Late fee deductions in security deposit (Long Beach: lease, credit, attorney)

[LISA4444]

Is it legal to deduct late fees from my security deposit? In my contract it says i can be charged $75.00 per day after the 3rd.when i first started renting he said he doesn't usually ask for late fees and after i was late he never said anything so i assumed he wasn't going to charge me but when i moved out leaving the house in perfect condition he charge me for months of late fees from last year. I am in the long beach ca area

[tanglenet]

You should contact someone in the city government of Long Beach for the answer to your question or an attorney that specializes in renter's legal rights in your area.

[SickOfCalifornia]

You have a contract outlining the specific fees for being late...and you were late. Why do you think you deserve a free pass? Pay your rent on time like a responsible tennant and you won't have this problem.

[Mr. Fantastic]

If it's in writing and you didn't pay on time, you're SOL.

[nmnita]

Originally Posted by LISA4444

Is it legal to deduct late fees from my security deposit? In my contract it says i can be charged $75.00 per day after the 3rd.when i first started renting he said he doesn't usually ask for late fees and after i was late he never said anything so i assumed he wasn't going to charge me but when i moved out leaving the house in perfect condition he charge me for months of late fees from last year. I am in the long beach ca area

If your lease says late fees will apply that is what it means, whether your landlord demands it at the time or chooses to take it out of your security deposit. You own it, he has a morgaage to pay or expenses on the property. I bet he can't just tell creditors, oh well, my tenents didn't pay on time so I won't either. I do imagine it is a surprise to you, but I doubt there is anything you can do. Morally as well as legally I think you have to pay them. I also think the reason you were charged and you said it yourself: months of late fees. Maybe if you had been late once, a couple of days it would have been different.

Nita

[Mr. Fantastic]

Yeah it's one thing to stiff your landlord one time, but months of being late? How annoying would that be if your paycheck was consistently deposited late?