Sometimes — but only for cleaning that goes beyond returning the unit to its move-in condition. A landlord cannot charge you to clean what was already dirty when you moved in, and they cannot charge you for normal everyday cleaning that any new tenant would expect. Routine "professional cleaning fees" baked into a lease are often unenforceable.
You're generally responsible for leaving the unit reasonably clean — vacuumed, swept, kitchen wiped down. The landlord pays for routine turnover cleaning beyond that.
Many leases say you must pay $200–$500 for professional cleaning regardless of condition. In states like California, those flat-fee cleaning charges are unenforceable; in others they're only enforceable if the unit is actually unclean.
If you left grease caked on the stove, pet stains in the carpet, or trash bags in the unit, your landlord can deduct the actual cost of cleaning that — with receipts.
Like any deduction, cleaning charges must appear on the itemized deduction letter, with enough detail (and often receipts) to justify the amount. Vague "cleaning — $300" charges are often refundable on demand.
The single best protection against a bogus cleaning charge is a complete set of timestamped move-out photos showing the condition you left every room in.
Need a landlord-tenant attorney? Browse partner attorneys for Landlord & Tenant
NotALawyer.com provides general legal information, not legal advice.