Looks like I'm plain screwed? Landlord keeping my security deposit:

[JulesMaximus]

What did she say caused her to keep your security deposit? Do you have a list?

Tell her you're going to take her to court if she doesn't refund all of your security deposit and if she doesn't then go file in small claims court to get your money back.

 

[highland145]

Probably sue in NJ, as the lease would be under NJ law.

But you have to get her served. I can see there being a problem if her residence is in GA with the service and the lien/judgement.

As mentioned, lawyer time.

 

[s0me0nesmind1]

Where do you live? Wyoming?

Nah, just the 3rd or 4th largest city in the US

 

[mrjminer]

I always consider the deposit lost. I have literally never damaged anything in an apartment and every apartment I have had has always been cleaned more than it was before I arrived prior to leaving -- and I've never gotten a deposit back. I don't waste my time asking because my deposits are like $400-$600 and it's just not worth dealing with the bullshit to me.

For a few grand, though, I would make an exception.

 

[rip]

$3000 deposit???? BS
Do you live on Park Ave?
Do you drink....smoke?
Did you read your contract carefully?
Not trying to be a hard ass.....but, been there done that

 

[nk215]

There's more to the story. To a landlord $3K is not that much money to really screw someone over. If she's keeping it, there must be a reason not stated in the post. She for sure knows the laws associated with deposits.

I am also a landlord and also know a few other landlords in my area. None of them are unreasonable when it comes to the condition of the house and returns of the deposit when people move out. Most of the time, landlords don't even do the walk thru themselves. The repair/clean crew, when prep the house for the next family, reports the condition to the landlord.

Large holes on walls? DIY house repair job that needs rework? Large coke stain under a rug on hardwood floor? Smoke, Pets that you didn't said in your initial paper work?

 

[Ns1]

$3000 deposit???? BS
Do you live on Park Ave?
Do you drink....smoke?
Did you read your contract carefully?
Not trying to be a hard ass.....but, been there done that

People who believe 3k deposit is unreasonable must live in Bumfuck, WY

that's 1.5x a 2k rent or 2x a 1.5k rent, which in a major metropolitan area is probably a 1 BR apartment or studio or loft in a semi-decent area.

In NYC or SF $1500-2k/month is probably a closet space.

 

[rga]

Nowhere in the OP did Zeze say that his ex-landlord is refusing to refund his security deposit. He just stared that he lost communication; he didn't even mention how long it's been. He probably moved out over the weekend - the end of the month. His ex-landlord could have a very good reason for not getting back to him within the 48 hours since he vacated the property, especially since the law provides for 30 days.

Zeze sounds like a whiny little bitch, and I'd wait until the 23rd hour of the 29th day to return hos security deposit just to fuck with him

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

Nowhere in the OP did Zeze say that his ex-landlord is refusing to refund his security deposit. He just stared that he lost communication; he didn't even mention how long it's been. He probably moved out over the weekend - the end of the month. His ex-landlord could have a very good reason for not getting back to him within the 48 hours since he vacated the property, especially since the law provides for 30 days.

Zeze sounds like a whiny little bitch, and I'd wait until the 23rd hour of the 29th day to return hos security deposit just to fuck with him

Your an out of State landlord aren't you?

 

[rga]

I'm just an adult that realizes the world doesn't always jump exactly when I say it should.

 

[jlee]

Nah, just the 3rd or 4th largest city in the US

That doesn't mean much. Phoenix is #6 and houses are practically free.

 

[Adul]

The OP should be happy he's in NJ and not in Arizona where out of State landlords are viewed as the foundation of all that's good and Holy and, renters are worthless ungrateful scum who should be happy that some upstanding landlord was willing to take their money.

Hence I own my home

 

[rudder]

4. Yes I will be suing her at small claims. But after reading it through, collecting it is another matter. Writ of execution and all that and people don't end up collecting. What the hell is the point of suing if you can't collect?

Anything else I can do. I can't believe I'll just be straight up conned $3,000. I'm in NJ but landlord lives in Atlanta.

Get a judgement against her then put a lien on the apartment complex.

