So stressed! Renting Advice??

[bchgirl]

Originally Posted by gutu28

Really? I didn't know that! That's very interesting..

Im going to call in the morning and "nicely" tell them to give me my money back! Haha I am also going to write them a letter and fax it with a copy of my bank statement so I have a written record of it. I really really hope that they will be cooperative with me.

Oh I'm pretty certain they'll be "cooperative"....they have no choice. I own rental property...so I know what I'm talking about. Like I said...deposits are supposed to be held in escrow accounts and funds readily available. It's not considered THEIR money...it's yours they're holding for YOU...just in case.

Btw, it wasn't your responsibility to repaint either...that's considered reasonable wear and tear....and every time a tenant moves out...the landlord is supposed to paint the premises.

[I Love Bailey]

Instead of faxing the letter go the post office and certify it so they have to sign for it, it is less then a dollar to do that, keep the receipt and copy of letter. It will serve as proof you contacted them about the NSF Check and you may need the proof if you have to pursue legal action. Then they can't say they never received it.

[mypreciouspups]

Originally Posted by bchgirl

Oh I'm pretty certain they'll be "cooperative"....they have no choice. I own rental property...so I know what I'm talking about. Like I said...deposits are supposed to be held in escrow accounts and funds readily available. It's not considered THEIR money...it's yours they're holding for YOU...just in case.

Btw, it wasn't your responsibility to repaint either...that's considered reasonable wear and tear....and every time a tenant moves out...the landlord is supposed to paint the premises.

good post that I am sure you have the background to give her good advice..glad of that. Hate to see some one scammed on renting too..pooh's mum

[bchgirl]

Originally Posted by I Love Bailey

Instead of faxing the letter go the post office and certify it so they have to sign for it, it is less then a dollar to do that, keep the receipt and copy of letter. It will serve as proof you contacted them about the NSF Check and you may need the proof if you have to pursue legal action. Then they can't say they never received it.

Oh that was advice I completely forgot to give you.

I am told that faxing something would hold up in court, but I've never tried that....

[Lillium]

Personally I'd be concerned with them charging you for things that were not on the list. Can you expand on this please?

As another poster said, they CANNOT use bond money for anything else other than keeping in a trust account. I'd be contacting the rental board (or whatever it's called in Australia) to let them know that the cheque has bounced so they can investigate. The company could be fined for improper use of bond funds.

I hope you get this sorted out. Best of luck!

[gutu28]

Originally Posted by bchgirl

Oh I'm pretty certain they'll be "cooperative"....they have no choice. I own rental property...so I know what I'm talking about. Like I said...deposits are supposed to be held in escrow accounts and funds readily available. It's not considered THEIR money...it's yours they're holding for YOU...just in case.

Btw, it wasn't your responsibility to repaint either...that's considered reasonable wear and tear....and every time a tenant moves out...the landlord is supposed to paint the premises.

My parents rent out our old house, so I need to tell them this..is it for all rental properties? Or just rental companies that own property?

About repainting..I holes in the wall where I hung stuff up..they told me I was supposed to spackle them..fine I said..then they told me I had to paint over the holes..but the walls weren't white..they were an off-white. Luckily, the office had a small can of the paint they used, or else they were going to make me pay out of the deposit for it. So I painted..

[I Love Bailey]

If you have any problems with this rental company, I would consider calling an attorney for a consult and bringing in your rental contract and having him/her look it over. Sounds a bit off.
We also have a couple of commercial property rentals and other then having the clients leave the place clean and hauling away excessive trash we redo everything when the clients move out. I am curious about what your contract stated. Sounds like they are trying to take advantage of you because you are young.

[gutu28]

Originally Posted by Lillium

Personally I'd be concerned with them charging you for things that were not on the list. Can you expand on this please?

As another poster said, they CANNOT use bond money for anything else other than keeping in a trust account. I'd be contacting the rental board (or whatever it's called in Australia) to let them know that the cheque has bounced so they can investigate. The company could be fined for improper use of bond funds.

I hope you get this sorted out. Best of luck!

Well, they told me that if their guys have to come in and do ANYTHING to the house to get the new renter in, we'd be responsible for it..as in, it would get taken out of our security deposit. I asked if anything was covered under normal wear and tear and they told me no because it is (was..we lived there for a year) a brand new house..

Some things off the top of my head that weren't on the list were wiping off the ceiling fan blades (even though our living room ceiling was at least 25 feet tall), wiping down the baseboards, cleaning behind the washer and dryer, etc. Basically, they wanted their old tenants to clean up everything for their new tenants. It was a load of BS, but I didn't know what to say to get around it..so I ignored it so I didn't have to deal with it anymore..

[gutu28]

Originally Posted by I Love Bailey

If you have any problems with this rental company, I would consider calling an attorney for a consult and bringing in your rental contract and having him/her look it over. Sounds a bit off.
We also have a couple of commercial property rentals and other then having the clients leave the place clean and hauling away excessive trash we redo everything when the clients move out. I am curious about what your contract stated. Sounds like they are trying to take advantage of you because you are young.

The only problem is, I don't know if it would be worth it to get an attorney involved because after fees, I would probably end up being out of money..

