Legal Question in Real Estate Law in Maryland
Carpet
I moved-out from an apartment complex on August 15. The day before we moved some bleach felt on the carpet and it discolored a section of it ( 24'' x 36''). I called Management to report the incident and I made clear that they could repair the damage right the way and would pay for it or they could take the money from my security deposit ($200). Replacing that section of the carpet should be more than $100. If the charge more than that amount can I dispute the charge? By the way, I was present at the apartment inspection and I took pictures of the damage area.
1 Answer from Attorneys
Re: Carpet
You should ask the management company to send you an estimate of the cost of repair. If you think the estimate is too high, you could try to negotiate with them. It might not be possible to "patch" that large a piece of carpet to get a good match, so don't be surprised if the management decides to replace the entire carpet and hold you responsible. They'll probably forfeit your entire deposit and may even take you to court if the expense significantly exceeds the amount of the deposit.