Rented Condo 7 years, how much of my deposit should I get back?

Question

I've rented this same condo for the past 7 years. In this amount of time the landlord has come by twice for inspections. Both were within the first 2 years. Since she has only come by to have the dryer repaired, and replace the refridgerator. We have recently bought a house and are going to be moving out and I'm curious what she can charge me for since I've been here for so long. Shouldn't everything be considered wear and tear at this point? Is there a certain amount of time to consider? How long does she have to reimburse me the deposit? Is it a good idea to do a walk thru with her?
Thanks!!

Answer 1

You should get it all back, assuming the only damage is fair wear and tear. Things like cigarette burns are never fair wear and tear, but a carpet that has become a bit threadbare from normal use would be fair wear and tear.

Normally the landlord has 30 days from moveout to render the final accounting of the deposit and either refund the balance or render a bill. Most states provide that a landlord who misses that deadline loses the right to offset for damages from the deposit, though they can still pursue the issue in the courts.