Can a landlord charge for cleaning a dirty oven or stove?
Short answer
It depends
You can deduct for a genuinely filthy, grease-caked oven left well beyond move-in condition — but not as a routine fee when the tenant left the kitchen reasonably clean.
Ovens and stovetops caked in baked-on grease and food, well beyond a normal wipe-down, can support a cleaning deduction for the actual, reasonable cost.
What you can't do is charge an automatic oven-cleaning fee when the tenant left it reasonably clean, or bill to make it cleaner than it was at move-in. A move-in checklist noting the appliance's starting condition is your best support.
Usually normal wear & tear
- ✓Light cooking residue a routine wipe handles
Often chargeable damage
- •Heavy baked-on grease and grime left at move-out
More deduction questions
This is general educational information about how normal wear and tear is typically distinguished from tenant damage — not legal advice. Deposit rules vary by state and locality; confirm your state's rules or consult a local attorney before relying on any specific deduction.