub the kitchen cabinets doors, pantry, exhaust fan, clean walls, behind the washer and dryer where there was mounds of dust, toys and socks. I want to know what would be a favorable amount of credit to my rent that I should ask for, for reimbursement for cleaning this filthy house. I thought about calling up three cleaning services to get their estimates. If they do not comply, I will report them to the better business bureau, the home owners association and take them to small claims court.
What is your advice?:(

That would be my advice, get cleaning estimates, present them with them and ask for a rent credit of the average.

Yep. I agree with ScottGem.

Thank you for your response. I'm glad I was on the right track. If they do not comply, I will take the actions that I stated.

But then don't expect them to pay, they will say you had a option of not renting the unit but since you moved in, you accepted it in this condition.

Before you moved in, was when you needed to have management sign they would agree to give you credit for this.

You can try, but I doubt you have any way to force them if they just don't agree

You moved into this mess, don't expect the landlord to pay for this clean up. You should have insisted the unit be cleaned up before takingn possession. Sure, take them to Small Claims Court and see how you fare.