Moving/Landlord advice. HELP!

[DARKMITE8]

Backstory (about a year old)...

Ugh. I gotta move out. Been there 3 and 1/2 years now. My landlord wants to consider her property "as is" (we've been on a month to month lease for some time), refuses to get anything fixed (like the heat, yeah even in FL the temp can drop at night to 30s and I have a 4 year old), and threatens to raise my rent or "discontinue renting to us" if she has to fix anything.

Did I mention she put a "For Sale" sign up in th yard without prior notice. She also owns another property that she's trying to sell. The market has crashed this year due to the economy, etc, and she's stuck with 2 properties that are dropping in value and she's panicking. Good thing there are other house for rent in the area (plenty of empty For Sales and For Rents around). Now to get more diligent locating a place (preferably cheaper). Tough with pets though.

I know she doesn't want to put in any more money into this 50+ year old house (with an original A/C that uses 3X the power of a modern unit = $600 electric bills in Aug!) that's falling apart around me and my family, but you'd think she'd be happy that someone's occupying it (her other empty property is just bleeding her dry), contributing to the mortgage. Makes you wonder why she's such a shitty landlord.

She never did fix the thermostat and it's been a hot summer (boo to $600 electric bills), but I have a feeling I won't be getting my deposit back either. Because... well, I'm officially moved out and in my new place! We were in a tough spot while we owned our Rottie (no one wants to rent to an owner of an "aggressive breed"), but she passed away in June and we worked hard over the past couple months to find a new place. My old next door neighbor recommends that I file a lien against my old landlord's house, so that will pop up and have to be satisfied when/if she tries to sell. Also that I take her to small claims court if I don't hear back. Here's our only correspondence over the past month and a week via email:
__________________________

ME
Sent: Friday, October 30, 2009 1:47 PM
Subject: Trying to get in touch with you?

Hi, XXX.

I dropped off notice at the restaurant about a month ago that we would not be renewing our lease after 10/31. I also certified-mailed you a copy just in case, but it was sent back this week as “unclaimed” after 3 attempts. With the house on the market and your other property occupied, we didn’t want to get stuck without a home in the event the house had a quick sale. Especially since our daughter just started Kindergarten and we’d like to keep her there at the same school. I tried calling your cell, but got your voicemail (and left a message). I need to arrange a key exchange and walk-through if that’s ok. We’ll be finishing our move/cleaning late tomorrow night, and I’d like to mow the front yard one last time and sweep out the garage as well. Sunday afternoon perhaps?

Let me know ASAP,
-Travis Hill

__________________________

HER
Sent: Tuesday, November 03, 2009 7:26 AM
To: Hill, Travis
Subject: Re: Trying to get in touch with you?

Travis, please drop keys & garage door openers off ASAP to restaurant.
Thank you,
XXX

__________________________

ME
Sent: Tuesday, November 03, 2009 11:17 AM
Subject: RE: Trying to get in touch with you?

Will do.
Can we schedule a walk-through and discuss any potential issues, when we can expect the return of our deposit, and/or an itemized report of any deductions?
-Travis H

__________________________

HER
To: Hill, Travis
Subject: Re: Trying to get in touch with you?

Travis,
I have a person who is handling this for me. Please drop off the keys & openers immediately or it will necessitate me to take alternate steps that will be costly.***
After the property has been assessed by my property manager I will have an answer for you.
XXX

__________________________

ME
Sent: Tuesday, November 03, 2009 7:14PM
Subject: RE: Trying to get in touch with you?

XXX,

The keys and garage openers were handed off earlier this evening to the restaurant manager, Austin. I then received your last email after I got back here at work. I haven’t tried to be difficult, as you can see I attempted to contact you numerous times (mail, phone, email, and even Realtor) over the past month without a single response from you until this morning. I didn’t want to leave the keys without any instruction from you. I have never had any information for your "property manager" if someone is indeed in charge of the property. I have done nothing but follow civil and proper steps to close this rental relationship.

