He returned only $50 from $1100. He withheld money to clean cat hair and false charges for cable he claims we had, and $100 per month for the last 6 months which he says our rent was late. This is the 1st we ever heard of our rent late. It was due on the 1st and late after 5 days. Always mailed by the 3rd at the latest in Hawaii which mail only takes 1 day, 2 at the most. He knew we were going to CA so it would be hard to go after him. I am planning on going next week. Can I add my plane fare to the claim. He is a crook!

No, you can't add your airplane fare to your lawsuit. It's the cost of doing business (unfortunately for you).

OK. That bites. But what about trying to get late rent charges now when we were never notified of late rent. Don't they have to invoice you at the time?Also no receipts were included for the cat hair or cable he is talking about.

Without reading your lease I don't know what the landlord is required to do. I owned apartment houses and I always notified people when their rent was late and they owed me extra - within days of receiving the payment. I also saved the envelopes in case there was a question. I'm surprised the landlord just let the time run but I can't fine any REQUIREMENT that he notify you. Maybe in the lease - ?

Without receipts he's got a losing case. (That's a lot of money to remove cat hair unless he picked it up one strand at a time with tweezers!)

You can ALWAYS file and include your transportation charges but that part will definitely be thrown out UNLESS you can PROVE that he let you leave, then notified you of the charges, knowing you would have to come back to pursue him. I think it's a VERY long shot but you can always try.