[LEIP]

I have read the State of Connecticut Statutes and all the information that I could locate on CT.gov about security deposits.

I provided my landlord with more than 60 days notice of moving out. Now I am about 30 days out and had a conversation with him about how to proceed with security deposit and anything else of interest before leaving. He informed me that he was going to keep $500 (nearly 40%) of my security deposit to paint our place when we moved out. This was after he told me we were great tenants and he knows that we kept the house in excellent condition (which we have). He said that painting the unit shouldn't come out of his pocket. Mind you we have lived in the place for over four years. I asked if painting after such time shouldn't be considered normal wear and tear, he repeated himself and said that painting shouldn't come out of his pocket.

Can anyone shed some light on who is right here and if I am entitled to 100% of my security deposit back (assuming there are no damages)?

Thank you,
LEIP

[AmyBergquist]

Hmm, I'm with you and would think that painting is normal for the landlord to cover. I was a renter for about 8 years and lived in several different places and never had to pay for painting when moving in, nor was it ever taken out of my security deposit when moving out. I now actually own rental property and repainting and cleaning the carpets is a cost that I cover when a tenant moves out.

You'll probably want to check with an attorney for the actual legal perspective. Did it say in your lease what would constitute a withholding of funds from your security deposit?

[LEIP]

The lease did not make any specifications for what would constitute withholding of funds.

[Leilani Vasquez]

I'm with Amy on this one. I've never had painting taken out of a security deposit.

[Leilani Vasquez]

I found this website:

DOB: Rental Security Deposits - Information for Tenants and Landlords

[RebeccaLeigh]

Painting is normal wear and tear, as long as you did not damage the walls. The landlord can not charge you for it. After you move out he has to give you and itemized list, and if he does charge you send a certified letter explaining that he owes you back that money. Make sure everything is in writing. And in case you have to go to court take pictures.

[LEIP]

Originally Posted by RebeccaLeigh

Painting is normal wear and tear, as long as you did not damage the walls. The landlord can not charge you for it. After you move out he has to give you and itemized list, and if he does charge you send a certified letter explaining that he owes you back that money. Make sure everything is in writing. And in case you have to go to court take pictures.

Thank you very much for your help.

LEIP

[AmyBergquist]

Originally Posted by RebeccaLeigh

Painting is normal wear and tear, as long as you did not damage the walls. The landlord can not charge you for it. After you move out he has to give you and itemized list, and if he does charge you send a certified letter explaining that he owes you back that money. Make sure everything is in writing. And in case you have to go to court take pictures.

Rebecca makes a very good point here to use certified mail. You'll want proof that your landlord received any communication you've sent them, so always use certified mail to maintain a paper trail.

[seymourct]

My only question is this (and it is only a question ~ not an attack ~ no angry answers please):
did you paint the place a custom color at all?? or put up lots of nails and/or wall anchors to hold shelves, etc? if so maybe he's thinking he has the right to return it to plain rental white walls with no marks or dings.

I think that painting clean white walls for normal maintenance would be landlord $$, undoing something custom done by the tenant would be out of tenant money, even if you thought it looked pretty.

The reason I ask is I moved into a place once that the old owners left big silver quarter size wall anchors all over the place and had custom colors in the bathroom (dark olive green in a 4*5 room with peeling paint on the ceiling 'cause they never used the fan). They also had lots of chachka shelves and hung their collections of guitars all over the walls with huge mirrors in the hall and kitchen, and the kitchen cabinets were painted a sand textured white and blue. Anyway, although most of it was white ~ the walls were damaged; now this was a purchase I made so I had to suck it up and fix it with lots of ReadyStrip and dry wall patch. But had they been tenants, I would assume they would've had to pay to fix the damage.

[Leilani Vasquez]

Originally Posted by seymourct

My only question is this (and it is only a question ~ not an attack ~ no angry answers please):
did you paint the place a custom color at all?? or put up lots of nails and/or wall anchors to hold shelves, etc? if so maybe he's thinking he has the right to return it to plain rental white walls with no marks or dings.

I think that painting clean white walls for normal maintenance would be landlord $$, undoing something custom done by the tenant would be out of tenant money, even if you thought it looked pretty.

The reason I ask is I moved into a place once that the old owners left big silver quarter size wall anchors all over the place and had custom colors in the bathroom (dark olive green in a 4*5 room with peeling paint on the ceiling 'cause they never used the fan). They also had lots of chachka shelves and hung their collections of guitars all over the walls with huge mirrors in the hall and kitchen, and the kitchen cabinets were painted a sand textured white and blue. Anyway, although most of it was white ~ the walls were damaged; now this was a purchase I made so I had to suck it up and fix it with lots of ReadyStrip and dry wall patch. But had they been tenants, I would assume they would've had to pay to fix the damage.

In my apartment lease it specifically states that I have to use a certain type of nail for wall hangings.