Let me know if there is anything else you need from me, and I will do my best, before taking recourse of my own, if necessary.
-Travis H

__________________________

Should I have done anything different? What a pain in the ass this is. And WTF is up with her threatening tone(***)? I'm the one who's been trying to solve this issue. Do I have any legal leg to stand on here? I have a paper trail.

[Jake]

Quick questions: Did you do a walk-through the first time? Take pictures? Did YOU do any maintenance/upkeep/upgrades on the place since you lived there?

[Moltisanti]

How much is the security deposit?

[The Rain Dog]

You were nicer than I would've been DM. I think you handled that exactly right - tho obviously I'm only familiar with the rights of renters here in Oz.

I'm just glad you've finally moved out.

I hope this doesn't end in a nasty situation for you.

[Parker]

Originally Posted by Jake

Quick questions: Did you do a walk-through the first time? Take pictures? Did YOU do any maintenance/upkeep/upgrades on the place since you lived there?

Yeah, if you haven't done this, try your hardest to be in on that walk through. Tell her it's your right as the former tennant and don't be afraid to throw around the "L" word. That usually gets peoples attention.

Don't worry. Land lords are all fucking insane. She's probably just dealing with too much shit at once and doesn't know how to handle it. Give her some time and you'll probably get the security. I know you were on a month to month, but you have a lease from when you first signed on? The security deposit should be a part of that and so should the walk through. So if she violates that, then she's kinda screwing herself. Politely remind her of this if needed.

[DARKMITE8]

Originally Posted by Jake

Quick questions: Did you do a walk-through the first time? Take pictures? Did YOU do any maintenance/upkeep/upgrades on the place since you lived there?

No walk through. I should have insisted, as when we moved in during record-breaking July temps here in FL, the AC and fridge were both busted. She had them fixed and any other minor issue the first year (under the main lease). We handled the lease through the mail, as I was relocating from PA. I hadn't been inside the house until her son came to bring us the keys. My brother and I were locked out when we arrived in the heat after driving 20+ hours in a U-Haul, towing a car. She promised to leave the door unlocked and the keys inside. She didn't. I took a few pics. I've cared for the lawn as it wasn't covered in the lease... Boy I learned a lesson. Primordial FL yards are a bitch.

I fixed a few things, but I couldn't afford to replace the wiring, circuit board, thermostat or the ancient AC. I repainted the bathroom due to no fan in there as the paint was pealing from shower humidity. I also chopped up and removed a dead tree that had fallen down in a storm. When I told her a tree was dead in the backyard, she only responded with "It's not in danger of falling on the house, is it? Then I don't care."

Over the course of the past few years, we've discovered other flaws in the house that I'm sure will come back to bite us in the ass. It's an old home (Built in 1966) and most everything is original (windows, elsctrical, plumbing, etc). The kitchen appliances were newish.

Originally Posted by Moltisanti

How much is the security deposit?

1st month, last month (which are both non refundable), and another $1200 (one month)

Originally Posted by Parker

I know you were on a month to month, but you have a lease from when you first signed on? The security deposit should be a part of that...

Yup. The month-to-month has been a carried over version of that one, even though she has insisted over the phone that she considers the property "as is". She's been holding us hostage.

the "L" word.

Lawyer, litigation, lease, lien... lesbian?

I just sent her this...

Additionally, I would like to be present when the property manager does the assessment. I have taken photo documentation of the entire property, if you need them.
-Travis H

[Parker]

Originally Posted by DARKMITE8

Lawyer, litigation, lease, lien... lesbian?

The first two.

[billylove]

Life's a cruel son-of-a-bitch.

Take her to court if you have to, there's a decent amount of money riding on this. Seems like you've got plenty of documentation to not have a big struggle.

[LisaNY]

Originally Posted by DARKMITE8

I just sent her this...

Additionally, I would like to be present when the property manager does the assessment. I have taken photo documentation of the entire property, if you need them.
-Travis H

This is smart, and I'm glad you took photos. Seeing as you didn't do it the first time around, no point in crying over spilled milk. But take all the photos you can, and start nosing around for a lawyer. With everything you have documented, she should fold pretty quickly.

