My ex-landlord says I owe her $8000 for damages and I disagree how do I prove I am telling the truth?

Question

She says that I did more damage than I did, took my security deposit, got my apartment, and still wants more. I have kids to take care of. I feel like she's trying to ruin my life. She kows I have no money, that's why I moved.

Answer 1

a landlord needs to be able to prove expenses. Can she document her charges with proof and receipts? There is normal wear and tear and you wouldn't be responsible for that, but it you burned holes in the carpet and stuff like that, she would have a case for an entirely new carpet installation.

Protect yourself in the future by doing a walk through inspection and sending the list of problems to the landlord in the first 30 days. Take pictures. At the time of move out, you do a move out inspection, preferably with the landlord/manager and discuss the damages and at that time you can challenge anything you don't agree with.

It sounds like you were irresponsible and just moved owing rent and probably leaving a pigsty in your wake. True? Did you clean it for the next tenant? Did you remove absolutely everything? Most people owing money decide the landlord is a greed-hog and blame someone else, but they need to step up to the plate and take responsibility. If you can't pay the rent, tell your landlord that and help them find a new tenant to replace you if you are breaking a lease. Your having kids and no money isn't the landlords fault. Be an adult.

Answer 2

The burden of proof is on her. You should have filled out a checklist with condition of apartment. Do you have any pictures showing before and after? $ 8000 is a lot of money for repairs, unless you did something really bad it seems excessively high.

Answer 3

1) you can write letters back and forth, negotiating a much smaller sum. Depending on how long you were ther, you may be able to argue ( successfully) that what she is concerned about was NOT damage, but was normal wear and tear - the facility was aging.

2) you can get a lawyer and tell her "talk to my lawyer"

IF she did an inspection with you, after you moved everything out, AND she approved of it, she doesn't really have much of a leg to stand on.

good luck.

Answer 4

Do you have photos of the place as you left it?

What sort of damage did you do? What was normal wear and tear? How long did you live there?

If you lived there for many years and she had to replace the carpet, that is considered normal wear and tear. If you lived there for for one year and it had to be replaced, that is considered damage.

You can always file in small claims for the return of your deposit ... but be prepared for a counter-claim by her for the $8,000.00

Answer 5

They all do that....
They figure you wont bother to do anything about it anyways. I would ask for an itemized list with the estimates from a licensed contractor. Then I would take her to tenant court, most states don't charge filing fees to tenants. But the other states it's about 55 dollars.

Answer 6

Did you take pictures of your apartment before you left? If not, she has you by the fine hairs. It's a shame that people can be so cold and callous. I wish you and your family all the best.

Answer 7

take pics then get paperwork for concileation court if it's $8000 i'd talk to a civil lawyer

Answer 8

GO to court! Bring proof!

Answer 9

when she take you to court take any document with you to court to show them your proof if you have any dament that she was supoe to fit and did not fix ,if you fix them on your own save your rece form the things you purce save it and take it with you to court to shown them that you do not own her nothing

Answer 10

Do not pay her. if she sues her you will have your day in court