Ex Landlord Issues. We need advice (apartment, tenants, renters, security deposit)
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We moved out of our old place at the end of June. Our landlord did our walk through with us and refunded our entire deposit to us the next day. The new renters have been there since the day after we left and I just received an email from the old LL saying that the new tenants are complaining of a dog smell. She is asking us to replace the carpets. Since she signed off on our walk through and gave us our full deposit, are we in anyway legally obligated to pay for carpets?
The time to make a demand for a carpet smell was during the inspection and walk through. You are no longer responsible for any conditions in the apartment. I would answer the email with a posted letter telling the LL just that. Do not answer an email. Keep it all in writing. Some dumb lawyer may try to intimidate you with threats and you need to be clear and on the record with a posted return receipt letter. It may sound over the top, but CYA.
We moved out of our old place at the end of June. Our landlord did our walk through with us and refunded our entire deposit to us the next day. The new renters have been there since the day after we left and I just received an email from the old LL saying that the new tenants are complaining of a dog smell. She is asking us to replace the carpets. Since she signed off on our walk through and gave us our full deposit, are we in anyway legally obligated to pay for carpets?
you're not obligated...now...in any way,shape or form. I would reply only with
a copy of the signed walk-through and maybe a copy of the check for the deposit refund at the time of move-out and nothing more. Maybe a note saying...'Have a nice day'...
Koale
We moved out of our old place at the end of June. Our landlord did our walk through with us and refunded our entire deposit to us the next day. The new renters have been there since the day after we left and I just received an email from the old LL saying that the new tenants are complaining of a dog smell. She is asking us to replace the carpets. Since she signed off on our walk through and gave us our full deposit, are we in anyway legally obligated to pay for carpets?
I would ignore it. If the smell was there when you lived there she would've noticed it upon move out. You can't be held responsible once you've already gotten your paperwork signed and security deposit back.
A LL has the right under most state laws to recoup money to correct damages that were unseen during the walk through, even if they refunded you the whole deposit. They have to sue you like anyone else and that may be a downside that they may just decide isn;t worth it due to the hassles.
But I would argue that a pet urine smell is easily discoverable upon walk through, and therefore the LL is SOL.
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Nope...
