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I recently moved out of a two bedroom apartment that I had been living in for two years. We paid $1,200 as a security deposit and it was new looking moving in. Upon moving out, I did some cleaningand had a final walk through right before leaving. In the walkthrough she noted that a few things were left dirty here and there and there were a few slight stains on the carpet. It didn't seem like anything major and I signed off on it and left.
A few weeks later I got the security deposit deduction letter and they took out $880. $40 were for damage on blinds (which was fine) $190 for cleaning, and $650 for carpet replacement.
The cleaning was crazy because they said they had to clean the stove hood as well as certain other bathroom and kitchen items. But had they mentioned it in the walkthrough I would have gone through with it. I had already committed to cleaning certain things. That and the $190 amount seemed extremely high for just "under top lid stove, burners, stove hood, filter, oven, floor, fridge, bathroom tile, bathtub, toilet.
With the carpet, the stains most definitely seemed fairly minor. I realize now it was a rookie mistake to even leave the stains in the first place, but I had cleaned some of them at previous times. They were at most some food or maybe dirt stains, but they said they had to replace 75 sq yds at $13 per yard for a total of $975 and they deducted 2 years worth of depreciation based on the time that we lived there already. I definitely don't believe the carpet required complete replacement and I believe (I don't know for sure) they ended up replacing the carpet for wood floors for the next tenant anyways.
So, I tried to dispute it and they were very open to it actually. But, they suggested to only give $150-$200 at most and said it was a very fair assessment. Unfortunately at this time I don't have the final walkthrough checklist (I think I threw it away....), but I should be able to get another copy. I also don't have any pictures of anything upon leaving the apartment. The landlord keeps dodging my requests to get it from them though. I also wanted to get the receipts for the cleaning and carpet replacement and they said they couldn't produce them because they went through an internal company, but could produce them in court.
Anyways, would appreciate any advice on the matter. Let me know if there is any information that might be pertinent.
We paid $1,200 as a security deposit and it was new looking moving in.
Upon moving out, I did some cleaning and had a final walk through right before leaving.
they took out $880.
So, I tried to dispute it and they were very open to it actually.
But, they suggested to only give $150-$200 at most
...said they couldn't produce them because they went through an internal company, but could produce them in court.
Anyways, would appreciate any advice on the matter.
... they took out $880.
... So, I tried to dispute it and they were very open to it actually. But, they suggested to only give $150-$200 at most and said it was a very fair assessment.
I'm not sure if I'm reading correctly. They initially assessed the damages at $880 but have reduced it now to $150-200?
So out of your $1200 deposit they are now deducting $680 for cleaning and carpet damage? It doesn't seem too unreasonable and you're on shaky ground in court when you have no photographs to back up your assertion that the charges are inflated. As so often happens, a tenant's definition of "clean" and "minor stains" doesn't always match with the landlord's. You can file a claim but your chances of prevailing are probably slim.
So out of your $1200 deposit they are now deducting $680 for cleaning and carpet damage? It doesn't seem too unreasonable and you're on shaky ground in court when you have no photographs to back up your assertion that the charges are inflated. As so often happens, a tenant's definition of "clean" and "minor stains" doesn't always match with the landlord's. You can file a claim but your chances of prevailing are probably slim.
Thanks. It's starting to make more sense. At least in terms of where I stand...
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