I was robbed on Security Deposit

[Kenji4861]

I stayed at this one apartment for 1 year. I paid $500 for security deposit and when I left, the place was squeaky clean.

Today I got my security deposit check back and I was expecting a 300-500 refund, but it was $137.

They said it costs
-Water Bill - $67.66
-Full Clean - $120
-Full Paint Prorated - $105
-Shampoo Carpet - $70

This place had nothing left...
Is there anything I can do?

 

[iwearnosox]

Yes, wait for it to cool off a bit then go throw a rock through some of their windows.

(I kiiddd, I kiiiid...)

 

[z0mb13]

small claims court??

this is why I try to avoid places with huge security deposit..

 

[Dacalo]

That is the norm.

No matter how you leave the place clean, they will still charge you.

That's why I gave up being a nice guy and I usually leave the place as it is.

 

[Xionide]

Originally posted by: z0mb13
small claims court??

this is why I try to avoid places with huge security deposit..

Yes but then again that can attract annoying neighbors. I think the only solution would be BURN IT ALL DOWN!! jk

 

[glen]

I don't think I have ever gotten a security deposite back.
Apartment managers are the lowest form of life next to RoadRunner and BellSouth customer service people.

 

[z0mb13]

Originally posted by: Xionide

Originally posted by: z0mb13
small claims court??

this is why I try to avoid places with huge security deposit..

Yes but then again that can attract annoying neighbors. I think the only solution would be BURN IT ALL DOWN!! jk

not if the place is high class..

I live in a pretty nice apartment, with practically zero deposit

 

[Nocturnal]

Originally posted by: glen
I don't think I have ever gotten a security deposite back.
Apartment managers are the lowest form of life next to RoadRunner and BellSouth customer service people.

I don't understand, what do you mean by this? I'm a RR CSR

 

[LivinLaVivaPollo]

Same thing happened to my parents two summers ago. They were renting out an apartment waiting for their new house to be built, and when they moved out, the management took the whole security deposit. It was funny because the way they itemized it, it ended up being a perfect 500 dollars, which was the entire security deposit. They charged for things my parents never had, like an ice tray and a broiler pan.

 

[Raincity]

They do this because nobody ever puts a fight to get their deposit back. Next time make the property mananger do the walk through and document all damage and what needs cleaning together and get them to sign off on it.

 

[glen]

Originally posted by: Nocturnal

Originally posted by: glen
I don't think I have ever gotten a security deposite back.
Apartment managers are the lowest form of life next to RoadRunner and BellSouth customer service people.

I don't understand, what do you mean by this? I'm a RR CSR

The folks in the sales department are neck and neck with the BellSouth sales folks.
The CSRs are not as bad, but there is room for improvement, simply by being honest.

I never know when they are really lying to me, embellishing, or simply don't know.
For example, I called Comcast ( not RR, but typical of my experience) last week when the storm knocked the internet out. I always call more than once, because I get different answers:
All of Charleston is out.
No complaints from your area so far.
157 users are out.
Electrical power in your area is out.
No idea when we will be back up.
Back up in 2 hours.
Back up in 11 hours.
Back up tommorrow.

 

[glen]

Nocturnal, you are a really nice person, and I am sure you never mislead customers.
I hope you don't take anythign I said personally.
I think we can all tell when CSRs are lying to us, and becasue we are at their mercy, it is frustrating.

 

[cherrytwist]

We just received our $450 depost back in full last week in the mail.

 

[brxndxn]

Dude, go demand your security deposit back!!! Paint and shampooing carpet is the cost of the owner unless it is fully disclosed in the lease. The only way they could get away with charging you for paint is if you completely screwed up the walls. But usually, owners are expected to figure in the price of painting or include it on the lease.

The Full Clean part is complete bullsh!t. It would be ridiculous for you to allow them to charge for that. If you cleaned the place, they cannot reclean it and charge you unless you left something for them to remove. If they state they had to disenfect stuff and things like that, you can tell them to shove it unless it's in the lease. ALL 'CHARGES' MUST BE DISCLOSED IN THE LEASE.

The 'Water Bill' part is also complete bullshit if they typically include utilities in the rent. If they do, then the lease must state the 'cap' for the water bill. Otherwise, you can tell them to shove it farther.

The security deposit is usually meant for things like if you put a hole in the wall, tear in the couch, scratch in the counter, etc... It sounds to me like they're trying to charge you for normal wear and tear, which they cannot - UNLESS IT IS ALREADY DISCLOSED IN THE LEASE.

So, to be polite, RTFL! If it doesn't include 'Full Clean', 'Shampoo Carpet', 'Full Paint' in the lease, they cannot expect you to pay it out of the security deposit unless it was worse than normal wear and tear. I hope you took a picture or two, or have a witness of you cleaning the place.

Even my friends that left their places sh!tty got their security deposits back (though one had to argue). They tried to take my security deposit my freshman year and I went in furious and they gave it back. If you made a reasonable effort to clean the place, they have to be reasonable with you.

EDIT: BTW, I am a landlord. I have some experience with security deposits. A security deposit is not just 'more profit for me'.

 

[klah]

Unless you took detailed photographs of the condition of the apartment when you left, you are screwed.