How Tenants Can Get It All Back.
When a tenant moves out, the biggest "battle" between landlords and tenants begins. It's a battle over how much the landlord will charge for damages to the unit.
The tenant remembers that the unit was in need of cleaning and repair when they first moved in. the landlord remembers that the unit was immaculate and in perfect condition. The tenant feels that the unit was perfectly clean and the paint looked great. The landlord only sees dirt, grime and marks all over the walls.
This difference of opinion is what keeps our small claims courts busy. There are more cases about security deposits in our system than any other issue. And most of these cases could be eliminated if a few simple steps were followed. Here they are:
When you move into a unit, write down about the condition of the unit. Include any spots in the carpet, areas that are not clean, broken windows, torn screens, missing window coverings, and any other "imperfection" that you see. Send a copy to the landlord and keep one for yourself. Make sure it is dated. You may even want to take pictures.
Then when you move out, make sure you give a copy of this move-in inspection to your landlord. If you have cleaned the carpet or paid someone to clean the unit, give the landlord a copy of the invoices for this work too. Again, you may want to take pictures and give the landlord a copy.
This will remind the owner of the condition of the unit when you moved-in and help you get most, if not all of your deposit back.
