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    justcurious55's Avatar
    justcurious55 Posts: 4,360, Reputation: 790
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    #1

    Feb 24, 2011, 09:29 PM
    Move out fees
    So far, I've always rented private rooms and been fortunate enough to have great landlords and never any problems. I like the place I'm at now, but I can't have my boyfriend move in and we'd like to move in together so we're looking at apartments. I live in irvine, ca and would like to continue living in this city. The thing is though that nearly everything is owned by the irvine company. Some of the properties have great reviews, and others really bad. The common complaint for all of them though seems to be these ridiculous move out fees.

    People claim they were good tenants and left places clean but still never got their deposits back, and in addition to not getting their deposits back received bills ranging from a few hundred dollars all the way up to a few thousand dollars for paint, carpet replacement, and "misc repairs."

    It all seems a little fishy to me. People say stuff like the irvine company claimed that misc repairs were written into the lease or that no one would ever answer any questions about the charges and would just send things to collections agencies.

    So, finally, my questions, before I get myself into a bad situation... can they really do that? Let's say I move into one of these places (one of the ones with the least amount of these sorts of complaints) and I continue to be a good tenant and leave the place in good condition (and read my lease carefully), can they really come after me for all sorts of miscellaneous charges and never provide evidence of what repairs and what not they are making? My understanding has always been that even if they keep any part of the deposit they still had to show what that money was going towards.

    My suspicion is that these reviews are mostly by people that weren't really as good of tenants as they claimed to be. But I'd just like to have all my research done before I pack any boxes.
    AK lawyer's Avatar
    AK lawyer Posts: 12,592, Reputation: 977
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    #2

    Feb 24, 2011, 11:00 PM
    Quote Originally Posted by justcurious55 View Post
    ...
    so, finally, my questions, before i get myself into a bad situation...can they really do that? ...
    Yes, they can get away with it if no one challenges the practice.

    No, they probably can't, assuming it's not in the lease, if the matter is taken to court.
    justcurious55's Avatar
    justcurious55 Posts: 4,360, Reputation: 790
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    #3

    Feb 24, 2011, 11:11 PM

    Thanks. I had a feeling that was it.
    excon's Avatar
    excon Posts: 21,482, Reputation: 2992
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    #4

    Feb 25, 2011, 05:48 AM

    Hello j:

    California is one of the most tenant friendly states in the country... If somebody got screwed by their landlord there, it's because they had NO CLUE about how to protect their rights.. Fortunately for you, you have US, and we'll guard your rights.

    excon
    justcurious55's Avatar
    justcurious55 Posts: 4,360, Reputation: 790
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    #5

    Feb 25, 2011, 08:08 AM

    Aww. Thanks ex.
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