[Raspberry Leper]

Having a bad landlady is a miserable experience. I was retardedly naive when I rented my first apartment, and I let me landlady walk all over me, as I didn't know any better (I was 17). Get this- When I would need the on-site Super do any type of service (fix a window that a bird flew into and cracked or replace a faucet that was broken since the day I moved in, to cite two examples), she would deduct money from my security deposit, and tell me it was a "tip" for the Super. She also took money out and told me it was my Christmas gift for the Super.

Needless to say she nickel and dimed me at the final walk through and I didn't get shit back.

[Judas Booth]

Jesus, RL. That's just fucking illegal as hell. You would have totally had a case against her over that stuff.

[Jake]

Tip for the super? Fuuuuuck you. I'll give him a phone call and tell him not to fry bacon with his shirt off, but you can go jump off a bridge if you're gonna take my deposit money for a tip.

Then again, you were 17. They could have told me all sorts of crap if I had my own place at 17 and I'd have believed them.

[Chris Allen]

It's been my experience to just believe that the security deposit was a done deal, that you shouldn't expect to get any of it back. But my deposits were never close to that much. 1st, last, and an extra month rent is a lot of money. You should definitely take her to court. Maybe the threat of it will get her to give it back. Good luck with that.

I had a friend who expected her landlords to not give her the deposit back, because she thought they were dicks, so she wanted to make sure they spent the deposit on fixing up the apartment. So she painted the bathroom Slop Brown. The whole room, floor to cieling. They sued her and she lost the deposit plus had to pay for the new paint job. Not the smartest.

[Judas Booth]

It was always one month's rent AND a damage deposit for me, that's it. Doing 2 months seems rather steep to me...then again, I never rented from a landlord, only from an actual apartment complex.

[Martianman]

I once had a landlord who was a complete dickhead. I would pay my roommate, and my roommate would pay the rent. One month, his paycheck and my check to him hit later than his rent check, so the rent check bounced. The day after we found this out, my roommate personally gave our landlord a cashier's check for the rent that month. However, our landlord was so fucking stupid and senile that he tried to deposit my roommate's check a SECOND time, and it bounced yet again. My roommate explained to him that he was wrong, and he finally agreed, but not before he had submitted my roommate's name to the courthouse for an NSF check, and then didn't revoke it after he got his money back. Cut to a few months later, and my roommate is at the courthouse reporting some folks that have stolen movies from the video store we both worked for, and lo and behold, the cops go, "Oh hey, we have a warrant out for you too. You're under arrest." And he spent a night in jail because of this fucking idiot. So when we moved out, we subversively wrecked that place, because we knew we weren't getting our deposit back. We took every lightbulb (including the one in the fridge), every set of shelves on the wall, we fucked up the doorknob to the outside shed so he couldn't get the lawnmower out (that was another fight--our lease said he would take care of the lawn, which to him meant buying us a mower and we had to cut it), and I took the plate off the wall for the cable, reached up into the wall as far as I could, and cut the cable, then replaced the wall plate. My roommate also wanted to take the ice maker and the chandelier, but thought better of it. And to cap it all off, we left every set of keys, including our respective girlfriend's copies, and he came back and said he wasn't returning the deposit because we didn't leave ANY keys. After that, we never heard from him again, except every night one of us was working late, on our way home we'd drive by the old place and take down the "For Rent" sign and throw it in the ditch. He ran this huge bridal shop in the city, and anyone I spoke with that ever went in there hated that guy.

On the court side, we're in the middle of a case right now where we sued a private school my son was going to because they changed something about their school that we didn't agree with, and the headmaster and his wife got belligerent with us, so we removed our kid (us and every other family, actually). We sued him for our tuition back (we'd only been there a week), and won in small claims. Of course, he appealed, which goes to the state court. He doesn't show up for the appeal. We win, right? Wrong. We get another court date, which he shows up at, and his lawyer says, "Oh, he didn't receive the initial notice." Even though it was sent to the address of record for the school. He's arguing that it should have gone to the actual school address, which is what he put on the appeal. So, if that's the wrong address (which is a rental property they own), why is it listed on the Ga. state records for the school, and how did you get the 2nd notice? That decision is now with the judge, and it's been with her for almost 2 months, and she still hasn't made a judgment yet. The justice system seems to fucking suck for people who are in the right. We've done everything "correct" through the system, and he's lied every chance he's gotten to speak. And here we are 18 months later, and still no resolution.

