I got screwed out of part of my security deposit

[bluestateguy]

I am really mad now. I shampooed the rug, mopped the floors, cleaned all of the counters with 409, wiped the windows and blinds, cleaned the bathroom and left no belongings in the apartment.

I lived there for three years, so some normal wear and tear should be expected. I also never made so much as a late rent payment and was never cited for any violation of the rules.

Well, I get my check in the mail today (which I am not going to deposit until this is resolved) and there are two deductions: one for "cleaning" ($37) and another for "steam cleaning" of the carpet ($30). They didn't even do the arithmetic right. My deposit was $150 and they refunded 81$, when it should have been 83$.

Right now I am reading up on Texas law before deciding what to do next, though I'm thinking of sending them a letter first to give them a chance to give me the $69 I am owed.

At the very least they owe me $2 for bad math.

[GreenPartyVoter]

1. That royally sucks!

[China_cat]

2. You'll get screwed every time unless

you insist that they inspect the apartment with you present. If they refuse to do it, leave the place a mess and make them spend that money they're trying to hold onto.

$30 for steam cleaning a carpet? I wonder who they used. Around here an average size room starts at $60.

[friesianrider]

4. That's exactly what I thought at first.

Here in PA, it costs close to $100 for a steam-cleaning. Sounds to me like the apartment complex/landlord is just trying to screw the OP out of $60 to pay someone to vacuum and wipe down the counters.

I don't live in an apartment anymore but when I did freshman and soph year of college, I lived in a brand new apartment that had just been built and I kept that place immaculate. Vacuumed every 2-3 days, countertops spotless, and since I ate out every night the stove, microwave and all rarely got dirty. Still, out of my $850 security deposit they took out almost $200 for "cleaning" and to repaint all the walls. On a two year old apartment. Ridiculous. I don't smoke or do any drugs that would stink the place up (and never let people smoke in there either), and had no animals in the place. I swear they always take a chunk out of everyone's security deposit just to make some extra money.

[ncrainbowgrrl]

5. Exactly. A walkthrough is your best friend.

Especially with a digital camera present! :evilgrin:

[LisaL]

6. Who they used? Probably no one. And pocketed 30$.

[SOteric]

3. Be sure to read your rental agreement, too.

If it clearly specifies a non-refundable cleaning and carpet cleaning deposit, you're out the bucks.

If not, you might call the folks at your local Landlord/Tennant Union for their read on the situation.

[bluestateguy]

7. UPDATE

I called them today. They now say that they will give me back the $2 they miscalculated. I intend to write them a letter demanding a full accounting and proof of the charges.

I'm hunkering down for a fight for my 67$.

[LisaM]

8. In Seattle, there are deposits and fees

and there is a very specific difference. They can't take cleaning fees out of the deposit, only out of the fees. You might research that angle of it.

I don't know why they do this. I got into it with a landlord once who said we didn't clean an oven. I told him that I had (true) and he first said, "well, not to my specifications!" but as it increasingly became clear that he had not actually looked, he agreed to give me the money.