Landlords, arg!

[rubthebuddha]

We did do research on our rights, sent them a letter explaining why we deserved our deposits back and which charges were not valid...they just wrote back, defended their charges, and attached another bill.

I suppose we could just take the bill, subtract the items that we know we dont owe, and write another letter offering to pay that amount.

Or you could write a letter telling them to go _ _ _ _ themselves!
Seriously though what can they do to you if you don't pay? How much of a deposit will you lose? Whatever you do don't cave in and pay what they want. They are totally scamming you.

[jfeaz]

i normally don't "side" with tenants, since landlords are right 99% of the time, but this kind of thing sucks.

the last time i rented and moved out, i only got half my deposit back, but the owner gave me exact invoices for every repair done, and they were all very fair. he even only replaced the section of carpet that i had stained, when he could have charged me for the whole thing and had a brand new carpet.

i think small landlords are generally more honest than big ones, but they also have more emotional weight in the property. Maybe that makes them better at selecting quality teants.

I know judges and juries will always side against the "big bad landlord" and with the "poor innocent tenant," but you really have to see what a lot of people do to rental properties, especially the kind of people who think housing is an entitlement. I had one guy cut out of his lease half way through the term and just abandon the property and most of his stuff, and I had to spend 2 days hauling away his junk and cleaning the place up. Then, I lost 5 months worth of rent.

There isnt' a judge in the world who would compensate me for all that work and lost rent, plus all the advertising costs and work of securing a new tenant.

Somehow people who invest their money instead of spend it became the enemy.

[CNF2002]

Seriously though what can they do to you if you don't pay? How much of a deposit will you lose? Whatever you do don't cave in and pay what they want. They are totally scamming you

Well they already took our $700 in deposits. They are CHARGING us an additional $100.

you really have to see what a lot of people do to rental properties, especially the kind of people who think housing is an entitlement.

Sorry but we fullfilled our lease, gave them well over 30 days notice, extended into a 'month-to-month' after our lease expired while we were searching for our house (and paid a $200/mo premium at that). We were extremely clean people, kitchen (where you'd expect the most mess) was spotless. We moved out 15 days before we turned in the keys and spent the entire time cleaning/refinishing. We spent 2 days prior to dropping off the keys cleaning it from top to bottom, spackling all holes where we had shelves/picture hangers and repainted areas that were dingy (like above the fireplace).

They are charging us just to make a buck. They are twisting our words to avoid taking responsibility for damage that existed prior to our move-in. Bottom line, these guys are just plain crooks...and the sad part is that it will cost me more to fight them just to give in. This was an upscale place and we were great tenants. Never late, never a problem (we even fixed most small maintenance issues ourselves). Justice is not being served here.

[jfeaz]

that's why i said in the beginning of my post that what they are doing to you sucks.

if i were your landlord, i'd charge to clean the carpet stain, give you an invoice from the cleaner, and realize your good faith in maintaining the property, thereby refunding the rest of the deposit.