I live in a basement suite. I went away for 3 weeks and asked my landlord (who lives upstairs) if she wouldn't mind watering my plants while i was gone. When i moved in (my place was fully furnished) there was a few pictures hanging on the wall,really ugly ones the kind you'd find in a 70's rec room. So needless to say ive hung up my own plus a few more. She now tells me that each one of the holes (little pin holes) ive made will cost me 5 bucks when i move out. Now that seems a little outrageous to me..any thoughts?
2007-08-21 10:25:06 · 16 answers · asked by TheDeeds 3 in Business & Finance ➔ Renting & Real Estate
5 bucks per hole
2007-08-21 10:25:43 · update #1
there was no lease agreement..ts month to month
2007-08-21 10:46:26 · update #2
For starters, I wouldn't reply to her for the statement she made about the holes. I don't know how long you have left on your lease, but for a few bucks you can buy a can of wall putty and use your finger to cover-up the holes. When you get ready to leave, just pay her the final rent payment. If she wants to hold your deposit, tell her that you will report her to the National Consumer Law Center located in Washington, D.C., and The National Association of Consumer Advocates, also located in Washington, D.C. If she laughs at you, then go ahead and report her to these organizations. The will investigate you complaint for free.
2007-08-21 10:44:32 · answer #1 · answered by Albert 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
your landlord can only tell you what something will cost you when you move out and you haven't made necessary repairs. as a tenant, your job is to leave the apartment in as close to the condition which you moved in...it is expected for the property to have normal wear and tear based on the fact that you did live there...don't let your landlord bully you into thinking that she can rip you off...read your lease and make sure that she didn't write some strange rule..even so, go to your local housing department, there should be a landlord/tenant department which deals with crap like this...there is always someone trying to pass on their bill to their tenants...they make sure that scumlords stay in line...bottom line, if a pin hole is the problem, make sure you take pictures of the entire place right now and keep that stuff with you, she will try to stick you with something...
2007-08-21 10:36:12 · answer #2 · answered by la21unica 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The lease I use says that I will furnish the out going tenant with an itemized bill for everything beyond normal wear and tear. With labor, that could be possible. My advice would be to clean it and fix things before you leave. That way, you are all good!
2007-08-21 10:40:40 · answer #3 · answered by bpl 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes. Before you move out, carefully remove your pictures and patch the holes very neatly. Ask the landlord for a bit of paint so you can touch up each and every hole, maybe twice, as the patch stuff is really really white.
2007-08-21 10:34:32 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Actually thats not a bad price she gave you. I charge my tenants 30 buck a pin hole. Since I have to take the time to spackle the holes, sand and repaint. This includes my labor and supplies. Holes in the wall are above normal "wear & tear".
2007-08-21 10:46:47 · answer #5 · answered by LILL 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Yes, she can, as she will have to fix them. HOWEVER, if you do the minimal amount of work to fix them, you won't. If you paid a deposit, it will be taken out of that and the rest returned to you. IF, however, you didn't, she will be hard pressed to get the money. All you need do is buy some spackling compound, fill the wholes and paint it. I'd really be surprised if she could find them. Or just leave them and rehang her pics on your holes.... OH JOY
2007-08-21 10:33:55 · answer #6 · answered by Mr. Cellophane 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It sounds like your landlord's feeling were hurt because you took down her pictures. Most people do hang up their own decorations, but they are responsible for leaving the apartment as it was on move in day. Expect the repairs to be considerably more expensive than if you did it yourself. For that reason you should spakle the walls yourself before you move. Spakle is very inexpensive and easy to do.
2007-08-21 10:48:08 · answer #7 · answered by Cshell 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Did you tell her you were doing it first? It never hurts to check. Plus, take a look at your lease agreement. All the ins and outs are in there. Usually the way it works is that it can be taken out of your security deposit.
2007-08-21 10:34:27 · answer #8 · answered by whosaysdiscoisdead 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
was it in your lease agreement? By law, you have the opportunity to patch the holes before you move out. Hopefully you did a damage assessment walkthrough before you moved in.
2007-08-21 10:32:46 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Did you take picture of this place before you moved it? If you have proof that the holes were there prior to you moving in, you are not liable for the holes.
2007-08-21 10:32:53 · answer #10 · answered by Mrs Apple 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