My question involves a security deposit in the State of: Massachussetts
My wife entered into a written agreement to rent a vacation home for two weeks this summer, which included a 400 dollar security deposit. There was a walk through with the actual owner of the property, but only to show us where things were and how to use the appliances. There was no major damage evident to us at the time, although the home was fairly old and all the appliances and furnishings were old and well used.
We returned to California a couple days before the two week period ended, and gave notice to the owner prior to leaving. Although we did a thorough cleaning prior to our departure, there was no walk through prior to us leaving, and we expected to get our security deposit back in the mail.
We eventually contacted the rental agency, which sent us a letter three months later explaining specifically some damages the owner claimed we were responsible for, and that the security deposit would not be forthcoming. The list of damages was not detailed as to the cost of the repair or replacement, but could not have been worth more than a hundred dollars (tear on a plastic table cloth that appeared to be about 10 years old, missing plastic water pitcher, crayon markings on a window sill, etc.).
I researched The General Laws of Massachusetts, specifically, Chapter 186: Section 15B. Entrance of premises prior to termination of lease; payments; receipts; interest; records; security deposits. It appeared to answer my questions, until I read the final paragraph, (9) The provisions of this section shall not apply to any lease, rental, occupancy or tenancy of one hundred days or less in duration which lease or rental is for a vacation or recreational purpose.
I'm sure there are laws in place to resolve this matter, but I'm not sure where to look now. Since paragraph (9) specifically removes our circumstance from the provisions of Chapter 186, Section 15B, is there a specific section addressing this elsewhere?

