Hi, I live in PA. We were at this complex for 1 year. Not long before we moved out new management took over. We had paid a $99 security when we moved in. There is some minro damage, but the biggest thing is about a square foot of carpet had been pulled up by our dog and we just pushed it back down into place. Its right on the inside of a bedroom door.

New management has a different list of charges than old management. Old one says they charge current costs to fix carpet. New one says $200-$800 for "holes" in carpet.

There really isn't anything else that isn't normal wear and tear, or that isn't now but was in brand new condition when we moved in. The place had been lived in before.

If they decide to charge me some huge fee for carpet damage... what are my rights? How about whether I'm bound to the fee list given to me at move-in versus the fee list from new management? They never actually gave us a new fee list... when I went to turn in keys there was one on a desk that I picked up and read. So am I bound by those fees?

They also would not allow us to be present for a walk-through.

Is my liability for anything and everything they want to charge me for? Is it likely that if it's above $99 they will try to bill me or something? It's a high section 8 area, most people other than us are on government assistance. What do you think are the chances they will sue us if I don't pay them something they are billing for?

Can I dispute any of the charges if I don't agree with them?

Thanks for any advice.

You are liable only to the exact charges as explained in your lease agreement. If the original charges were listed in your lease, they are obligated to honor that. And they can't charge you more than actual costs, since that is all the courts would allow.

So, for example, the charge to replace a scree in the window is $100. That really only costs, what, $2 and 10 minutes of time? So if they were to charge me $100, I could theoretically take them to court over the ridiculously high fees?

And if they charge me new management's fees, I should be able to call them and they have to go by old managment's fees since that's what was on our move-in checklist?

Thanks!