Results 1 to 2 of 2
  1. #1
    Join Date
    Jun 2009
    Posts
    1

    Default Landlord Not Returning Security Deposit

    Hello,

    My question involves a security deposit in the State of: Ohio

    (1) Rented the house for 1850 per month on March 2008, lease got over on Feb 2009. Landlord insisted we stay month to month on 1250 per month and 45 days vacate notice to which we agreed. stayed for march, april he called us to told to vacate on 30th april, we asked him to vacate by may 15th to which he told us because we need the house, we need to pay him full rent i.e. 900$ for 1-15th may, we agreed and paid.

    (2) now he is not returning security deposit for 1850$ and asking for additional 335$. Pet deposit (250$) was non refundable as per lease.

    (3) Claims towards our security deposit -

    (a) late rent for 9 months of the lease - 450$ (50 X 9)
    he never informed us of this before. not sure whether it is in the lease.

    but does he need to inform us on the month the rent is late that he is charging us 50$ more ? or is it ok to bring it up at the lease end. he never made any communication either written/oral reg this.

    (b) dry wall repair - 550$ (wall repair and painting the walls)
    (c) replace bulbs - 100$
    (d) garage door openers replacement - 40$
    (e) batteries for alarms in the house - 30-40$
    (f) replacing a window screen - 22$
    (g) degreasing of equipment in kitchen and getting them professionally cleaned - 380$
    (h) carpet getting professionally cleaned - 100$
    (f) we moved the lawn, infact did some mulching too....we did not get the house in a mulched condition when we rented it. but now we he is charging us for mulching, edging and lawn care which he did one month before we left...and he did not ask us again to do it first....he just hired somebody and started working on the lawn without our permission.

    we mowed the lawn 5 days before we left and mulched it at our cost last summer...also put plants worth 250$ on our own cost.

    my question is, are we legally bound to pay all these costs ? what is considered to be normal wear and tear ?

    Pls advice on each of the items....

    Thanks a ton for your help. We are permanent residents (GC holders), not natives from this country, so not citizens. I do not know whether this changes anything, but just for information.

    thanks
    pr

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Mar 2008
    Posts
    1,995

    Default Re: Advice Needed - Landlord Not Returning Security Deposit (Ohio)

    As I mentioned in some earlier posts, take the landlord to "small claims", and from watching TV court shows, landlords normally lose most of these cases.

    There is the concept of "wear and tear", and to attribute everything to "repairs" is inappropriate, and I see many of the costs are out of line, and inflated.

    The judge may give him a few "get outta here" dollars", but in the main, you should get most of it back.

    He'll won't get most of the drywall repair, light bulb, and lawn costs. And he's so late in with demanding late fees, he'll probably lose that too.

    Looks like he might have spent your deposit money is Vegas, and just made some numbers up. Just for the record, I own rental properties.

    1. Sponsored Links
       

Similar Threads

  1. Security Deposits: Shared Lease, Landlord Not Returning the Security Deposit
    By NYCHelp in forum Landlord-Tenant Law
    Replies: 1
    Last Post: 07-28-2011, 11:21 PM
  2. Security Deposits: Landlord is Makign Threats, Not Returning Security Deposit
    By Morost in forum Landlord-Tenant Law
    Replies: 1
    Last Post: 07-25-2011, 09:21 AM
  3. Security Deposits: Landlord is Late Returning Security Deposit
    By ascorbic in forum Landlord-Tenant Law
    Replies: 2
    Last Post: 11-15-2010, 08:07 AM
  4. Security Deposits: Can a Landlord Send an Invoice for Damages After Returning Security Deposit
    By taitcheson in forum Landlord-Tenant Law
    Replies: 1
    Last Post: 08-02-2010, 02:49 PM
  5. Security Deposits: Returning a Security Deposit
    By natsen in forum Landlord-Tenant Law
    Replies: 1
    Last Post: 07-29-2006, 01:12 PM
 
 
Sponsored Links

Legal Help, Information and Resources