rebdomine
12-29-2008, 05:15 PM
I'm trying to understand what my landlord can deduct from my security deposit.
From what I understand, if she doesn't mention it during the walk through, she can't deduct it unless it's damage that occurred afterward OR if my possessions were in the way and she couldn't see the damage.
I do know that some things that may be in the contract, if they are in violation of the law, then I'm not bound by them. For example, if it says they can keep my deposit to pay for painting the walls, they really can't keep it unless the walls have to be replaced.
However, my friend is an apartment manager and she says that my landlord can deduct money from my security deposit to pay for cleaning the apartment after I leave. Basic cleaning, and she says no matter how well I clean the apartment they will bring in their own cleaners to do behind the stove and behind the refrigerator and that I can be charged for that.
I disagree, because to me that seems like it would fall under "normal wear and tear" that cannot be taken from my security deposit.
When I have my manager do the walk through, and she tells me what I need to fix/repair/clean to avoid any deductions from my security deposit, if she doesn't tell me "clean behind the fridge and stove" - can she legally deduct from my deposit for that?
And is it true that she must give me within 21 days of the move out date, either my full deposit OR partial deposit with an itemized list of all repairs made, the date they were made, the hourly rate charged and contact information for the person who did the repairs?
I'm getting conflicting information from online sources, my personal lawyer and other apartment managers. Is there a specific tenant code I can look at online, or a book I can read that will tell me EXACTY what the law is??
THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!!!
From what I understand, if she doesn't mention it during the walk through, she can't deduct it unless it's damage that occurred afterward OR if my possessions were in the way and she couldn't see the damage.
I do know that some things that may be in the contract, if they are in violation of the law, then I'm not bound by them. For example, if it says they can keep my deposit to pay for painting the walls, they really can't keep it unless the walls have to be replaced.
However, my friend is an apartment manager and she says that my landlord can deduct money from my security deposit to pay for cleaning the apartment after I leave. Basic cleaning, and she says no matter how well I clean the apartment they will bring in their own cleaners to do behind the stove and behind the refrigerator and that I can be charged for that.
I disagree, because to me that seems like it would fall under "normal wear and tear" that cannot be taken from my security deposit.
When I have my manager do the walk through, and she tells me what I need to fix/repair/clean to avoid any deductions from my security deposit, if she doesn't tell me "clean behind the fridge and stove" - can she legally deduct from my deposit for that?
And is it true that she must give me within 21 days of the move out date, either my full deposit OR partial deposit with an itemized list of all repairs made, the date they were made, the hourly rate charged and contact information for the person who did the repairs?
I'm getting conflicting information from online sources, my personal lawyer and other apartment managers. Is there a specific tenant code I can look at online, or a book I can read that will tell me EXACTY what the law is??
THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!!!
