Legal Question in Real Estate Law in California

Re: Refund od security deposit

State law requires that a landlord give an accounting within 21 days, and if not done, then they cannot withold any money. However, they need only send to the "last known" address, and if you did not give a new address, they can comply by sending to the vacated unit. Also, they need only put it in the mail within 21 days, so it is not clear here exactly what happened, whether you received it only after requesting it or what. If the landlord had your new address and failed to put an accounting in the mail to you within 21 days, then you can seek to recoup all the deposit and go to small claims court if they do not pay. That said, they were within their rights to charge you with carpet repair or shampoo if it was needed. Also, they can charge for cleaning and they do not need to even give you a "checklist" on moving out, even though it is good practice to do so. Lastly, even though an apartment appears clean to the person living there, it might need sanitizing, (particularly in the bathroom, etc.) for a new tenant.