Ok, so here is a situation I am looking for some advice on. I recently moved out of an apartment that I was in for a year and I left it in what I thought was fantastic condition. My ex-landlord called me and said that the light and ceiling fan in one of the rooms does not work anymore and wants me to pay for it. My question is: Is that my responsibility or is it just a fixture of the residence? Take into account there was no neglect or damage to the unit, it may have just died. She claims it’s my responsibility because it was working when I moved in. What are your thoughts? Thanks in advance for your opinions!

If there is no clear evidence of tampering, or damage caused to the unit, I say it is just normal wear and tear and you should not be responsible for that.

Question is, are you ready to take them to court to try to prove your case, because that is what you most likely will have to do.

Did you have someone from the apartment or leasing company do a move out walk through with you present? If you did, did they note anything about the light/fan problem?

If you didn't, you should have, but a little late for that now.

Thank you, I just want to make sure I have a leg to stand on here. That's what I thought. Right now she is "threatening" to make me pay for it, but I put up a good fight about it not being my responsibility. It's not beneath me to take her to court just for the point.

Hello G:

If you sue her, she'll have to prove you broke it by being neglegent in some way. If it just stopped working, like she said it did, that is considered normal wear and tear.

excon

There is nothing you can do to stop a ceiling fan from working other than physically breaking it. If it doesn't have broken blades or the like, then it is a problem with the fan and not your responsibility.