Legal Question in Landlord & Tenant Law in California
communicating w/landlord...best way to bring up deposit
How do I tactfully ask, and say to my landlord that keeping part of my deposit for carpet cleaning fees was not right? That shpuld of been returned with rest of my deposit?
2 Answers from Attorneys
Re: communicating w/landlord...best way to bring up deposit
Tell the landlord just that. The landlord should not deduct for normal wear and tear, although many do. You can fight it in small claims court if you have proof that nothing unusual happened to the carpet.
Re: communicating w/landlord...best way to bring up deposit
Put your communications with the landlord in writing, this will carry more weight and help frame the issues for a small claims suit, if needed. If there are other issues such as unlawful entry or failure to promptly return a security deposit there may be more than a small claims case. Regardless, communicate in writing. If you like you can have an attorney write the landlord on your behalf. I would charge $120 for that.