I believe that we are being way over charged for so called "damages" to the apartment after we moved out as well as for aspects of the lease that were included (IE Snow removal, appliance repair). Our situation is a little unique, since our duplex was bought by another landlord halfway through our lease. There is also another girl who subleased for the last 5 months as well. With both of these changes there was no inspection of the home. Our lease stated that we could hang things on the walls using nails, which we did. We are now being charged as follows (with the note attached):
1. Final cleaning $150.0
2. Removal of trash and furniture $50.00
3. Appliance repair. $404.89
4. Repaint of damaged walls labor $650.00
5. Repaint of damaged walls material $225.00
6. Snow removal $180.00

Total: $1479.89
Total Tenant deposit $862.00
Difference: $617.89
Your third of the difference is $205.96
Please send your reimbursement for these expenditures.

One of the roomates did leave a desk on the curb since she could not take it home. The garbage was in bins, also on the curb.
What kind of steps can I take to resolve this?

So if you sublet the place out how do you know what wasn't damaged?

If any of this is beyond normal wear and tear then they are legitimate.

Trash had to be removed from the property.. not just set at the curb, BEFORE the keys were turned over.

How long was the lease... and what state was this... if you left in a year the might get you on painting... if you was there for say over 5 years it's a different story.

Snow removal might be a little questionible.. unless it was mid winter and you didn't clear out the driveway or sidewalk as might have been required by the lease or local law. Or the Landlord got cited for the sidewalks not having been cleared during your occupancy... and yes, YOU are liable for anything done by the sublettor.

The cleaning and garbage fees we accept. We turned our keys over on a Monday and trash day was Tuesday. But the walls were normal wear and tear from 3 girls in nursing school.

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Originally Posted by schura

The cleaning and garbage fees we accept. We turned our keys over on a Monday and trash day was Tuesday. But the walls were normal wear and tear from 3 girls in nursing school.

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Normal for 3 girls in nursing school isn't the standard to meet... the normal wear and tear standard is for average people who don't bang things up... and most people would make it 10 years with no damage to the sheet rock and maybe just a couple tiny little nail holes for pictures.

An Example... If I sold my house I'm in now after being in it 15 years... all I would need is a fresh coat of paint... and no sheet rock repairs.

Your lease specifically stated that the landlord was responsible for snow removal and appliance repair? If so then make a copy of the lease, highlight those provisions and send it to the landlord.

I would also mention that there should not have been a charge for trash removal since the trash was already removed from the apartment and placed in the normal location for trash pickup. The desk is a different situation. Unless it is common in that location for people to leave large items at the curb for trash pickup then the landlord should be entitled to a fee for removing it.

As for the walls... even though the lease allowed you to hang things on the walls with nails, that doesn't mean that you wouldn't be responsible for the repair of the holes left by the nails. You could have filled them yourself before moving out and possibly even touched up the paint. That might have saved you $775 in repainting fees.

Many cities and towns require that ALL garbage be in bins, so that's open.
You admit to cleaning and garbage, so that has me wondering about things like appliance repair - really? How many years do 3 people need to damage an appliance? I don't recall ever damaging one.
Painting should be considered 'normal wear and tear' unless you did a lot of changes or damage to the walls. Nails can vary a lot, from the tiniest of holes from angled picture hangers to pounding the plaster out with a big nail (and how many of those were trying to find the studs)?
And so on - except for the snow plowing, I don't see how we can judge.
It's possible that the owner overdid the charges in the hopes of just keeping your deposit.
I would write a letter admitting to 604.89 and demanding the remainder, a small amount 3 ways, back.
Hopefully the owner will then consider it a wash.