in which I get upset

[dchenes]

I got my security deposit check, and she only took $470 of the $1005 (with interest). I just KNEW she was going to find an excuse to take a huge chunk.



Direct quotes from the letter:

"...unfortunately, it was not left as you found it when you moved in." (She wasn't there when I moved in, mind you.)

"During our conversation in the kitchen the day you moved out, I noticed the offensive odor the other tenants and I complained to you about numerous times in the past was still very strong in the apartment." (You mean the one I couldn't smell?) "I also appreciate your efforts to clean the stove/oven and the refrigerator. The stove looked clean at first glance but as I looked closer, I saw a lot of hair stuck to the oven door and along the inside of the oven and under the burners the stove was very dirty. The refrigerator looked clean but the strong odor coming from it stated otherwise. The windows were very dirty as well."

It seems the refrigerator was so bad the cleaning service had to clean it twice. I put it to those who helped me move: did it smell awful in there?



I'm furious, but I'm too tired to be furious. I'm going to deposit the check, burn the letter and get on with my life, thank you.

(OK, I'm going to cry for a while and then I'm going to burn the letter.)

Comments

[quezz.livejournal.com]

Did you take pictures? Did you log your complaints anywhere? You actually have an excellent case to sue. A landlord needs to show you her receipts and obvious damage to the apartment -- apartment cleaning is not a reason to remove your ceurity deposit. It's unreasonable dirtiness and damage.

[dchenes.livejournal.com]

This woman wouldn't know "reasonable" if it walked up on six legs and smacked her in the face. I didn't take pictures, because I didn't cause anything that could have been considered structural damage, and I didn't think she'd get into minor things. (The window-washing is the one that really makes me angry.)

I don't want to sue and I don't have photographic evidence anyway. I just want to go on with my life.

[quezz.livejournal.com]

I respect that.

Just know that window-washing is not covered in a security deposit. I hate to see this horrible woman bilk you.

[happyfunpaul.livejournal.com]

FWIW, she's psycho. There was no odor in the kitchen, and the windows were clean when you left.

[dchenes.livejournal.com]

I did entertain thoughts like that at various points, but I'm (a) too much of an optimist and (b) not threatening enough to get away with it.

[marmota.livejournal.com]

Cleaning is a normal expense of tenancy, it doesn't come out of the security deposit, just damage. Don't burn anything; even if you're not fed up enough to go after her for the money, at least contact a couple of local renter's advocacy groups and give them copies for reference so they can add to (or start, if by some miracle no one else has) a file on her.