Need help with a landlord that's trying to screw me on my damage deposit

Toggle sidebar Toggle sidebar
U

upsciLLion

Diamond Member
Feb 21, 2001
5,947
1
81
I rented an apartment for the summer and paid $350 for the damage deposit. I was told $50 would be withheld for the mandatory carpet steam cleaning and however much my water/sewer/trash bill was. That's cool, whatever.

After almost a month from moving out, I finally get my deposit back. $211, wtf? My W/S/G bill was $51 (it has never been more than $25 in the past), the $50 carpet cleaning bill was there, and they charged me rent for two additional days (6/19 and 9/17, $18 per day). My lease was from 6/19 to 9/16. I moved in on 6/19 and moved out 9/16. I had to be out of the apartment by noon on 9/16 and I checked out at 6:30 am.

Is this a blatant attempt at screwing me out of just enough money so that I won't do anything about it? Are there any tenant laws I should reference? Should I mention my attorney?

Any advice is very appreciated. Thanks in advance.
 
dainthomas

dainthomas

Lifer
Dec 7, 2004
14,930
3,908
136
pwned

They know you won't do anything. Will probably use extra $$ to go out to lunch or something.
 
W

webcammie

Senior member
Aug 24, 2005
545
0
71
it is not worth the trouble. My roommate and I deposited $1250 for our apartment and got back $926 because of the "cleaning bills." Keep in mind though, we never ever throw parties and we were barely ever there. That's just how it is.
 
U

upsciLLion

Diamond Member
Feb 21, 2001
5,947
1
81
Originally posted by: webcammie
it is not worth the trouble. My roommate and I deposited $1250 for our apartment and got back $926 because of the "cleaning bills." Keep in mind though, we never ever throw parties and we were barely ever there. That's just how it is.
Click to expand...

Yeah but they're charging me twice for one day and charging me for a day I wasn't there. And then over charging me for one of my bills. It's not like I didn't clean the apartment well enough. :confused:
 
B

BigJ

Lifer
Nov 18, 2001
21,330
1
81
Originally posted by: webcammie
it is not worth the trouble. My roommate and I deposited $1250 for our apartment and got back $926 because of the "cleaning bills." Keep in mind though, we never ever throw parties and we were barely ever there. That's just how it is.
Click to expand...

Some people will bend over and take it. Other people will stand up for themselves. The reason why these people get away with it is because too many people are willing to take it.
 
W

webcammie

Senior member
Aug 24, 2005
545
0
71
Originally posted by: upsciLLion
Originally posted by: webcammie
it is not worth the trouble. My roommate and I deposited $1250 for our apartment and got back $926 because of the "cleaning bills." Keep in mind though, we never ever throw parties and we were barely ever there. That's just how it is.
Click to expand...

Yeah but they're charging me twice for one day and charging me for a day I wasn't there. And then over charging me for one of my bills. It's not like I didn't clean the apartment well enough. :confused:
Click to expand...


Maybe call up your landlord and explain to him how you are overcharged?
 
PingSpike

PingSpike

Lifer
Feb 25, 2004
21,758
603
126
You could go to court and probably lose, or you could blow up your landlords mailbox with a quarter stick of dynamite.
 
S

Stuxnet

Diamond Member
Jun 16, 2005
8,392
1
0
Actually, the courts are cracking down on garbage like this. It happened to a buddy of mine as well as my wife when she left college. Both, in unrelated cases, were awarded DOUBLE what the landlord tried to screw them out of.

It might be worth your while to file a small claims case.
 
B

BigJ

Lifer
Nov 18, 2001
21,330
1
81
Originally posted by: PingSpike
You could go to court and probably lose, or you could blow up your landlords mailbox with a quarter stick of dynamite.
Click to expand...

Didn't you ever see Butterfly Effect!

Gosh!
 
W

webcammie

Senior member
Aug 24, 2005
545
0
71
Originally posted by: BigJ
Originally posted by: webcammie
it is not worth the trouble. My roommate and I deposited $1250 for our apartment and got back $926 because of the "cleaning bills." Keep in mind though, we never ever throw parties and we were barely ever there. That's just how it is.
Click to expand...