 

[LevelSea]

People who believe 3k deposit is unreasonable must live in Bumfuck, WY

that's 1.5x a 2k rent or 2x a 1.5k rent, which in a major metropolitan area is probably a 1 BR apartment or studio or loft in a semi-decent area.

In NYC or SF $1500-2k/month is probably a closet space.

Median household income is ~$56k. If your net monthly income is a around $3300, yeah, it would sound unreasonable.

 

[Ns1]

n/m

 

[LevelSea]

fuck the plebeians!

:thumbsup::thumbsup:

 

[jlee]

Median household income is ~$56k. If your net monthly income is a around $3300, yeah, it would sound unreasonable.

 

[BoomerD]

http://www.lsnjlaw.org/publications/pages/manuals/tenantsrights.pdf

(the pertinent info starts on page 13)

http://www.nj.gov/dca/divisions/codes/publications/pdf_lti/sdepsit_law.pdf


https://www.judiciary.state.nj.us/civil/11483_landlord_tenant_faq.pdf

What Happens to the Residential Security Deposit?
The security deposit generally must be deposited in an interest-bearing account in a bank or saving and
loan association in New Jersey at the time the lease is signed. The tenant must be given written notice
of where the money has been deposited within 30 days of receipt by the landlord.
If the landlord does not return the security deposit within 30 days from the date the tenant moves out or
vacates the premises, the tenant may sue to recover double the amount due, plus court costs and
reasonable attorney’s fees, if any. If the amount sought is $5000 or less, the tenant may sue in the Small
Claims Section of the Special Civil Part Court. If the amount sought exceeds $5,000.00, the tenant may
sue in the Special Civil Part. If the amount sought exceeds $15,000, the tenant must sue in the civil part
section of the Law Division.
The landlord must notify the tenant, within those 30 days from the date that the tenant vacates the rental
premises, of the amount of the security deposit being retained to pay unpaid rent and/or to pay for the
cost of the repairs, if any. If the amount of any damage caused by a tenant plus any unpaid rent is more
than the security deposit, the landlord may sue for the additional money

 

[DrPizza]

what's stopping landlords from fabricating a damage list?

My son's landlord did that. My son took lots pictures after moving out. My son won in small claims. My son got his money back.


Again, Jeebus - you guys are treating small claims as if no one ever pays when they lose. If that were the case, then there wouldn't be a small claims court.

 

[BUTCH1]

What did she say caused her to keep your security deposit? Do you have a list?

Tell her you're going to take her to court if she doesn't refund all of your security deposit and if she doesn't then go file in small claims court to get your money back.

Yea, that was my question as well, did she come back with any reason as to why she is not returning your deposit or did she just stop responding with any of your attempts to contact her?. If that's the case a message on her answering machine/voicemail with the message that your next step is going to be filing charges (and the penalty is 2X the amount she owes you anyway) might get her to budge.

 

[TheGardener]

Jeebus, your rent was 2 grand per month? What the fuck are you living in a playboy mansion?

Get some fucking equity and buy a house with that amount of cash.

Not everyone lives in Appalachia.

 

[brianmanahan]

Not everyone lives in Appalachia.

2$k per month gets you a nice house in %97 of the land mass of the US

 

[effowe]

Didn't read thread, but had this happen to me a couple of times. Check your state's Landlord - Tenant laws. In my state, the landlord has 30 days to give you an itemized list of deductions from your security deposit in writing. If they do not give you this list, you are then entitled to your full security deposit back.

They also have 45 days to return your security deposit (partial if there were deductions, in full if there were not.) If they do not return it you are then entitled to 3 times the amount of your security deposit. There are lawyers who deal exclusively with this sort of thing, and will take care of everything so that you get all of your money, and your landlord ends up paying all court costs etc. I'm 2/2 on getting my deposit back.

PM me if you need more info.

 

[brianmanahan]

Is she cute? pictures....

this is the most important question

 

[s0me0nesmind1]

Not everyone lives in Appalachia.

I already fucking responded earlier saying I live in the 3rd or 4th largest city. It's not hard to find affordable housing.

I live in a 3bdr 2.5bath 2 story and our home payment of principle + interest is $455. Enjoy depleting all your money every month while not building any equity or having any fun in life though /shrug