Dime Beautiful
Landlord returned my deposit in full, and now wants a check for cleaning/damages. Is this legal?
We live in Salt Lake City, Utah. Basically we left the place clean and in beautiful shape (with lots of video/pictures to prove it) but our former landlord is trying to nickel and dime us. She returned our $900 deposit in full (wrote a check for the entire amount) and in the same envelope included several pages of crazy charges for bogus repairs and cleaning. She is requesting check back from us immediately for $524. I can’t understand why she didn’t deduct it from our deposit. Isn’t that the whole point of a security deposit? As soon as I got the check, I took it to the bank and deposited it.
Question is, If she took us to court, does she have any legal footing to ask for money back from us for damages and cleaning? She had her opportunity to take the money, but for some reason did not.
Thanks for your expertise!
The landlord has a claim against a tenant for damages to the property regardless of whether they have given back the security deposit. If you damaged it, you owe for that.
However, since you left the place in good condition, and you have documentation of that, then I wouldn’t worry. She would have to prove you damaged the apartment to collect damages, and she won’t be able to do that, will she?
Good luck.
Paper Rosie – Gene Watson – Beautiful Original Recording