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Jerk Landlord Accidentally Reveals Why Some Landlords Never Give Back Your Deposit
Renting can be a nightmare. It’s bad enough watching the biggest portion of your paycheck disappear into the black hole that is your rent in the first place. But if you ever get the feeling that your landlord is actively scheming against you… well, you might actually be right.
Recently, this screenshot from someone who infiltrated a Facebook group for landlords has been inspiring people to share their renting horror stories and tips to avoid them.
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One Twitter user posted this screenshot
Image credits: mitchysuch
The private group is run by a self-described “a**-kicking landlord of 8 rental properties,” who strives to maintain a group where landlords can gather “for support and to save others [their] lessons learned.”
We’re not sure what it’s like in there, but this screenshot leaves us with a mental image of a round table of shadowy, stereotypical villains in capes twirling their mustaches and plotting the best ways to wring their tenants dry.
Here are some other Twitter users’ reactions
Image credits: paulbraterman
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If you pay rent to someone who meets the lowest bar of decency (isn’t raising your rent, takes responsibility for normal maintenance of the property that you’re already paying them to use, and is honest about where your security deposit is going), congratulations! You’re one of the lucky ones.
One property owner based in Scotland replied that in his country, security deposits must be held by a deposit service that requires proof of damage to withdraw them. This wouldn’t be good news for the almost 25% of landlords who admitted to having unfairly claimed renters’ security deposits in a survey by US real estate network Porch.
If you have some of your own stories about bizarre excuses landlords have given to get every last cent out of you before you left, some of the responses will show you that you’re not the only one, and that knowing the law where you live can be crucial if you don’t want to get scammed.
The screenshot was also shared on r/trashy
What do you think ?
Pseudo Puppy 6 years ago
a security deposit, by definition, is to cover negligent damage (as opposed to "fair ware and tear" which will happen naturally over time eg wear marks in carpet where people walk all the time from room to room). It is NOT "the landlords" money to "refund" to the tenant. It is, by law, the TENANT'S money. If going to court / tribunal, if the landlord wants to keep any of the security deposit, THEY MUST PROVE WHY they are entitled to THE TENANT'S SECURITY DEPOSIT. Seriously, tenants need to know / learn their rights. Had a landlord threaten me with a $10,000 law suit, over non-existing "damage" to the old apartment I'd rented. The security deposit was $2400. He got $150 for 'cleaning' (ie extra dusting) (which was allowed, by law). Had I not known my rights, and had I listened to my naive roommate who believed the $10,000 threat, we would've lost our entire security deposit. Seriously fellow-tenants - do some googling & reading, before believing a managing agent / landlord.
chi-wei shen 6 years ago
Greedy people will always find ways to fill their pockets. That's why it is important for tenants (and any other consumers) to know their rights, and at the same time they have to show their landlord/landlady that they will not go down without a fight.
RaroaRaroa 6 years ago
That landlord deserves karma - in the form of every future tenant he ever has leaving more damage than the deposit is worth. The fact that he does everything he can to find fault shows there is no point in his tenants trying to keep the place nice onces they decide to leave.
Load More Replies...
Daria B 6 years ago
My husband and I once had a problem with a landlord who wouldn't want to return our deposit just because they couldn't find any new tenants to replace us (in Korea, they must give back the deposit by law). We would be preparing to sue him, but thankfully, his wife intervened and told him to just give us back our money as he should. So we moved without any trouble.
Pseudo Puppy 6 years ago
a security deposit, by definition, is to cover negligent damage (as opposed to "fair ware and tear" which will happen naturally over time eg wear marks in carpet where people walk all the time from room to room). It is NOT "the landlords" money to "refund" to the tenant. It is, by law, the TENANT'S money. If going to court / tribunal, if the landlord wants to keep any of the security deposit, THEY MUST PROVE WHY they are entitled to THE TENANT'S SECURITY DEPOSIT. Seriously, tenants need to know / learn their rights. Had a landlord threaten me with a $10,000 law suit, over non-existing "damage" to the old apartment I'd rented. The security deposit was $2400. He got $150 for 'cleaning' (ie extra dusting) (which was allowed, by law). Had I not known my rights, and had I listened to my naive roommate who believed the $10,000 threat, we would've lost our entire security deposit. Seriously fellow-tenants - do some googling & reading, before believing a managing agent / landlord.
chi-wei shen 6 years ago
Greedy people will always find ways to fill their pockets. That's why it is important for tenants (and any other consumers) to know their rights, and at the same time they have to show their landlord/landlady that they will not go down without a fight.
RaroaRaroa 6 years ago
That landlord deserves karma - in the form of every future tenant he ever has leaving more damage than the deposit is worth. The fact that he does everything he can to find fault shows there is no point in his tenants trying to keep the place nice onces they decide to leave.
Load More Replies... Daria B 6 years ago
My husband and I once had a problem with a landlord who wouldn't want to return our deposit just because they couldn't find any new tenants to replace us (in Korea, they must give back the deposit by law). We would be preparing to sue him, but thankfully, his wife intervened and told him to just give us back our money as he should. So we moved without any trouble.
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