Landlord Refuses To Return Deposit And Threatens To Sue Tenant, They Take Him To Court And Get Double

"The judge ruled that the withholding of the security deposit was willful and awarded us double the deposit."

Filip

• Published in Interesting
• October 30, 2023

When one rents an apartment, they have a responsibility to keep it clean and not damage it. In fact, this is what the deposit they leave to the landlord is for.

If tenants leave any damage, the landlord uses their deposit to repair it. Otherwise, the landlord returns the deposit.

A Reddit user recently shared their story about the revenge on their landlord because he wanted to steal their deposit. The OP explained they lived with a friend and a violent younger sister a few years ago.

Their sister damaged the apartment, and the OP got a restraining order against her. After informing their landlord of the issues and providing evidence, the landlord told them to handle it themselves.

The OP's roommate, unsure of their legal obligations regarding the sister's share of the rent, sought clarification and a copy of the lease from the landlord, which complicated the situation. The landlord asked them to vacate the property, which they did promptly and cleanly.

They moved to a nearby apartment, and after two weeks without receiving their security deposit or any communication from the landlord, the OP sent a formal letter requesting either the deposit or an itemized list of deductions. The landlord, caught off guard and unprepared, reacted by threatening legal action and making disparaging remarks.

The OP filed a small claims suit, which resulted in a court order in their favor, awarding double the security deposit due to the landlord's willful withholding. The landlord appealed, but the decision was upheld.

The landlord wrote an embarrassing reason for paying them on their reimbursement check, but the OP cashed it and felt victorious. The OP used their share to buy a new gaming laptop and resisted the temptation to engage further in the conflict.

The original story:

The OP explained he lived with his sister and a friend, but the sister became violent towards them:

Consequently, they moved out and left the apartment spotless:

They moved to a nearby apartment, but the landlord did not return their deposit:

The OP asked their landlord to either send them a deposit or an itemized list of deductions:

But the landlord didn't want to return their money and even said they would see them in court:

Eventually, the OP decided to file a small claims suit:

During the hearing, the landlord fabricated evidence:

But despite the landlord's efforts, the court ruled in OP's favor:

The landlord tried to complain, but the court's decision remained the same:

A Redditor wondered if it'd be seen as a returned deposit because the landlord wrote another explanation

"Landlords either not knowing the law or assuming their tenants don't know the law"

Always take pictures of the apartment and make sure to get a signed copy of the move-in damage report

One Redditor was curious why the landlord added such a description on the check, and the OP explained

"Thanks for paying my weight, but when will you pay my deposit?"

A Redditor said he would take him to court one more time

This story showed that it's important to know and stand up for one's tenant rights. The OP managed to deal with a careless landlord.

Despite the landlord's attempts to withhold the security deposit and make disparaging remarks, the OP took legal action, which resulted in a court ruling in their favor.

Filip