I recently moved out of my apartment into a new home I purchased. I kept the apartment in great shape except for normal wear and tear. My landlord (a corporation that only became my landlord several months ago) is refusing to return my security deposit, and attempting to bill me for 2422.65 extra including 1.860.65 for carpet replacement, 42.00 for lightbulb replacement?!?!?!, 120.00 for suite cleaning, 200.00 for suite painting, and 200.00 for wall repair (there was a tiny hole in the wall caused by an anchored painting). I came into a bit of money recently and I believe the landlord knows of this and is just trying to get me to pay for renovations made to the apartment (it is an older, run down building). Does anyone knoe what my options are.....what I should do? The damage deposit was only 650.00 dollars originally. HELP!!!!
2007-03-09 09:40:32 · 9 answers · asked by Anonymous in Business & Finance ➔ Renting & Real Estate
I would take him to small claims court, they have to show the damage was your fault and not due to age and or normal wear and tear, putty patch would fix the hole and he should have mentioned the carpet problem to you upon your departure, had he done so you could have washed it with a carpet cleaner.
if he has no proof of your damaging, he won't get any money
and if you have any pictures of you in the apt to show that it was in good condition when you left you will be in the clear.
putty 5 bucks
carpet cleaner 30 bucks.
oh and he will have to provide receipts ect..
you are not responsible for appliances ect..
unless that was in your lease.
I would take him to small claims , its 35 bucks,
and I would bet you win your case.
Meg
2007-03-09 09:54:56 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Either he is trying to scare with big numbers to get to keep the 650.00 depsosit they have. Or if he insists in collecting all that extra money , you can go to yr city's housing authority and report him. I hope you took pictures of the way you left the place. Yo don't mention how long you livewd there. Has to be some than a short period in order to claim painting and cleaning as 'normal tear and wear'. the whole you migjht have to fix, some landlords are really picky about theose.
Hope this helps
2007-03-09 17:48:01 · answer #2 · answered by gracegptx 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The worse thing the landlord can do besides holding your deposit, is to take you to small claims court.
Did the apartment really need those repairs?
Contact the corporation and get to the top person in charge. Also take photos of you apartment showing the carpet, paint etc. to show them how frivolous this possibly is!
Good Luck.
2007-03-09 17:45:33 · answer #3 · answered by HMMMMM 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
To my personal knowledge, a landlord can't charge for cleaning unless it is written in the contract that way. They also cannot sue or charge you for normal wear and tear on a rental. That is why you pay rent. The damage on the wall they might charge for, however not in that great amount. I would take them to small claims court, or let them take you. I hope you took pictures of the condition when you left. That always helps. I hope this helps out. I was once in the same situation over smoke damage to the paint. We settled it outside court, as it wasn't written that
smoking wasn't in the contract....
2007-03-09 17:48:19 · answer #4 · answered by eatdrinkandbemerry 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Let them have your deposit and pray that they don't take you to small claims court. Unless you had a walk through done when you moved out to access any damage that needed repaired. (You would have a copy of this). The landlord is most likely within their rights. Your lease agreement will tell you everything you need to know. Try reading it.
2007-03-09 17:50:17 · answer #5 · answered by ? 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
What your landlord is doing is completely illegal. Do not pay the money. If they try to sue you, the case will not hold up in court.
2007-03-09 17:55:21 · answer #6 · answered by ? 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I wouldn't pay. If they take you to court, present your case and you stand a good chance of winning.
2007-03-09 22:44:14 · answer #7 · answered by Dusty 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I would tell them to sue me if I were you. If things are just as you say, a judge would most certainly rule in your favor.
2007-03-09 17:45:45 · answer #8 · answered by Chris D 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
you dont pay him nothing
after u moved out its not ur probem
landlords like that just want money cuz they dont have it
one time when my family moved out he said we still have to pay the rent even if we were only there for 1 week for that month
2007-03-09 17:45:03 · answer #9 · answered by hot_devil_right_here 3 · 0⤊ 3⤋