What Arizona law says about your deposit
Under the Arizona Residential Landlord and Tenant Act (A.R.S. § 33-1321), after you move out and request your deposit back, the landlord has 14 days, not counting weekends and legal holidays, to return it along with an itemized list of any deductions.
Landlords can deduct for damage beyond normal wear and tear, and for cleaning when the home is left dirty. A thorough move-out cleaning removes the most common reason for deductions.
This is general information, not legal advice. Read your lease too, since some leases include specific cleaning requirements.
Before the cleaning day
- ✓Schedule the cleaning after the movers, before the walkthrough. We clean empty homes faster and more completely.
- ✓Keep the water and power on until the cleaning is done. We need both.
- ✓Empty every cabinet, closet and the fridge. Anything left behind slows the job and can cost you.
- ✓Take photos of each room when it's done, so you have your own record for the walkthrough.
Room-by-room checklist
Kitchen
- Inside every cabinet and drawer
- Inside the fridge and freezer, shelves and bins
- Inside the oven and the stovetop
- Microwave inside and out
- Countertops, backsplash and sink
- Outside of all appliances
- Floors, including under the edges of appliances you can reach
Bathrooms
- Toilet inside, outside and around the base
- Shower, tub and glass doors, including mineral spots
- Sink, counters and fixtures
- Inside cabinets, drawers and medicine cabinet
- Mirrors
- Floors and grout
Bedrooms and closets
- Closet shelves and rods
- Ceiling fans
- Window sills, tracks and inside windows
- Baseboards
- Light switches and outlets
- Floors, wall to wall
Living areas
- Ceiling fans and light fixtures
- Blinds
- Doors, door frames and handles
- AC vents
- Baseboards
- Floors, wall to wall
The spots that are easy to miss
The oven, the inside of the fridge, mineral buildup in the bathroom and dusty ceiling fans and blinds are easy to forget and easy to spot on a walkthrough. If you're short on time, start there.
Landlords and property managers
The same move-out cleaning works between tenants. Maria cleans the empty home top to bottom so it's ready for photos, showings and the next lease.