We purchased a home in CA that was being rented. We allowed the tenant to stay for two months. At the conclusion, we had to take care of deposit and pet deposit refund. The tenant left dog poop all over the back yard. Not having a dog, this was very irritating and we decided not to refund the $200. Were we too harsh?

That is a rather subjective question. I would say that you may have a hard time justifying your actions in small claims court. So, if you judge by that, it may well have been.

Hello elk:

Seems to me you could have hired some neighbor kid to pick it up for $50. I think THAT would have been a more reasonable sum to charge.

excon

It would have been reasonable to call the tenant and say he should clean up the poop. If he refused you can only charge him what it would cost you to have it pciked up, can't just pull a number out of thin air.