Some people will bend over and take it. Other people will stand up for themselves. The reason why these people get away with it is because too many people are willing to take it.
Click to expand...


I agree with you. But when you are too busy and/or have other things to worry about, this seems trivial and isn't worth the headache and trouble.
 
A

AbsolutDealage

Platinum Member
Dec 20, 2002
2,675
0
0
I'm surprised you got anything back. Every apartment I have ever lived in, I have never seen a dime of the deposit back. I always leave the apartment in the same (or better) condition than when I moved in, but I always end up screwed out of the deposit at the end. It's just something that landlords do.
 
I

iwearnosox

Lifer
Oct 26, 2000
16,018
5
0
Originally posted by: AbsolutDealage
I'm surprised you got anything back. Every apartment I have ever lived in, I have never seen a dime of the deposit back. I always leave the apartment in the same (or better) condition than when I moved in, but I always end up screwed out of the deposit at the end. It's just something that landlords do.
Click to expand...

That's why I turn off the circuit breaker and plant an open can of sardines behind an outlet in each room before I vacate.
 
PingSpike

PingSpike

Lifer
Feb 25, 2004
21,758
603
126
I think my previous landlord gave me the deposit back, plus $50 because he didn't want me to report him to the health inspector for that mold problem.
 
S

Stretchman

Golden Member
Aug 27, 2005
1,065
0
0
Definitely fight for your deposit. It's the only logical course of action if you're in the right.
 
Gibson486

Gibson486

Lifer
Aug 9, 2000
18,378
2
0
My last landlord screwed me with my security deposit. He said since I lost a key, he got to keep it..

I then asked him what the key deposit was for, then he went on to say it was because i failed to clean up the place before i left...

I then told him it was hard to do when the new tenants moved in before my lease was over.....

He then proceeded to tell me it was because they had to replace teh rug....but the problem is teh rug was in good condition....

What an A$$. When I moved in, the place was dirty, none of the doors had door knobs, one door was broken, the sink was clogged with dirt, yes dirt as in sand, and teh rug was a mess until i took it upon myself to get a machine and clean it. I just said fvck it. $1k is alot to me, but my time is worth more.

 
D

DBL

Platinum Member
Mar 23, 2001
2,637
0
0
Originally posted by: upsciLLion
I rented an apartment for the summer and paid $350 for the damage deposit. I was told $50 would be withheld for the mandatory carpet steam cleaning and however much my water/sewer/trash bill was. That's cool, whatever.
Click to expand...

I'm surprised they are even allowed to do that. I always thought they could not charge you for normal wear and tear. Perhaps this depends on which state you reside. Look up your renters rights in your state.

Why not state your case as well as ask them to provide a receipt for the steam cleaning? $50 seems mighty low for steam cleaning, let alone the water/sewer/trash bill.



 
Gibson486

Gibson486

Lifer
Aug 9, 2000
18,378
2
0
Originally posted by: DBL
Originally posted by: upsciLLion
I rented an apartment for the summer and paid $350 for the damage deposit. I was told $50 would be withheld for the mandatory carpet steam cleaning and however much my water/sewer/trash bill was. That's cool, whatever.
Click to expand...

I'm surprised they are even allowed to do that. I always thought they could not charge you for normal wear and tear. Perhaps this depends on which state you reside. Look up your renters rights in your state.

Why not state your case as well as ask them to provide a receipt for the steam cleaning? $50 seems mighty low for steam cleaning, let alone the water/sewer/trash bill.
Click to expand...


no, it's perfectly legal. it is supposed to cover normal stuff that everyone does such as put nails in the walls for pictures.
 
D

DBL

Platinum Member
Mar 23, 2001
2,637
0
0
Originally posted by: Gibson486
no, it's perfectly legal. it is supposed to cover normal stuff that everyone does such as put nails in the walls for pictures.
Click to expand...

This is not true for many States.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

TRENDING THREADS

COMPANY
RESOURCES
FOLLOW
Top Bottom