Dubbington
Slamdunk Champion
I want to get BARFs advice on if this landlord situation is worth battling or not.
Cliff notes - landlord withholding our security deposit and overpaymet and wants to charge us for a cleaning fee and partial lawncare. Lawncare is NOT in the lease as a tenant responsibility, they also were paying a gardener. All of this well passed the time frame California stipulates a landlord must return funds back (21 days). $300 for cleaning and $300 for lawncare she wants to take. We moved out August 8th.
Worth fighting for with possible end result mediation and small claims? I have no clue the cost for those but believe it's low or nearly free.
We rented a home in Danville/San Ramon for 6 years. Initially signed up via the husband who was the point person, nice, accommodating. Start of year 3 the wife took over and was more business/bottom line oriented and not personable. She raised the rent twice, maybe 3 times. Never had any issues really. We got approval to add an electronic front door lock from the husband, he responded quickly to some repairs that needed. Some fixes I did - replaced dishwasher and range hood with my own $$, cheap fixes and didn't want to hassle them. Got them a huge savings on a replacement fridge and roof repair due to my/family connections.
Moving out timeline - we notified them well advance of moving out. Wife and real estate agent did a walkthrough July sometime. Both told us DO NOT do a move out cleaning as they plan to paint the interior of the home. Told us to leave the electronic lock, wifi thermostat too. Wife saw the rear lawn and thought it was dead (it was dormant and in all day sun) and said to keep up the watering, hoping it got "really green" before they list it to rent. We had mover come August 1st and get most 85% of the stuff. Leaving fridge, bathroom, some closet stuff, not an issue as we still had a week left on the lease. Agent and wife had painters show up and get started August 2nd. Wife never did a walktrough check out.
We move out. Living in concord now. Wife texts us August 20th a list of things/issues. One being the garage door button does not open the small single garge door - IT HAS NOT MOTOR, it's a MANUAL door. Also, wants to charge us to change the lock now, charge us $800 for lawn, a missing fireplace key, bunch of crap. I was hot and sent some texts. Landlord husband & wife, me and my wife are on these texts. Landlord husband is radio silent. LL Wife saying we purposfully turned water off to kill the lawn despite front grass green as can be. We agree to do an official walkthrogh and discsusion last week. I bring a new door lock and $5 fireplace key. She said it was going to be $150 to change the front deadbolt, I grab my bucket of tools and change in 5 minutes as they all stood and watched. We showed her the fireplace key fits, garage button battery is dead and they one door is manual. Hour later we leave with LL wife saying she will get estimates on the grass and cleaning and let us know.
Text yesterday was a breakdown of her wanting to take $300 from our deposit for a cleaning person and $300 for lawncare. Some landscaper said it would be $800 to fix the rear grass so she's groveling and wanting us to pay $300 of that.
Our lease ended August 8th. We left the front door key with the agent August 2nd and LL wife knew this. California stipulates 21 days from end of lease or when keys are returned. They are also supposed to notify of with itimezed list of repairs and cost to fix in 21 days. Basically giving us an attempt to remedy, not a shake down, as that's what this feels like.
I can probably add more but wondering what BARFers would do? I think we are on the hook for $0 ---- but I can accept the $300 cleaning fee. The lawncare is garbage and LL wife is being petty and closeminded. Worth paying and move on or fight?
If it's considered bad faith on their part we can get double our security deposit back.
Cliff notes - landlord withholding our security deposit and overpaymet and wants to charge us for a cleaning fee and partial lawncare. Lawncare is NOT in the lease as a tenant responsibility, they also were paying a gardener. All of this well passed the time frame California stipulates a landlord must return funds back (21 days). $300 for cleaning and $300 for lawncare she wants to take. We moved out August 8th.
Worth fighting for with possible end result mediation and small claims? I have no clue the cost for those but believe it's low or nearly free.
We rented a home in Danville/San Ramon for 6 years. Initially signed up via the husband who was the point person, nice, accommodating. Start of year 3 the wife took over and was more business/bottom line oriented and not personable. She raised the rent twice, maybe 3 times. Never had any issues really. We got approval to add an electronic front door lock from the husband, he responded quickly to some repairs that needed. Some fixes I did - replaced dishwasher and range hood with my own $$, cheap fixes and didn't want to hassle them. Got them a huge savings on a replacement fridge and roof repair due to my/family connections.
Moving out timeline - we notified them well advance of moving out. Wife and real estate agent did a walkthrough July sometime. Both told us DO NOT do a move out cleaning as they plan to paint the interior of the home. Told us to leave the electronic lock, wifi thermostat too. Wife saw the rear lawn and thought it was dead (it was dormant and in all day sun) and said to keep up the watering, hoping it got "really green" before they list it to rent. We had mover come August 1st and get most 85% of the stuff. Leaving fridge, bathroom, some closet stuff, not an issue as we still had a week left on the lease. Agent and wife had painters show up and get started August 2nd. Wife never did a walktrough check out.
We move out. Living in concord now. Wife texts us August 20th a list of things/issues. One being the garage door button does not open the small single garge door - IT HAS NOT MOTOR, it's a MANUAL door. Also, wants to charge us to change the lock now, charge us $800 for lawn, a missing fireplace key, bunch of crap. I was hot and sent some texts. Landlord husband & wife, me and my wife are on these texts. Landlord husband is radio silent. LL Wife saying we purposfully turned water off to kill the lawn despite front grass green as can be. We agree to do an official walkthrogh and discsusion last week. I bring a new door lock and $5 fireplace key. She said it was going to be $150 to change the front deadbolt, I grab my bucket of tools and change in 5 minutes as they all stood and watched. We showed her the fireplace key fits, garage button battery is dead and they one door is manual. Hour later we leave with LL wife saying she will get estimates on the grass and cleaning and let us know.
Text yesterday was a breakdown of her wanting to take $300 from our deposit for a cleaning person and $300 for lawncare. Some landscaper said it would be $800 to fix the rear grass so she's groveling and wanting us to pay $300 of that.
Our lease ended August 8th. We left the front door key with the agent August 2nd and LL wife knew this. California stipulates 21 days from end of lease or when keys are returned. They are also supposed to notify of with itimezed list of repairs and cost to fix in 21 days. Basically giving us an attempt to remedy, not a shake down, as that's what this feels like.
I can probably add more but wondering what BARFers would do? I think we are on the hook for $0 ---- but I can accept the $300 cleaning fee. The lawncare is garbage and LL wife is being petty and closeminded. Worth paying and move on or fight?
If it's considered bad faith on their part we can get double our security deposit back.
