speaking of landlords--our old one is being a douche...

summerbrideDC

We have been out of the house for over 2 months now and have yet to see our security deposit.  It was $4k and she is claiming that we let her front lawn die and she needs the money to replace it.  Um. No. 

There was a water-rationing law this summer in LA and every lawn in our neighborhood was fried.  We were allowed to water 2x a week for something like 20 minutes?  The only people on our block whose lawns didn't get fried were those who resodded in early fall or those who disobeyed the law.

Either way, the cost of resodding the entire little patch of front yard? NOT anywhere near 4k.  We've never received written notification of what our security deposit is needed for and the realtor has told us we have to deal with the landlady directly b/c she cant' deal with the woman's craziness anymore. 

I guess we have to get lawyers involved which sucks.  Especially since I spent over $300 having the place professionally cleaned above and beyond the rental laws require and since we'd been model tenants for 15 months.   

monchichi

That totally sucks.  $4k is way too much money to mess around with.  I feel bad that you have to go the lawyer route.  I remember your old posts about her and she sounds like a loon!

lizlemon77

Before paying for a lawyer consider contacting the BBB.  I had issues with a landlord holding my deposit and I contacted them.  They sent him a letter and he agreed to finally give me the money.

I'm sorry she's a crazy.

FriskyPanda

Can you take her to small claims rather than paying lawyers?

summerbrideDC

Hopefully I will just have to threaten--I was doing some research and found that she had 21 days to either return the deposit OR provide us with a written explanation of where our deposit money was being used for.  She did neither, so by California law she has forfeited the deposit. 

I have no doubt that she has already spent the money and probably doesnt' have an extra 4k lying around (she asked US for extra money on one occasion), but maybe just threatening to sue her will be enough.

I'll also try the BBB, thanks for that advice! 

JOEBunny

That sucks.  I am a landlord and that would not be legal here.  Sorry you got stuck with a crazy.  I had a crazy once who tried to charge me for "damage" and stains to the carpet, when the stains where from a leak from the apartment above and they had promised to come clean up after the leak and never did.  I remember how mad it made me and try to be super fair to people now.

A-baybride

That is seriously douchey!  Our front lawn survived okay (if you don't look too close), but our backyard, which got the afternoon sun, still looks bad.  Water shortages are most definitely the property owner's problem.  I'm trying to think of what else you could do... an attorney would eat up a big chunk of that $4k.  Let me know if there's anything I can do (like go take pictures of your neighbors' equally dead lawns). 

Your realtor is a douche, too.  Nice of her to bail when there are no more fees to be earned.

femmegem

Ugh, Sarah, I'm so sorry. I hope you get this sorted out quickly.

ljlkm

You can definitely go the small claims court route.  Take photos of all the lawns in the neighborhood and documentation of the water rationing.

Dougsgirl4ever

summerbrideDC:

I was doing some research and found that she had 21 days to either return the deposit OR provide us with a written explanation of where our deposit money was being used for.  She did neither, so by California law she has forfeited the deposit. 

My parents rent houses in WA. & they are like you say here 21 days to return the deposit or written explanation of the cost of replacement.  Go to small claims court there will be no losing.  Good Luck that is a lot of $$ to have out in someone elses hands.