I looked back at the time, and the contract did state that no holes were to be put into the walls..

This was a neighborhood where most of the people by the houses sight unseen and then use this rental company to rent them out to college students..the person that owned the home I lived in is from California..

[bchgirl]

Originally Posted by gutu28

My parents rent out our old house, so I need to tell them this..is it for all rental properties? Or just rental companies that own property?

About repainting..I holes in the wall where I hung stuff up..they told me I was supposed to spackle them..fine I said..then they told me I had to paint over the holes..but the walls weren't white..they were an off-white. Luckily, the office had a small can of the paint they used, or else they were going to make me pay out of the deposit for it. So I painted..

No every landlord is supposed to hold that deposit money in an escrow account...if your parents never have to worry how they would come up with the money to return someone's deposit...it's really a non issue...because no one will ever check unless a problem occurs.

Yes, you have to fill in the holes where you hung pictures....but NOT repaint. Matter of fact...know what works? Colgate paste toothpaste...really.

No, you shouldn't have had to paint those spots...they had YOU do their work.

You now have the upper hand...really. Worse case scenerio...you take them to small claims court. It'll cost you maybe 35 dollars to file....and that amount can be added to the amount you're awarded. Not if you are awarded...WHEN...because you would be. I highly doubt the rental company would even let it go that far....just the threat will be enough for them to correct this situation.

[bchgirl]

Originally Posted by gutu28

The only problem is, I don't know if it would be worth it to get an attorney involved because after fees, I would probably end up being out of money..

I looked back at the time, and the contract did state that no holes were to be put into the walls..

This was a neighborhood where most of the people by the houses sight unseen and then use this rental company to rent them out to college students..the person that owned the home I lived in is from California..

You don't need a lawyer...you can take them to small claims courts...that's for amounts under $1,500.

IF it goes that far....make sure you have all your documentation along with the letter you write to them.

[I Love Bailey]

Originally Posted by gutu28

The only problem is, I don't know if it would be worth it to get an attorney involved because after fees, I would probably end up being out of money..

I looked back at the time, and the contract did state that no holes were to be put into the walls..

This was a neighborhood where most of the people by the houses sight unseen and then use this rental company to rent them out to college students..the person that owned the home I lived in is from California..

Consults are normally at no charge. If the rental company is being dishonest and you can prove that , they could be liable for your attorney fees.
I would only resort to that if they drag their feet about reimbursing you.

[gutu28]

Originally Posted by bchgirl

No every landlord is supposed to hold that deposit money in an escrow account...if your parents never have to worry how they would come up with the money to return someone's deposit...it's really a non issue...because no one will ever check unless a problem occurs.

Yes, you have to fill in the holes where you hung pictures....but NOT repaint. Matter of fact...know what works? Colgate paste toothpaste...really.

No, you shouldn't have had to paint those spots...they had YOU do their work.

You now have the upper hand...really. Worse case scenerio...you take them to small claims court. It'll cost you maybe 35 dollars to file....and that amount can be added to the amount you're awarded. Not if you are awarded...WHEN...because you would be. I highly doubt the rental company would even let it go that far....just the threat will be enough for them to correct this situation.

Do you think there would be any way for me to get the initial monies they used from the deposit to get the house ready for the new tenants?

It's a small company..the lady that answers the phones and is in the office all day is also one of the owners, along with her husband. And I also think theyre fairly new around town..but they had A LOT of listings!

[bchgirl]

Originally Posted by gutu28

Do you think there would be any way for me to get the initial monies they used from the deposit to get the house ready for the new tenants?

It's a small company..the lady that answers the phones and is in the office all day is also one of the owners, along with her husband. And I also think theyre fairly new around town..but they had A LOT of listings!

Get out your lease....read it and read it again. It should state specifically WHAT your responsibilities were as a tenant when you moved out.

Cleaning is fine...including the dusty ceiling fans blades, baseboards, spackling the holes, etc...but NOT painting.

They seemed to have forgotten it WAS a new house....now it is not....as long as you didn't do any structural damage....and cleaned it...you should've gotten your entire deposit back.

I realize you did what they said....so you would get your money back...some landlords pull that crap. Some also do whatever work themselves....not hire anyone to do anything...but charge you like they did any way.

[gutu28]

Originally Posted by bchgirl

Get out your lease....read it and read it again. It should state specifically WHAT your responsibilities were as a tenant when you moved out.

Cleaning is fine...including the dusty ceiling fans blades, baseboards, spackling the holes, etc...but NOT painting.

They seemed to have forgotten it WAS a new house....now it is not....as long as you didn't do any structural damage....and cleaned it...you should've gotten your entire deposit back.

I realize you did what they said....so you would get your money back...some landlords pull that crap. Some also do whatever work themselves....not hire anyone to do anything...but charge you like they did any way.

I swear..the only thing wrong with that house were two spots on the carpet that we couldnt get out..we even magic erased the walls!

I would have been perfectly fine with all the cleaning..the baseboards, etc...if they had put it on the checklist! I thought that's what it was for..we did everything that was on it..and then they throw this other stuff that wasn't even on it at us!