Legal question

[paleshadow]

Originally Posted by irishgrl

interesting, the new property owner has no idea what shape the place was in when you moved in, so they can hardly hold you liable for anything now can they? Did you take pictures for your initial walk thru?

Honestly, I didn't even really do an initial walk thru! I had been living with someone at another complex with a lease in their name that they decided to break when they graduated so I had to move out in a hurry. I found this place and it was very nice back then. I've been here for 8 years now, and haven't had any major maintenance issues.
The original owners did work on the plumbing in the shower and did a piss poor job retileing the shower. Also, one winter a peice of metal weather stripping came loose from the bottom of my front door. They fixed it, but it had caught on the vinyl flooring in the entry and ripped part of it. They never replaced that, so I had to tack it down myself. I repeatedly had asked the other owners to take care of the tile and vinyl floor, but since it didn't effect the "quality of living" they didn't put it on high priority. I figured the new owners would get me for that, so it might be cheaper if I replace the vinyl myself than let them take it out of my deposite.

Then I was thinking, since it's been so long since I originally moved in and the original manager and staff is long gone, how bad and dishonest of a person would I be if I put together a move in check list now and listed these things along with photos? I know that sounds really awful, but my experience with landlords is that they will do whatever they can to keep as much of your deposite as possible. I've taken really good care of this place. I have a steam cleaner for the carpet. I painted the whole apartment several years ago because I hated the cheap chalky paint they use. It's the same color, just a higher quality paint. I even fixed a large rectangular cut they put in the drywall right above my fuse box when they installed hard wired smoke detectors. I had asked them every month when I paid my rent to please repair it, but again, it wasn't high priority. Finally, I got a scrap peice of dry wall and did it myself. I do have before and after photos of that.
So I guess basically I will just wait a week to see if they reply to my certified letter to determine how much original information transferred to them. Again, fingers crossed.

[paleshadow]

Originally Posted by DrummerDeanna

Thanks....And good luck with your apartment issues as well, paleshadow!

You too! And if you haven't signed a lease at a new place yet, remember to read it 8x! Do a walk through and take pictures of anything that isn't perfect! I feel the same way as you do. I'd love to get my deposite back, and I think I deserve to, but it won't hurt me to not get it, but if I have to pay rent here for July when I'm moving out at the end of June it's going to to suck! I'll be eating nothing but Ramen noodles and working OT for 6 months!

[DrummerDeanna]

UPDATE ...

Ok ---so I brought my lease to work a couple of weeks ago (that's where I usually am when I call the rental people) so today I opened the drawer I keep it in - and I just glance at the end of term date...which reads, "September 30, 2005" 2005!!!!

So I'm free and clear, right? Their mistake lol...and well it IS a legally binding document

[JazmenFlowers]

Originally Posted by DrummerDeanna

UPDATE ...

Ok ---so I brought my lease to work a couple of weeks ago (that's where I usually am when I call the rental people) so today I opened the drawer I keep it in - and I just glance at the end of term date...which reads, "September 30, 2005" 2005!!!!

So I'm free and clear, right? Their mistake lol...and well it IS a legally binding document

woohoo - free bird.

I love when **** just falls into place...'cause it rarely does.