Landlord Issues
Posted: 2008-06-11 @ 7:20 amSo I mentioned that Joel and I made the decision to take our ex-landlords to small claims court due to the fact that they’re trying to keep the majority of my deposit ($1,200 out of $1,500) for bogus reasons. They claimed they had to repaint the entire apartment because the walls were black from smoke residue (Joel and I have never smoked in our entire lives). They’re saying they had to spend 36 (thirty-fucking-six) additional hours cleaning the place because we left it completely trashed. They’re also trying to keep money for normal wear and tear issues (we’re talking small, stupid crap) even though the law prohibits them from doing so.
Here are 111 pictures Joel and I took on our last day in the apartment. Yep, that’s right. One hundred eleven photos of everything inside that damn place. Please flip through them and tell me if you honestly think that place looks trashed or if the walls look too black or if you see anything wrong whatsoever!
The couple of shots in there with the “smudge” in the tub is a so-called chip that she is charging us $85 to fix. To be completely honest with you, I thought it was a smooshed fly or bug but according to them, and I quote, it’s “a large chip in the tub in which a huge section of the tub must be replaced.”
I’m agreeing to pay for the things I deserve to get charged for. I did spill some bleach on the carpet upstairs near the laundry area when I was washing clothes once and I am totally at fault for that. I did accidentally stain the linoleum in the upstairs bathroom because I got the bathroom rug wet and the dyes stained it yellow (there’s a picture of that in there too). I am owning up to what I ruined on accident and I am not fighting that. But for this woman to come back to me with an itemized bill a mile long and say that the place was literally a hell hole; trashed beyond belief is ridiculous! She also threatened me once and said if I take her to court, she would write up a new itemized bill and we’d end up owing her money (because the place was just that bad). *rolls eyes*
So we’re going to court July 10th and I cannot wait to see the look on her face when I present these pictures to the judge. I have the right to sue for up to three times the amount I believe I’m owed but I’m not going to do that. I want the judge to know I only want what is rightfully mine - that I’m not there just to make some extra money. Hopefully the judge will take a look at my pictures, laugh at the landlord, and tell me that I’m in the right and deserve most of my money back.
Take a look at those pictures and tell me what you think, honestly. And someone please tell me you’d do the exact same thing if you were getting screwed over this bad.
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Um, that lady needs a good slap upside the head. She’s crazy! You left that place pretty much spotless!
i would definitely do it. that’s money you deserve back for taking care of the apartment. i would sue for enough to cover your lawyer & court fees and then the money you feel you deserve back. i would have someone estimate (based on the pictures) what they would charge to fix those problems - even if they were a guestimate because then it will show an alternative to what the landlord is saying it would cost.
i think this woman is in a lot of trouble.
Thats the cleanest looking place I’ve ever seen. She’s loonie.
Wow are you serious!!! Your apartment looks like it’s in almost near perfect condition!! You better keep us updated as to what happens in court because I’d loveee to hear about their reaction when they lose!
I had some bad issues with my landlord when I moved out of my last apartment - luckily my boyfriend’s dad is a lawyer so he just wrote them a few letters and they eventually left us alone…
Maybe the suggestion about getting an estimate based on the pictures isn’t such a bad idea. It definitely shows that you are serious about proving your case, if nothing else.
that place is cleaner than my apartment was when i MOVED IN!
After 11 months of someone living in a place they have to paint it anyways that is not your fault that they have to paint anyways. That how it is in Nevada at least. Check your state renter rights and law. I think you are in the right. I would try to get the money for going to court back from them for all your troubles. They were lucky you left the place as good as you did they shouldn’t have to do anything.
No, your landlords are seriously trying to screw you over. When we left our old apartment, it definitely needed cleaning and our door was broken, so we owned up to that, but he still gave us a lot of our deposit back! Your place looks great, and if we got money back, you should definitely get to keep all of yours. Good luck in court! I’m sure the judge will let you have your money. In fact, I doubt your landlord will let it go to court, she just might settle with you beforehand!
That’s ridicioulous - the apartment is super clean. You definately are doing the right thing.
Seriously, most places will paint a place whenever any renters leave! That’s bull.
In NJ - if the landlord is found to have withheld the deposit illegally, they have to pay the tenant 3 times the original deposit.
It certainly sounds like your prevous landlord is trying to scam you. I agree with Kalen, have someone quote on the price to fix the items that you know you are at fault for. It will make you look like the responsible one who is just trying to get what is rightfully your’s, back..
Nice site by the way, it’s my first time here!
wow, definitely looks like a squished bug. i would have scraped it up with that key, and then shot the photo :p