mini blinds

Can my landlord ask me to replace all mini blinds that have been bent before we move out. They did an inspection and asked the carpets be cleaned and all bent mini blindes to be replaced. We were planning on cleaning our carpets but we cannot afford to replace the mini blinds as we will already be spending $200 on the capet cleaning. We have no plans to move out anytime soon and we have 5 kids so the 2 toddlers I have will just bend them again. I thought that my deposit will take care of the mini blinds once we move or we can replace them before then. They gave us 14 days to replace them. Can they do this????? Plus she was rude and told me to teach my kids the word "NO!" I am livid!!!!!!

At move out, the LL can require that you be responsible for the blind replacement since you admit your children damaged the blinds. But to replace them now, when you have no plans to leave, is odd. I can understand the carpet cleaning since dirt ground into a carpet can become a permanent stain and can damage the carpet. Thus he would like you to maintain those carpets in good condition to prevent further damage. But changing the blinds out now won't prevent further damage nor will it avoid a permanent problem.

So I don't quite understand why they want them changed now, except that the LL wishes the place to still look good. Is the house going on the market to be sold? Perhaps she wants it to look good for the showings. (If so, I can understand the requirement to replace them now.) But if not, let her know that they will be changed when you move out and put it in writing. Tell her that they could be easily damaged again prior to move out and that you'd like to leave her with new undamaged blinds when you go.

One last thought - is this house under an area governed by an HOA? Perhaps it is a requirement of the HOA that window coverings be in good condition? If so, the owner coud be fined if they are bent and broken. Check it out.