I was renting a duplex and the lease expired on 07/31/06. On 08/05/06, I went to see my landlord to drop off rent for the month of August and to talk to him about renewing my lease since him nor his wife came to me before the expiration of my lease to discuss this matter with me. After I handed the landlord my rent check, he told me that rent was going to be increasing and asked me what I wanted to do. Since he has reaised the rent for the past 3 years I have been there, I told him that I would be moving and I would be out by the end of the month. 6 days later, he came to me with a new lease and I told him I wasn't signing it because I was going to be moving due to the rent increase. He was very rude and hostile with me then he left. I moved out on 08/31/06. I received a letter from the landlord stating that I was going to be charged for painting the inside of the unit, cleaning of the driveway and for replacement of vertical blinds that were missing a panel. I understand being charged for the blinds, but the painting and the driveway I thought were considered normal wear and tear. Then the letter also stated I owed rent for the month of Sept. due to the fact I didn't give a 30 day notice, which it does not state in my leaseand It also stated that my security would be kept due to poor communication. So what is legal and what isn't?

You need to double check the lease because a notice of termination period is usually a standard clause. If not, then local laws would apply and those usually call for 30 days notice. So, unless the unit was rented during September, you would be responsible for September's rent.

As for the alleged damages, did you take pictures or have someone do a walk through with you? If not, then it unlikely you can prove that the paint was not damaged to the point it needed repainting or the driveway didn't need repair.

I would NEVER move out of an apartment without doing a walk through when I turned over the keys. At least not if I wanted my security back.

Bottomline here is you owe September. So cahlk the deposit to the Sept rent. If he wants to sue you for more tell him you'll see him in court.

You owe 30 days written notice if you stayed past your original lease end so that may well be a valid charge... also, if you caused the unit to require repainting or damage to the driveway from oil/gas leaks, then that would be your charge also.