What does the law actually say?
Two short sections of the Residential Tenancies Act, 2006 cover it.
| Section | What it says | What it means for carpet |
|---|---|---|
| 33, cleanliness | "The tenant is responsible for ordinary cleanliness of the rental unit, except to the extent that the tenancy agreement requires the landlord to clean it." | Vacuumed and free of mess; not necessarily professionally cleaned |
| 34, damage | "The tenant is responsible for the repair of undue damage to the rental unit or residential complex caused by the wilful or negligent conduct of the tenant, another occupant of the rental unit or a person permitted in the residential complex by the tenant." | Pet urine soaked into the pad, burns, dye spills; not ordinary wear in traffic lanes |
The right-hand column is our plain reading of the two sections, not a ruling. The Landlord and Tenant Board decides real disputes on their facts.
Is worn carpet the tenant's fault?
Not by itself. Section 34 is about "undue damage" from "wilful or negligent conduct". Grey traffic lanes, flattened pile on the stairs and fading by a window are what carpet does with ordinary use over years. A pet that used one corner of a bedroom for months, a dropped curling iron or a bottle of hair dye are a different matter. That distinction is the one most move-out arguments turn on.
What if my lease says I must have the carpet professionally cleaned?
Read it, and keep a copy. Section 33 starts from ordinary cleanliness and lets the agreement shift cleaning to the landlord; whether a lease term can require more of a tenant is the kind of question the Landlord and Tenant Board answers, not a carpet cleaner. If you want to avoid the argument altogether, a professional clean with a dated receipt is cheap evidence that the carpet was left clean.
When is a move-out carpet clean worth paying for?
- When there are pet accidents. Treating them before you leave is cheaper than a pad replacement charged to you later; see pet urine.
- When there are visible spills that ordinary cleaning has not shifted.
- When you have been there several years and the carpet has never been cleaned.
- When you want a dated receipt to show at the walk-through.
Book it last, once the unit is empty and everything above the floor is done, so nothing is dropped on clean carpet. At Klein's, a typical bedroom is about $60 and the minimum is $200, confirmed in writing before any work starts; see prices.
What should a tenant photograph?
Every carpeted room on the day you move in and the day you move out, in daylight, with the date on the files. Close-ups of anything that was already there when you arrived. It is the simplest protection under section 34, and it works for landlords as well as tenants. Renting in Hamilton? See carpet cleaning in Hamilton.
Get a free carpet cleaning quote
Tell us which rooms, how many stairs, and about any pets or stains. We reply within one business day, by phone or email, and the quote is agreed before anyone starts.