Underlays - Can an owner require that tenants have the carpets professionally cleaned?

Can an owner require that tenants have the carpets professionally cleaned?

College students moving out of a townhouse and property management company is requiring them to have the carpets professionally cleaned with a receipt to prove it. What if they want to rent a steamer and do it themselves. What about regular wear and tear? Shouldn't cleaning the carpets be their responsibility? There aren't any major stains or tears.

Public Comments

yes they can, it was steam cleaned when you moved in, and you should leave it that way too. So gitt'r done and quit your bitching!
If I were the landlord, and you attempted to steam clean the carpets yourself, I would withhold the entire security deposit. Hire a firm to professionally steam clean the carpets.
If that is what they are requiring (if its what is written in the lease) then yes you have to do it if you want your security deposit back. If you want to rent a steamer and do it yourself then feel free to do so but the cost of having a professional come out and clean the carpets for you WILL be deducted from your security deposit.
Dirt is not normal wear and tear, if you do not produce the receipt they will simply hire and deduct from the deposit.
It is always the tenants responsibility to clean the carpet when moving out. Some will let you use a steamer and do it yourself, but they don't work as well as a professional job. To protect his investment a landlord can require a professional cleaning. Dirty carpet is not normal wear and tear
Yes they can
Yes they can. It may even be in their lease. This is part of what your deposit covers. This is not wear and tear.