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Because they're not allowing you to use the deposit as the last month's rent, it sounds like they might be planning to say you didn't leave the place in good shape and using that as an excuse to keep your deposit. Make sure to document everything -- I recommend taking photos and writing up descriptions of each room as well as videos showing how you left it.
Ultimately, you might not be able to get anything out of them, but it's better to be fully prepared.
Because they're not allowing you to use the deposit as the last month's rent, it sounds like they might be planning to say you didn't leave the place in good shape and using that as an excuse to keep your deposit. Make sure to document everything -- I recommend taking photos and writing up descriptions of each room as well as videos showing how you left it.
Ultimately, you might not be able to get anything out of them, but it's better to be fully prepared.
Yes definitely. Also read up on your tenant rights.
It is just good basic business practice on the part of the landlord to not allow a tenant to use the security deposit for the last month's rent.
And certainly not a tenant entitlement to do so.
Lots of things can happen to a dwelling in a month and a move out, and if the security deposit is earmarked for rent, how does the landlord collect for damages?
But if your lease does not specifically exclude using your security deposit as your last month's rent, I'd risk it and just do it...
I rented a home with a similar cash-strapped landlord and just told him that's what I was doing, period. We argued, but I just stood my ground and left him a property that was clean and tidy. We did allow him to show the property during that last month, but frankly we improved it and he was lucky to have us...
While there are many "tenant from hell stories" frankly my experiences have given me many "landlord from hell" tales! We now only rent from professionally managed properties that we can trust.
We already requested that they use the one-month's deposit to cover the final month's rent (as is legal, I understand, if they so choose). We were flatly denied. We figured it was worth a shot since the house is pretty much decaying away and they have no interest in repairing. All the more annoying when you find out he's a contractor (who, ironically, specializes in the manufacturing and installation of one of the biggest problem areas in the home). We are pretty much counting on our money disappearing but to know if it was ever handled correctly from the beginning is worth knowing.
Do that anyway.It takes longer than 30 days to evict you. Take the last month as your refund.
But if your lease does not specifically exclude using your security deposit as your last month's rent, I'd risk it and just do it...
I rented a home with a similar cash-strapped landlord and just told him that's what I was doing, period. We argued, but I just stood my ground and left him a property that was clean and tidy. We did allow him to show the property during that last month, but frankly we improved it and he was lucky to have us...
While there are many "tenant from hell stories" frankly my experiences have given me many "landlord from hell" tales! We now only rent from professionally managed properties that we can trust.
I was thinking exactly the same thing. It is a huge process to evict so no way would he go through that if you are leaving at the end of the month.
He can't claim you didn't pay the last months rent without exposing himself to not returning the deposit..
But if your lease does not specifically exclude using your security deposit as your last month's rent, I'd risk it and just do it...
I rented a home with a similar cash-strapped landlord and just told him that's what I was doing, period. We argued, but I just stood my ground and left him a property that was clean and tidy. We did allow him to show the property during that last month, but frankly we improved it and he was lucky to have us...
While there are many "tenant from hell stories" frankly my experiences have given me many "landlord from hell" tales! We now only rent from professionally managed properties that we can trust.
One can get away with not paying the last month's rent easily enough.
It takes longer to evict than a month.
It doesn't make it admirable or smart to do so.
Failure to pay rent is serious business, though. And the OP is in a sticky situation, with 20 months of residency and the possibility of not getting a good landlord reference.
Going forth in good faith, and by the book is the proper response to LL issues.
Sure, there are plenty of crummy LLs out there. And the good or bad landlords can take a real hit from tenants who beat up their assets. It certainly happens, and a bad tenant can wipe out a small landlord's profit for the year very easily.
One can get away with not paying the last month's rent easily enough.
It takes longer to evict than a month.
It doesn't make it admirable or smart to do so.
Failure to pay rent is serious business, though. And the OP is in a sticky situation, with 20 months of residency and the possibility of not getting a good landlord reference.
Going forth in good faith, and by the book is the proper response to LL issues.
Sure, there are plenty of crummy LLs out there. And the good or bad landlords can take a real hit from tenants who beat up their assets. It certainly happens, and a bad tenant can wipe out a small landlord's profit for the year very easily.
I agree, Mike. The tenant could demand by certified letter the name and account number of the trust account.
If no satisfaction, then the last month should be withheld.
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