[nekkerbee]

One month security is customary in my experience (plus sometimes a damage deposit for pets), but with one exception (when I broke the lease a month early and used the security as the last month's payment) I've always received all or most of the security back. I try to be a good tenant, and I've been lucky that all my landlords (5 so far) have been decent and reasonable people.

And, from a landlord's perspective (I own a house back in New York that I rent out), shitty tenants are a fucking nightmare too.

[BrianM]

DM, get a recommendation for a good lawyer who specializes in Landlord/Tenant work in your area. They should be willing to at least have a short conversation by phone to see whether there is any legal exposure on either side. One way to get a good recommendation is to ask local "big firm" lawyers (who generally won't be doing that kind of work, at least not at any reasonable rate); they should know and be able to recommend someone reputable and at least competent.

After all that, forget about it and move on. At least 80% of the time, everyone but the lawyers loses in a lawsuit.

[LisaNY]

Yeah, you should only ever have to give a landlord first month's rent and security deposit - that's standard, none of this "last month's rent" stuff.

And also, tipping the super is completely up to you - that's also illegal as hell (to say nothing of fucking ballsy!) to deduct any kind of tips from your rent.

[DARKMITE8]

Originally Posted by LisaNY

that's standard, none of this "last month's rent" stuff.

We were in a tough spot. We had 2 days to find a place during a quick relocation, couldn't afford to buy, and had pets (including a mutt who has the appearance of an "aggressive breed", Rottie mix). The 3 of us (wife, daughter, and I plus cat & dog) needed adequate space that an apartment couldn't provide, and we wanted a nice neighborhood. Besides the age of the home (and all its flaws, like crappy AC) and my asshole landlord, everything else was a win. Best school district around, safe neighborhood, local playground, accessibility to everything we needed, real nice neighbors (who'd both be willing to testify on my behalf). Reason why we're only moving right down the road. My last month's rent actually went to paying for my last month, so the money I would have normally used for rent went to deposit and a prorated week in the new place, allowing me to get everything moved in less of a hurry.

I suspect that we'll get dinged for the carpet, but being that it's a cheap low-grade commercial Olefin berber-weave, known for difficulties with stains, keeping dirt out, snags, pulls, and unraveling... and a short life expectancy, I'm hoping I can fight paying for a replacement. I even cut a swatch out of a scrap I found in the garage for evidence/identification. My neighbor told me who put that carpet in, and when (before my landlord purchased the house over 5 years back), and that they used crappy materials. Plus, if the rug has a low life expectancy:

Undepreciated cost
The landlord cannot charge a tenant the full cost of new carpet to replace carpet that isn’t new. This would be charging the replacement cost. The landlord should charge the tenant for the loss of the value that was left in the carpet. This is charging the undepreciated cost. For example, if carpet will last five years (its useful life) and the carpet is three years old when the tenant vacated, then you have used 60% (3yrs/5yrs) of its value. The tenants’ destruction of the carpet has prevented you from using the other 40% (2yrs) of value in the carpet. If the new carpet costs $600, you can charge the tenant $240, which is 40% (the value or useful life that you lost) of the full cost of carpet.

I've been doing my research.

[Raspberry Leper]

On the opposite side of the spectrum, when my wife and I were first married we rented the second floor of a two-family house from an older Italian man. This guy was a fucking prince. Any time we had even a little inconvenience, he was over within the hour with a guy to fix it. He raised our rent once in four years, and when he personally stopped by to tell us of this, he was crying. When I answered the door and he told me he needed to talk to me, I thought he was selling the house. He was wringing his hands together and looking down at his feet. He said "I have-a some bad-a news...I have to raise-a your rent." It was a whopping $25. And he gave us three months notice. And he must have apologized a dozen times. And he brought over about 2 gallons of the killer sauce his wife made and a balloon for my 2 year old. When we moved out, this son of a bitch gave us our entire security deposit back without even a walk through with interest, plus a home depot gift card (we were moving to our first home). We promised he and his wife would be our first dinner guests in our new home.

