Hi I'm in Los Angeles California, I lived in my previous apt for 3 years and just received my security deposit. The landlord charged about $500 of it for repairs which I think is crazy. My apartment was left in good condition. She charged me for carpet cleaning, paint, vinyl in kitchen... etc. Isn't this normal wear and tear? My deposit was $1100 and Im getting $585 of it. Can she do this and how do I fight this?

Thanks

Hello Viv:

I don't know if she can DO it, but she DID it. If it was wear and tear, let a judge decide. Sue her in small claims court. It's cheap, quick and easy.

excon

Did you do a walk through when you vacated? Did you take pictures of the apartment? Did the landlord include itemized bills with the deposit return?

You can fight it, but I doubt if you will win. The LL is going to come into court with statements from the carpet cleaner, the painter and the vinyl installer. These statements will be that the carpet was badly soiled, the walls were stained or had holes that needed to be patched and the vinyl was torn in spots. Or something similar to justify the cost of the repairs. Unless you have pictures or a walk through checklist to refute these statements, you will lose.

You can take her to small claims court. Once there she'll have to produce evidence that she had to put out the $515 to repair damage caused by you. Normal "wear and tear" doesn't count. She can certainly always opt to repair that but that's own her own nickel.

Hi im in Los Angeles California, I lived in my previous apt for 3 years and and just received my security deposit. The landlord charged about $500 of it for repairs which i think is crazy. My apartment was left in good condition. She charged me for carpet cleaning, paint, vinyl in kitchen...etc. Isn't this normal wear and tear? My deposit was $1100 and Im getting $585 of it. Can she do this and how do i fight this?

Thanks
I know the answer in Florida, however I recommend that you contact the Calif agency that licenses real estate agents and inquire as to whether it has a landlord/tenant act that protects both landlords and tenants. In Florida this act spells out the issue you are having, I can only imagine that Calif would have the same type of legislation as these are the 2 states with the most abuses in this area. The agency should be a state agency. If you can't find it on your own, call a local real estate office and ask them for the number for the agency that legislates landlord/tenant policies in the state. They should be happy to help direct you as you could one day become a client of theirs looking to purchase or rent.