18/12/25
Charged for "Refrigerator Polish"
My tenancy at Aria of Zionsville was largely uneventful, but the move-out process left a very poor impression.
After vacating, I was charged $180 for “refrigerator polish” based solely on cosmetic wear to a stainless-steel refrigerator. The condition cited consisted of light surface scratches and scuffing typical of normal residential use of stainless appliances over the course of a lease. There was no functional damage, no dents, and no structural issues.
When I questioned the charge,... management asserted, without objective testing or clear evidence, that the wear resulted from “improper cleaning” and required specialty restoration. A third-party vendor was hired, and the cost of this cosmetic service was passed on to me. Standard turnover cleaning was not clearly documented as having been attempted first.
The charge ultimately came down to subjective judgments about appearance rather than demonstrable tenant-caused damage. Renters should be aware that cosmetic restoration services may be classified as “damage” at move-out, even when the condition appears consistent with ordinary wear and tear.
I strongly recommend that prospective tenants document appliance condition in detail at move-in and move-out and be prepared to challenge discretionary move-out charges.
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