Corporate Landlords - who can figure them out?

[SunnyOne]

I recently moved out of a higher end apartment complex. My landlord is a corporation that owns several of these complexes.

This state has laws and very specific guidelines as to how landlords are to handle move outs, inspections, return of security deposits
handling of security deposits, etc.

My landlord decided to violate *every single one of them* and even fabricated their own interpretation of the law in an email to me.
For what it's worth, the law is very clear, there is no ambiguity in the language.

I've now sent them a politely worded and cordial letter citing the laws and the remedies they need to take
to return my full security deposit to me.

I would like to get this resolved, but I am not hurting for money....I can let it drag out in order to have it all done correctly
instead of allowing them to take advantage of me.

But here's my issue - in their business, surely they know the law.

Why do they right out of the shute, try to play games with tenants? take advantage of tenants?

Are they betting tenants don't know their rights? Are they betting I need my money sooner so I am willing to take less than
what I am owed?

It's kind of ugly, if you ask me. I hope this doesn't end up becoming a matter of public record.

Back when I was working, most corporations would go out of their way to keep their names out of public records.

 

[Calico]

I recently moved out of a higher end apartment complex. My landlord is a corporation that owns several of these complexes.

Are they betting tenants don't know their rights? Are they betting I need my money sooner so I am willing to take less than what I am owed?

Yes.
Yes.

 

[SunnyOne]

My last line was a note letting them know I hope to hear back from them at their soonest convenience and I will hold the check until then.

 

[jollystomper]

Do you have any attorney friends or contacts? It can be helpful, based on the amount being withheld, if they send a letter to them as well. Sometimes letters or emails from law firms can make things happen much faster .

 

[Kings over Queens]

My last line was a note letting them know I hope to hear back from them at their soonest convenience and I will hold the check until then.

Check for what? Don't they owe you?

To your original questions, yes, I'm sure they figure that most tenants don't know the law and as such, their default is to try and get away with it.

 

[Lorenzo]

Some things that are set forth in state laws may be alterable by the lease terms negotiated between landlord and tenant. Others set forth rights that a tenant cannot waive, even if the lease purports to. Definitely read the lease to try to get an idea what the landlord might be thinking here.

 

[Texas Proud]

I am betting that OP got a check for less than what was expected... so holding it. Depositing it might mean agreeing to what they sent.

Yes, they have been ignoring laws for decades IMO... I had problems almost 60 years ago with my deposits... they always held back a cleaning charge no matter how clean you got it... so I stopped cleaning...

This is also why some states have added a 2X or 3X penalty on incorrectly withheld deposits... and a strict schedule of what they need to do... but if only 5% ever take it to court they are ahead of the game...

 

[freedomatlast]

Why do they right out of the shute, try to play games with tenants? take advantage of tenants?

Two reasons:
1) They'll do anything to try to increase profits.

2 )Most people won't make the effort to push back.

Much the same with many large companies..... no morals, no ethics masked with public service announcements with illusions about how wonderful they are and how much they care.

 

[OldShooter]

Don't waste time sending letters to clerks. Just file your dispute with your local small claims court. In our state this claim can IIRC be up to $5K, so probably enough to cover your deposit. With your claim include copies of the state laws with the relevant items underlined. If the state law includes statutory damages for landlord's failure to comply, include those amounts too.

If you can get a free attorney letter by all means do it. If not, just let the small claims process grind. The landlord may not even show up in court, in which case you will get a default judgement. Take that paperwork to your county courthouse and file a lien on their building and on any other assets you can identify, like maintenance motor vehicles. Eventually you will get a very polite letter and a check.

 

[Sunset]

Don't waste time sending letters to clerks. Just file your dispute with your local small claims court. In our state this claim can IIRC be up to $5K, so probably enough to cover your deposit. With your claim include copies of the state laws with the relevant items underlined. If the state law includes statutory damages for landlord's failure to comply, include those amounts too.

If you can get a free attorney letter by all means do it. If not, just let the small claims process grind. The landlord may not even show up in court, in which case you will get a default judgement. Take that paperwork to your county courthouse and file a lien on their building and on any other assets you can identify, like maintenance motor vehicles. Eventually you will get a very polite letter and a check.

As long as the amount missing is large, otherwise OP could end up working a bunch of hours for a small amount.

 

[OldShooter]

As long as the amount missing is large, otherwise OP could end up working a bunch of hours for a small amount.

In our county, filing a claim is done online in a few minutes and the hearing is via Zoom. Not a "bunch of hours" but YMMV.

 

[Irishgirlyc58]

Two reasons:
1) They'll do anything to try to increase profits.

2 )Most people won't make the effort to push back.

Much the same with many large companies..... no morals, no ethics masked with public service announcements with illusions about how wonderful they are and how much they care.

So basically they are crooks no different than if a person off the street broke into your house and stole your furniture and car sitting in the driveway.
They should be reported to the authorities. We should not normalize corporate criminal behavior.

