Houston apartment moving out charges (apartments, leasing agent, credit score)

[shanv3]

Hello,

While moving out I got a bill of around 600 citing stove replacement charges and odor removal charges. Even though the stove was in perfect working condition, it was a just a discoloration on the top . And as usual that threatening addendums at the end ( performance bond, credit score , collection etc).

Is it justified? What is other ways with which I can negotiate? I also paid a NR deposit during leasing in.

[wintersbone]

probably need more info. just because it works doesn't mean anything. Did you cause the discoloration? What odors where they removing?

[shanv3]

Originally Posted by wintersbone

probably need more info. just because it works doesn't mean anything. Did you cause the discoloration? What odors where they removing?

It was an induction cooktop and a brown layer was formed around the coils. I scrubbed it as much I can but some of them still remain. The cooking area is clean, just the area around the circumference.

Please see this link to get an idea ( only the outer part) .

How to clean Glass Cooktop ? - RedFlagDeals.com Forums


Odor - I do not know, just a rip off charge.

[kaelti12]

I lost one apartment deposit years back for bogas(and way overpriced) things. As far as I know, its totally legal, maybe not ethical, but legal all the same. Especially if you don't have any proof of a clean apartment.

Now I take pictures of the apartment AND do a walk through with a leasing agent, which I record on my cell phone(audio only). They typically have to schedule a walk through so you have to go to them a few weeks before move out.

Other then some small charges(mostly caused by our dogs) I've never lost a whole deposit or been over charged for something again.

[wintersbone]

Did you try a razor blade on it? that probably would have taken it off.

[Htown2013]

Originally Posted by shanv3

It was an induction cooktop and a brown layer was formed around the coils. I scrubbed it as much I can but some of them still remain. The cooking area is clean, just the area around the circumference.

Please see this link to get an idea ( only the outer part) .

How to clean Glass Cooktop ? - RedFlagDeals.com Forums


Odor - I do not know, just a rip off charge.

That is B.S. and a complete waste of a perfectly good cooktop. Chances are they'll just get it professionally cleaned and rip you off. They're probably hurting for money and will try to get by with whatever they can. Very unethical.

[jj2015]

In my experience with Houston landlord, you can try to fight it, but it's probably not worth your time. The slummy ones tend to do stuff like this, the bigger companies/higher rent, not as much. I personally wouldn't fight it, would move on, and chalk up the cost to a lesson learned from living in apartments with crappy landlords, and then write a terrible review about to company online.