We rented a house for 2.5+ years from our landlord who was deported from the USA for violating his visa. So from day one it's been difficult dealing with him from 1000's of miles away. To make a long story short, after 2 years we got tired of him and moved out. He wasn't back in the US when our lease expired so we mailed his stuff back to his power of attorney. We paid $265.00 for a professional move out clean and have pictures noting the excellent condition. He however, has found any little issue possible to ding us on. Are these fair?
$408.00 for carpet cleaning only minor spots here and there I had the house cleaned every 2 weeks (the house is only 1400 sq ft)
$129.00 for new curtains, he didn't like the ones we left
$Ring from towel holder missing $18.74
$Nick mark in the guest bathroom counter top $125
$300 for paint and spackle (there were no issues with the walls)
Is it worth taking him to court? He lives in another coutry so having him pay to come here might be worth it.
2006-10-23 10:21:45 · 3 answers · asked by Anonymous in Business & Finance ➔ Renting & Real Estate
1. He has to provide receipts.
2. Check your lease to see if you were liable for curtains.
If so, he needs to give a better reason that "I don't like those."
3. I would not go to the trouble to pursue it legally unless he can't produce receipts, but would at least harass him about it.
4. Send him your receipt for cleaning and let him know you have already paid for some of these services he claims you owe for.
2006-10-23 10:30:50 · answer #1 · answered by Phoenix, Wise Guru 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The State of California website has good information on landlord/tenant rights and responsibilities. After you move, your landlord must return your deposit in 21 days or provide an explanantion of what is being kept and why, including receipts. Failure to do so in 21 days forfeits the landlord's right to keep anything.
Suing an out of state (or worse, out of country) landlord can be difficult. Unless he has an agent for service of process. In small claims court you cannot serve a suit on an out of state defendant.
2006-10-23 10:39:01 · answer #2 · answered by Alan B 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
They usually charge for carpet cleaning if you don't do yourself but the other stuff is their discretion. I've heard some landlords never return deposits. It's their profit margin.
2006-10-23 12:26:02 · answer #3 · answered by ? 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