My question involves a security deposit in the State of: WA
I am writing to find out what I can do about my security deposit. Upon moving into my apt 5yrs ago I was required to pay a deposit of $400 in which the apt complex kept all of at the end of my tentency. I had requested they do a walk-through before I left and the manager of the complex said it wasn't necessary and said basically all that would do is give me tips of what I could improve (cleaning-wise) to get more of my security back. I was upfront with the manager in telling her all that was wrong with apt..the carpet was shot in which she said not to worry about. The carpet I had was not a new one and they had planned on replacing and I had told them there was a hole in wall from a dresser I had. Then manager said I would be charged to patch them no big deal and also asked if I was a smoker and I said I was...she said there would be a 90$ fee to repaint and seal for a 1 bdrm apt. In last few weeks I was there I went through the entire place cleaning...and cleaned all the walls/appliances/counter/floors to get the nicotine off. Final day I was there I asked again if they would like to do a walk through and manager said the girl who was in that particular day was new and never did a final inspection before. So what I did was took pictures of the entire apt to make sure I covered myself and in case the people that came in after to clean up or repair accidentally damaged something I would have the pics to prove it wasn't there before I left.
Few days after move I get a letter back from the complex saying basically they used all my security for damages and replacing appliances. The inspection sheet they sent said the fridge/dishwasher was yellow from nicotine damage and had to be replaced for $100. Which isn't true I have the pictures that show them being sparkling white. ( I am an ex-landlord and I am very familiar with removing nicotine from the walls - it was basically prepped for them to come in and apply Kilz then repaint in which I said they said would cost $90 and the appliances were free of any discoloration/nicotine) They also said the bathroom vanity counter was covered in nicotine...which again I have pictures to prove it was white and clean they charged me 61$ to replace the vanity. I called apt complex to dispute the charges and manager wasn't in - called back the next day and spoke to manager and she said the fridge was yellow and covered in grease and same goes for the bathroom vanity..I said I had pictures that says otherwise. The manager became irate and said "well I can refund you for the appliances but I will have to charge you for more stuff and basically will cost me more than my deposit to restore the apt back to where they could rent it...and she was doing us a "favor" by not charging me. She said if her boss had found this out she could lose her job if she didn't charge us accordingly. She basically threatened me and I don't know what do. I am at a loss of 181$
Ist off I think that final inspection sheet where they noted all the damages they found is final they can not go in and change things around and add additional charges like she said.
2nd - The appliances/vanity: The fridge (which was kinda old) was cleaned inside and out and was sparkling white as rest of appliances. dishwasher (which i never even used in the whole 5yrs I was there) was old...bathroom vanity was old. I think they charged me to "upgrade the apt" nothing was wrong with any of them. What doesn't make sense if there was so much nicotine damage why didn't they mention anything about the stove ? Only conclusion with that is it was "newer"
Any suggestions on what I could do ? Because I feel as if I was screwed and have been threatened if I try and dispute this