We saw him ten days later. At his wake.

[Jake]

Mario = best landlord ever.

[Judas Booth]

That's a fantastic story, RL.

[DARKMITE8]

His separation anxiety killed him. You broke-a his-a heart!

[LisaNY]

Originally Posted by Raspberry Leper

On the opposite side of the spectrum, when my wife and I were first married we rented the second floor of a two-family house from an older Italian man. This guy was a fucking prince. Any time we had even a little inconvenience, he was over within the hour with a guy to fix it. He raised our rent once in four years, and when he personally stopped by to tell us of this, he was crying. When I answered the door and he told me he needed to talk to me, I thought he was selling the house. He was wringing his hands together and looking down at his feet. He said "I have-a some bad-a news...I have to raise-a your rent." It was a whopping $25. And he gave us three months notice. And he must have apologized a dozen times. And he brought over about 2 gallons of the killer sauce his wife made and a balloon for my 2 year old. When we moved out, this son of a bitch gave us our entire security deposit back without even a walk through with interest, plus a home depot gift card (we were moving to our first home). We promised he and his wife would be our first dinner guests in our new home.

We saw him ten days later. At his wake.

Oh, god! How sad! That $25 rent increase must have broken his heart!

We had a landlord like that when I lived in Brooklyn. In six years, he never raised our rent - his deal was that if we renewed, he wouldn't raise it. There were also bricked up fireplaces in each apartment (it was an old brownstone, six apts in the building) that he opened up, free of charge and without ever raising our rent. His rationale was that it was a shame to let such nice fireplaces stay bricked up when people could be enjoying them. Stuff needed to be fixed? He'd fix it, within a day. Really, the only complaint we ever had about the guy is that he'd bring over ice cream when my then-roommate and I were trying to diet. It was hilarious, because the stories of bad NY landlords are legendary. My roommate's friend would call up and cry, "My landlord won't replace my doorknob! My doorknob fell off and he won't fix it!" And we'd be like, "Yeah, that son of a bitch we rent from keeps bringing over Rocky Road when we're trying to stick to salads!"

[Richard Dickson]

Yeah, I've pretty much written off every security deposit I've ever paid as money I'll never see again. That way, if I do get something back, it's a nice surprise. Although, most places in Orlando write off or substantially lower the security deposit for people who work for the big local employers, so I've never had to put out a huge amount of money.

There was one place I lived, a room on one side of a duplex, that was a bit of a nightmare. One of the guys who lived on my side was the son of the woman who owned the house, and he acted as landlord. They asked for first and last and a security deposit equal to a month's rent, but they said as long as I paid the deposit at some point before I left, I didn't need to have it up front. Fast forward to the third time our power had been turned off because the landlord had gladly taken our money but not used it to pay off the rather large past-due balance on the account (he'd just been paying the current amount due and ignoring the late charges). I finally got fed up and paid off the past-due balance with my credit card and told him "There's my security deposit". When I finally told him I was moving out, he tried getting the deposit and that month's rent out of me. I told him "I paid my last month's rent when I moved in and guess what, this is my last month." Then I flipped the lights on and off and said, "Oh, and here's my security deposit".

[Jake]

Originally Posted by LisaNY

Yeah, you should only ever have to give a landlord first month's rent and security deposit - that's standard, none of this "last month's rent" stuff.

What if they use the "you have bad credit" line?

[LisaNY]

Originally Posted by Jake

What if they use the "you have bad credit" line?

Good point. I honestly don't know, though. Anyone familiar with that?

[Judas Booth]

Assuming that your new landlord actually pulled your credit report (and didn't just find out your number), point out to them that none of the issues influencing your credit score are directly related to your rent payments. Provide context.

Also: If you have bad credit, try and get a written statement from your prior landlord stating that you met the terms of your lease AND made all of your monthly payments ontime (or within a month).

[Mattioli]

DM8, in Pennsylvania, a landlord is required by law to provide his former tenant with a written explanation of what monies he is withholding from the security deposit and return any excess balance within thirty days of the lease's termination. If he fails to do so, the tenant can file a civil district judge suit and seek double damages (i.e. twice the amount of monies wrongfully withheld).

