So, we got a letter from the old landlord today.
Not only is he keeping the full security deposit, he also wants and additional $114

He is charging us for:
Water bill.
We owe that, no dispute - $171.55
Rent for 6 days - $92.
Only stayed there til the 4th, even prorated the water bill til the 4th.
5 blinds missing in the bedrooms and kitchen.
None of the rooms had blinds when we moved in. Or bedroom had 2 shades, they were still there when we moved out. He wants $25 for that.
Pulled 20 nails and plastic anchors and plastered and painted the bedroom. I did all of that before we moved out. He wants $50 for that.
Water damage in bathroom. He claims it is form the shower curtain not being closed all of the way, really it was from the toilet seal leaking.
He has a bill form a contractor for $186.39
Lastly, he charged $40 for removal of the dryer, 7 skids, and a battery from the basement.
The dryer was there when we moved in. We left the skids for the new tenants since the basements floods.
I did leave the battery, forgot about that.

BUT, the best part is the letter I wrote him with the address to contact at us (the law firm) I told him I wanted to be present when he did a walk through to assess the damage. He never contacted us.
I told my boss, he said "no problem, we'll sue him.
Personally, I want to


I drafted a letter to respond and had my boss sign it.

Probably end up in court.

Just let it go. It'* not worth your time to fight something like that...

I've only got my deposit back once after living in rented places... And they only gave me $60 of it... It'* not worth the fight.

Well, for me there is no legal expenses.
And, there is no way that I am paying him $114 when he booted me in the first place and we didn't do the stuff he siad.

If I was in that position, I would just let it go. I have never received a deposit back either. I have lived in 3 places in the last 4 years.

However, your position is far different. Free legal help? Use it!

Legally, he'* not obligated to contact to setup an appointment for the property walk through.

My tenants often request that too, but I never contact them. It'* better not to contact the tenants from a landlord'* perspective because there'* no face to face confrontation.

IMO, don't pay the $114. Let him serve you for the $114....which he won't. It'* too petty for him to go after something so small. I'm sure he'* got bigger fish to fry.

My motto is - if they owe me $1000 or less, I let it go. Not going to waste my time going to court over something so small (in the grand scheme of things).

And, what'* your basis for suing him? You're not out anything, he is. :?

He isn't out anything though.
He booted us for no reason in the first place.
Then, he'* trying to charge me for stuff we didn't do.

The only thing that is owed to him is teh overdue water bill and the 4 days of rent.
I only owe him like $20.
He isn't keeping the rest of my $450.

This gets into the "he said, she said". There'* two sides to every story. IMO, I would just let it go and think of him as you want. Who knows, if you go to court, you may end up in a WORSE position than you're in now.

Having been in his shoes, take the higher ground.

Normally, I am all about taking the high road.
But, sometimes you have to stand up for what'* right, ya know?
Plus, with Christmas, I was counting on that deposit back.
The wife and I busted our butts cleaning the place and making it how it should be