Deposit Deduction?
I recently moved out and left my apartment in pristine condition. I paid a professional cleaner who cleaned for four hours, and I helped her as well. Every surface, floor, window, baseboard, tile was cleaned thoroughly. There was not so much as postage stamp sized piece of paper left behind. My landlord charged me $100…
I recently moved out and left my apartment in pristine condition. I paid a professional cleaner who cleaned for four hours, and I helped her as well. Every surface, floor, window, baseboard, tile was cleaned thoroughly. There was not so much as postage stamp sized piece of paper left behind.
My landlord charged me $100 for three items:
1.) Dead battery in detectors
2.) “Cleaning Charge”
3.) A closet door that was off the tracks since the day I moved in, and documented, and the super was never able to make it stay on the track so I basically gave up on it in my 2 1/2 years in the apartment.
As well, the landlord overcharged me on pro-rated rent since I requested to stay until the 10th. If the rent is $2650/month – and there are 31 days in July – shouldn’t the daily cost be $85.40. They charged me $87.55 per day. A small amount, but it adds up.
Any advice/thoughts on next steps?
I was a good and quiet tenant who left the apartment spotless, I sincerely do no think I should be charged for anything.
(As well, they rented the apt. the same week I left. It did not sit vacant at all.)
Thanks in advance for the advice.
I actually can’t believe you are quibbling over $100 dollars. Small claims court will go on your record and make it difficult to rent in the future. I would let it go.
Thanks everyone for the great feedback. …I sent a letter and am taking the diplomatic, polite road first. First line of attack is “this must be an error, let’s correct it.” We’ll see what that does. 🙂
My opinion would be to forget the pro-rated rent $2.15/per day difference that you are calculating. There are different ways of calcuating per diems (example: $2650/month x 12 months / 365 days in a year = $87.12 per day, regardless of whether it’s July or February). They did you a favor allowing you to stay in the apartment for the extra ten days and it looks like they aren’t trying to rip you off there.
As for the other items that they deducted $100, ask for that money back, explain that you paid for a cleaing service and the closet door has always been that way.
You said you lived there 2 1/2 years. Does that mean you asked to break the most recent 1-year lease? In that case I would be thankful to only come away with $100 penalty on a $2650 apartment, because they could have just as easily said No and made your life quite a bit more difficult.
They probably based the daily cost on the year (2650 x 12)/365. I think this is the proper way to do it but not 100% sure. I wouldn’t argue over the $20.
As far as the batteries in the detectors are concerned, it is the landlord’s responsibility to keep them in working condition. The fact that they weren’t checked by him is an issue.
Did you take pictures before you left? Ask for specifics as far as what had to be cleaned and then counter with your receipt.
The door shouldn’t be an issue since it was documented.
you can hit the landlords credit score and mark it up if you really want to but its 100 bucks!
does the lease say you are responsible for the items he listed as charging you for (besides the cleaning)? And definitely keep the receipt for the cleaning, if you do end up in small claims court.
Unfortunately, the owner doesn’t have to show up in Small Claims Court. You’d win, by default, but might have a very hard time actually collecting.
OTOH you have nothing to loose by sending a letter threatening legal action–it might work–sometimes the bad guys are stupid.
using 30 day month to figure daily rate is standard so don’t fret over that.
If you have receipt for cleaning (and I bet the landlord does not) – you have the case in small claims court (along with the documentation of closet track).
Thanks for the advice. 🙂 I’ve sent them a letter, we’ll see where it goes.
I would definitely consider small claims court, because that is probably a hassle for them, they’d be tempted to just write me the check for the $200 to make it go away.
I’d be fine if I didn’t put in the extra effort – but I really did – and the charges just came across to me as a racket.
Thanks again…