MsMonarch's Profile

Some people have already hinted at this, but for good measure I would like to add that you should always check rental laws where you are, because in many cases landlords CANNOT withhold tenants' deposits upon move-out without serious, documented reasons. In California, landlords have a whole set of hoops they need to jump through to retain a deposit. That doesn't mean there are those who won't try to trick you into giving them "free" money though.

Every landlord I've ever moved away from (unlucky me) has tried to keep some of the deposit unlawfully. The first time I sent a letter letting them know I knew better, and they immediately changed their tune (they wanted to charge me for new flooring throughout — yeah, right — and updated appliances). The other two have actually required firmer finagling.

I'm not a bad tenant. I keep things up, I care about the property, and I *do* clean when I leave. But a lot of landlords in the area I live in deal with students who don't know any better and often just roll over and pay the cash. I'm always advising people not to do it. Don't be taken advantage of.