afraidofamericans:internetdumpsterfires:Landlord finding any reason not to give a security deposit b
afraidofamericans:internetdumpsterfires:Landlord finding any reason not to give a security deposit back I had a landlord try to pull this shit with me over a $2600 deposit. I took over 200 pictures of the house on move out, so anything she said was broken i had a picture ready to prove her wrong. My roommates were cowards and wanted me to back down. I ended up sending her a certified letter threatening to sue her for treble damages if she didn’t return the deposit.I ended up getting the full deposit backDo not be a doormat for these bastards. You have rights. Fight them and you can win There are both Federal and State laws regarding landlords and tenants, and some cities or counties may have additional regulations, particularly if they have rent control policies, and it’s worthwhile to be familiar with them if you rent. When it comes to security deposits, here are some basics (though again, check your state and local requirements to confirm):Your security deposit cannot be retained to pay for normal cleaning or replacement of items due to normal wear and tear - both of those are the landlord’s responsibility. They can only retain your deposit to cover unpaid rent, unpaid bills, or to repair property damage or damage caused by the tenant’s neglect. Hole knocked in the wall? Comes out of the deposit. Normally worn carpet? Nope, can’t deduct for that.You are responsible for leaving your rental unit in a similar state to how it was when you moved in. As mentioned in the reblogs above, take multiple pictures once everything is moved out but before you turn in your key. It’s hard to prove that you left it reasonably clean and in good repair after the fact. If you leave a bunch of stuff lying around and a mess in the sink that needs to be cleaned up, that may be deducted from your deposit.Your landlord is responsible for significant repairs while you’re living in the property. If you don’t report them and they worsen, that may be deducted from your deposit when you leave. A landlord must provide an itemized list of deductions to the tenant, and return the unused portion of the deposit. They have a set time period (varies per state) to do so. Review the deductions and contest anything that falls outside the scope of significant cleaning, property damage, or neglect.In some states, landlords are required to pay you interest on your security deposit.And finally, READ YOUR LEASE. Know what it says. If it explicitly says not to do something like, for instance, flush tampons, and you clog the pipes with tampons, you’re liable. If it says you’re allowed to paint but have to repaint to white before moving out, that can be deducted from your deposit. -- source link
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