The deposit, the previous tenant, and the landlord (San Francisco: rental, how much)

[Grubgrub]

Okay, so an old friend of mine was living in the outer mission with two roommates. They are college students, and dudes so you can imagine the state of the house to some extent after they had been there for two years.

One of the guys was moving out for various reasons concerning him not getting along with my friend and the third roommate. I offered to take the room and when the topic of the deposit came up between me and the person whose room I am taking he said he wanted the full deposit from me and that the landlord didn't want to do a walk through and wanted us to work it out between us. I said the full deposit wasn't fair because the deposit reflects the condition of the house in regards to when he moved in and it clearly is below that. The kid moved out and I tried to hold discussions with him about the deposit and how much I owe him and he eventually settled on $700 dollars (the original was $891). I still felt like that was too much and he became rather demanding and rude to me. I asked him to just consult the land lord and have her do a walk through. The landlord then contacted me and I sent her a list of the damages. She never came to look at the actual house or responded to my list of damages. She now has contacted me three weeks later asking that I give the previous tenant the deposit. I am not on the lease or even going to be put on the lease, and the damages I listed have gone unaddressed. Is it my responsibility to pay the deposit to the previous tenant? I believe it is the landlords responsibility to do a walk through and her pay him and then I cover the difference to the land lord. Am I right?

[ferretkona]

No, leave a proper paper trail. Only give money to landlord and get receipt. Also do a proper walk thru with landlord.

[sav858]

Read through this handbook, I believe it addresses your situation. I just had a situation regarding my deposit on my old placed I moved out of and this handbook helped me out a lot. Landlord tried to keep all of the deposit but I ended up getting the majority of it back with help from this guide.

http://www.dca.ca.gov/publications/l...k/catenant.pdf

[Ultrarunner]

Adds a level of complexity with roommates...

Most Landlords are concerned with condition at the commencement and end of the rental period...

Makes it very hard for someone coming in not to caught in the middle.

I would suggest not putting yourself in these kinds of situations... just not worth it.

[redwoodlvr]

Originally Posted by Ultrarunner

Adds a level of complexity with roommates...

Most Landlords are concerned with condition at the commencement and end of the rental period...

Makes it very hard for someone coming in not to caught in the middle.

I would suggest not putting yourself in these kinds of situations... just not worth it.

Agreed.

Not a good sign of things to come if the landlord is unconcerned.

Forget about the incumbent roommate, what's up with the landlord?

In San Francisco its imperative you have legal signed documentation
when money changes hands where rent is concerned.

I agree with Ultrarunner, something's off.

No one to blame but yourself if you experience a loss when you move out and you probably will. Just focus on it as a lesson learned.

[bigdumbgod]

Originally Posted by Grubgrub

I am not on the lease or even going to be put on the lease, and the damages I listed have gone unaddressed.

Does inhabiting a dwelling without written agreement from an owner (lease) negate any legal standing for that person in SF? Seems to relegate one to squatter status.