I do not know what the state of Florida law is, but you should certainly investigate. The above-referenced provision is an amazing sledgehammer.

[DARKMITE8]

Originally Posted by Mattioli

DM8, in Pennsylvania, a landlord is required by law to provide his former tenant with a written explanation of what monies he is withholding from the security deposit and return any excess balance within thirty days of the lease's termination. If he fails to do so, the tenant can file a civil district judge suit and seek double damages (i.e. twice the amount of monies wrongfully withheld).

I do not know what the state of Florida law is, but you should certainly investigate. The above-referenced provision is an amazing sledgehammer.

What I found so far:

When you move out, the landlord must either return your deposit within 15 days of termination of the rental agreement, if the landlord does not intend to impose a claim upon the security deposit; or justify in writing by certified mail, to the tenant's last known mailing address within 30-days upon termination of a rental agreement, as to why they are keeping a portion of or all of the deposit. If the notice is not sent as required within the 30-day period, the landlord forfeits his/her right to impose a claim upon the deposit, unless you fail to give proper notice prior to vacating.

[Richard Dickson]

Darkmite, do you have anything in writing from this landlord? Signed lease, contract, anything that mentions terms and monies to be paid?

[DARKMITE8]

Originally Posted by Richard Dickson

Darkmite, do you have anything in writing from this landlord? Signed lease, contract, anything that mentions terms and monies to be paid?

Sure. Our original lease from July 2005. It specifies that it rolls over into a month-to-month at the end of the first year period with the same terms (which she didn't follow with her "I don't want to fix anything and I see the property 'as is' and I don't want to pump anymore $ into, so I'll hold your current rental rate as hostage to avoid doing any maintenance").

[Mattioli]

DM8, I just did a quick run-through of Florida's Landlord-Tenant Act. It does not seem to have a matching provision for Pennsylvania's double damages language. So, back to the ole' drawing board.

At this point, premised upon Section 83.49(3)(a), it might be advisable--so long as you've provided her with written notice of your new address--to lie low and wait to see if she provides you with a written explanation of what monies she intends to withhold. If she fails to do within that 30 day period, you will have her over a barrel.

[DARKMITE8]

Originally Posted by Mattioli

--so long as you've provided her with written notice of your new address--

Yeah, did that. In the hand-delivered letter (which I know she must have received, because she didn't call asking for the rent at all thru October) and in the certified letter she refused to claim ("Undeliverable" 3 X) that I now have in my possession again (mail man returned it). I'll probably lay low, but I've been formulating plans and going over arguments in my head for everything I can think of.

It's making me sick with stress.

I do appreciate all the advice though, guys. Thanks.

Sometimes it just helps to type out all the details for me to explain and examine.

[Chris Allen]

Not to belittle your feelings and experiences with this fiasco, but if all you're looking at is lost $$$, that doesn't seem like a huge thing to stress over. If you conciously write it off in your head as a bad investment, maybe you can be surprised when you do get it back, as if you won the lottery!

edited: Unless your'e really strapped for cash...

[DARKMITE8]

Originally Posted by Chris Allen

Not to belittle your feelings and experiences with this fiasco, but if all you're looking at is lost $$$, that doesn't seem like a huge thing to stress over. If you conciously write it off in your head as a bad investment, maybe you can be surprised when you do get it back, as if you won the lottery!

edited: Unless your'e really strapped for cash...

Who isn't these days? Plus, I'm angry at the way she's handling it and feel obligated to seek what's owed to me, I guess.

I guess her combative "or it will necessitate me to take alternate steps that will be costly" threat has me nervous that she'll take some legal action against me, despite having no cause to besides general bitchiness. Really rubs me the wrong way overall.

[Mad Man Mundt]

I just always kissed any damage deposit money good-bye. I figure if I've lived without it fine for this long, why bother. I usually made up for it by fucking the landlord on clean-up anyway. I never leave a forwarding address or contact number.

