Commercial Lease Security Deposit
My question involves a security deposit in the State of: Missouri.
We used to lease an office space and the lease expired in March 2009. We vacated the office and returned the keys at the end of the lease. Due to a clerical error we mistakenly paid rent for April and May. When I contacted the landlord and requested a refund of the overpayment, as well as the security deposit, he said that we left a copy machine behind and therefore did not vacate the unit and were still liable for the rent until the copier was removed. Shouldn't the landlord just dispose of the copier and charge us a reasonable fee from the deposit and refund the balance?
Thanks!
Re: Commercial Lease Security Deposit
If you properly terminated your lease and he won't return your money, assuming you're allowed in your state (being, apparently, an incorporated entity), you're free to sue in small claims court.
Re: Commercial Lease Security Deposit
I'd love to see the look on the judge's face when the landlord tries to argue that a small piece of abandoned property constitutes possession.