 

[anethum]

If your former corporate landlord has violated state law, I would start by contacting your state Attorney General's office and provide them with details and evidence. If your city or county has a landlord/tenant office or consumer protection office, I would contact them as well.

A couple of years ago, Verizon put a bogus $100 charge on my elderly mother's bill. When I got nowhere after contacting Verizon "customer service", I contacted the consumer protection office in my mother's county. The guy in the office had Verizon on speed dial. I emailed him details including photos, and very quickly, Verizon had reversed the bogus charge and credited my mom's account for the outage she suffered due to the failure of Verizon's own equipment.

 

[rk911]

Polite is right first time out of the box. Less so if they drag their feet. Did you take photos or a video of your apt. before you turned in the keys?

 

[kgtest]

I recently moved out of a higher end apartment complex. My landlord is a corporation that owns several of these complexes.

This state has laws and very specific guidelines as to how landlords are to handle move outs, inspections, return of security deposits
handling of security deposits, etc.

My landlord decided to violate *every single one of them* and even fabricated their own interpretation of the law in an email to me.
For what it's worth, the law is very clear, there is no ambiguity in the language.

I've now sent them a politely worded and cordial letter citing the laws and the remedies they need to take
to return my full security deposit to me.

I would like to get this resolved, but I am not hurting for money....I can let it drag out in order to have it all done correctly
instead of allowing them to take advantage of me.

But here's my issue - in their business, surely they know the law.

Why do they right out of the shute, try to play games with tenants? take advantage of tenants?

Are they betting tenants don't know their rights? Are they betting I need my money sooner so I am willing to take less than
what I am owed?

It's kind of ugly, if you ask me. I hope this doesn't end up becoming a matter of public record.

Back when I was working, most corporations would go out of their way to keep their names out of public records.

I remember the last apartment my DW and I moved out of back in like 2006ish they handed us a checklist.

Now mind you this was not a high end apartment complex, more a barely middle of the road one.



One of the items was to ensure we checked that each of the rooms, vents, return air ducts, fans and fixtures was completely dusted. DW was freaking out about that.

We left that place spotless, not a stain on the carpet or counter, everything bristling clean, didn't leave a single item behind. She got the full deposit back, but the laundry list made me so skeptical.

They listed the cost range for each item that did not pass inspection and I was like yeah we aren't gonna get it all back.

Low and behold somehow we did. I despised that apartment complex and all associations.

 

[SunnyOne]

Yes, I have timestamped photos, video, copies of the law, postmarked correspondence
all the citations.

It's all laid out and clear. I guess I was shocked by their egregious and blatant flaunting of the law.

I am retired. I have time to right any wrongs. Doesn't look like would be a big deal. The AG's office accepts complaints.
I have read the consumer guidebook for small claims processing in this state. Pretty straightforward.
Likely a hassle for a person with a job, but I can make this my job lol....
again, I am polite and professional. I have a background working in law.

 

[Irishgirlyc58]

Yes, I have timestamped photos, video, copies of the law, postmarked correspondence
all the citations.

It's all laid out and clear. I guess I was shocked by their egregious and blatant flaunting of the law.

I am retired. I have time to right any wrongs. Doesn't look like would be a big deal. The AG's office accepts complaints.
I have read the consumer guidebook for small claims processing in this state. Pretty straightforward.
Likely a hassle for a person with a job, but I can make this my job lol....
again, I am polite and professional. I have a background working in law.

Does the law or regulation state which agency is responsible for the complaints? Like the fair housing department or whatever? Just a thought.

 

[COcheesehead]

File a small claims against them. I wouldn’t mess around. Nothing makes people act quicker than getting served papers.

 

[MC Rider]

Figure them out? They want money, all of it. And they don't care about you, bleep you.

 

[SunnyOne]

and blatantly so...

 

[Winemaker]

Were you provided an itemized list for your deposit? As a past landlord, I had a clause that stated that a carpet cleaning charge would be taken out of their deposit at the end of their lease. Of course, it was listed in the final summary.

 

[SunnyOne]

no I was not, just a lump sum which appears to cover their costs to refresh the unit (I lived there 2.5 years) for the next tenant.

The law very clearly states that deductions can only be taken for DAMAGES.

 

[SunnyOne]

no I was not, just a lump sum which appears to cover their costs to refresh the unit (I lived there 2.5 years) for the next tenant.

The law very clearly states that deductions can only be taken for DAMAGES.

 

[Winemaker]

Perhaps you should reread your lease. You may have agreed upon this "refresh" charge there. Also, when a tenant gave me their 90 day notice, I would acknowledge their termination, and give them a list of charges to expect if the unit was not returned in the same condition it was initially.

 

[SunnyOne]

I wouldn't have posted if I didn't have my ducks in a row. I appreciate the suggestion however.