What to do if my landlord won’t return my deposit due to alleged needed repairs but my walk-through did not bring these issues up?
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What to do if my landlord won’t return my deposit due to alleged needed repairs but my walk-through did not bring these issues up?
I recently had a previous landlord ask me for a large amount of repairs after my walk-through of the property showed no repairs needed. After doing a walk-through of the property I gave her property manager the keys with the expectation that the rental property was left in the same condition that I received it. Now the landlord is not going to refund the money because she hired another property manager that requested a large amount of repairs. Should I be held responsible for repairs that I did not consent to in my first and only wok through and after I gave the property keys back?
Asked on March 2, 2012 under Real Estate Law, Arizona
Answers:
FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney
Answered 12 years ago | Contributor
Under the laws of all state sin this country, a landlord is required to return a tenant's security deposit within 21 to 45 days of move out depending upon the state one lives in. If your former landlord fails to return your security deposit in the stated time period, your recourse is to bring a small claims action against him or her.
If you had a written check list for the walk through of the former rental, you should not be responsible for damage not stated in the document. The problem I see is if you did not get a written check list for the final walk through. If that happened, I can see how the landlord will want as much in damages that he or she can get from your security deposit.
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