landlord tenant
Landlord&#39;s obligation to attempt to clean an appliance before replacing
<p>I recently moved out of an apartment I lived in for 2 years. I don't know how old the stove top was when I moved in, but it was not new. While I lived there, the stove top got some small stains on it from water boiling over pots. Before moving out, I somewhat attempted to clean it but did not succeed because I was short on time and figured the worst I would get would be a small cleaning charge.</p>

<p>Now my former landlord is taking $300 out of my security deposit to replace the entire stove top because they have deemed the stains to be impossible to remove. After hearing this, I did some googling and found many methods of removing those types of stains and I have doubts that the cleaning staff even tried to remove those stains and they are basically using my to try to do free renovations.</p>

<p>In the state of Virginia, does the landlord have any legal obligation to prove they attempted to clean the appliance before charging me for a replacement? Additional do I have any right to see a quote or proof of the cost of the repair?</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>does the landlord have any legal obligation to prove they attempted to clean the appliance before charging me for a replacement?</p>
</blockquote>

<p>Not by default. Virginia statute <a href="https://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacode/title55/chapter13/section55-225.19/" rel="nofollow noreferrer">§ 55-225.19</a> reads in relevant parts:</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>The security deposit and any deductions, damages, and charges shall be
  itemized by the landlord in a written notice given to the tenant,
  together with any amount due the tenant, within 45 days after the
  termination of the tenancy. </p>
  
  <p>[...]</p>
  
  <p>The landlord shall:</p>
  
  <ol>
  <li>Maintain and itemize records for each tenant of all deductions from security deposits provided for under this section which the landlord
  has made by reason of a tenant's noncompliance with § 55-225.4,</li>
  </ol>
</blockquote>

<p>(please note that I have not read the entire statute, but you may want to do so as well as § 55-225.4)</p>

<p>Thus, the statute does not compel the landlord to prove what you mention. However, you are entitled to file a complaint/grievance in Small Claims court. There is where you would need to produce evidence with which to dispute the landlord's assertion(s) about the need for -- and/or cost of-- replacement of the stove top.</p>