This time I won't do that as my landlords are decent people and I've lived there so long that the deposit, when I laid it down, was peanuts and they're going to need a considerable amount more to fix what they'll need to. Normal wear and tear. Nothing catastrophic or negligent.

[DARKMITE8]

Originally Posted by Mad Man Mundt

I just always kissed any damage deposit money good-bye. I figure if I've lived without it fine for this long, why bother. I usually made up for it by fucking the landlord on clean-up anyway. I never leave a forwarding address or contact number.

This time I won't do that as my landlords are decent people and I've lived there so long that the deposit, when I laid it down, was peanuts and they're going to need a considerable amount more to fix what they'll need to. Normal wear and tear. Nothing catastrophic or negligent.

Do you just stash away dough for the next deposit at the new place? Living paycheck to paycheck makes that difficult for me.

[Mad Man Mundt]

Yeah I try to sock away $200 every month for an emergency fund and I try not to move too much. I live pay check to pay check too and I'm pretty sure I get paid less than you in a more expensive city. But I don't have a family though. Not that I am trying to start a who-is-broker dick war or anything. I understand your position especially with a young family.

[LisaNY]

Originally Posted by DARKMITE8

Who isn't these days? Plus, I'm angry at the way she's handling it and feel obligated to seek what's owed to me, I guess.

I guess her combative "or it will necessitate me to take alternate steps that will be costly" threat has me nervous that she'll take some legal action against me, despite having no cause to besides general bitchiness. Really rubs me the wrong way overall.

I'm with you on this one - I'd be pissed off and I'd want to make sure she doesn't fuck over anyone else this way.

On the other hand, I do understand being nervous that she'd take some kind of legal action against you. I'd say, at least talk to a lawyer to see if you or she has any kind of case. It doesn't sound like she does, truthfully, but someone with experience in these matters can tell you for sure.

[Phil]

The last place I ever rented, the landlord didn't return our security deposit. No bullshit reason, no justification, he just sold the place and fucked off. We sued, won, he didn't show (which in NJ means you're awarded triple the amount). That was six years ago. I'm told my judgment is good for 20 years. I had a PI friend run his shit, and he's got like 14 judgments against him. Good luck collecting.

[DARKMITE8]

Originally Posted by Phil

The last place I ever rented, the landlord didn't return our security deposit. No bullshit reason, no justification, he just sold the place and fucked off. We sued, won, he didn't show (which in NJ means you're awarded triple the amount). That was six years ago. I'm told my judgment is good for 20 years. I had a PI friend run his shit, and he's got like 14 judgments against him. Good luck collecting.

My landlord's a well-to-do local business owner with a huuuuge house of her own. Makes me all the angrier that she'd nickel & dime us and that she wouldn't fix our thermostat/AC. I'm sure she won't flee off the grid. But $ also means being able to hire a decent lawyer.

Oh, and I've never actually met her face-to-face. I'm sure never meeting the family with a small child who's living at your rental property allows you to maintain a callous POV.

[LisaNY]

Originally Posted by DARKMITE8

Oh, and I've never actually met her face-to-face. I'm sure never meeting the family with a small child who's living at your rental property allows you to maintain a callous POV.

Well, I can see that you'd feel that way given how angry you are. But I don't think not meeting her face to face has a lot of bearing on it. I rent from an incredibly fair guy, and I never met him face to face till I'd been renting from him for 10 years.

[DARKMITE8]

Originally Posted by LisaNY

Well, I can see that you'd feel that way given how angry you are. But I don't think not meeting her face to face has a lot of bearing on it. I rent from an incredibly fair guy, and I never met him face to face till I'd been renting from him for 10 years.

It also helps feed my fantasy that she's some Dr. Claw type, plotting her evil in anonymity.

[LisaNY]

Yeah, see, that's just fueling your outrage, dude.

[Mad Man Mundt]

Originally Posted by DARKMITE8

Oh, and I've never actually met her face-to-face. I'm sure never meeting the family with a small child who's living at your rental property allows you to maintain a callous POV.

Right now I'd be nervous as to weather she even exists or not. You are probably lucky you never met her face to face. "She" is probably her "son" in a ratty wig, shitty make-up, and a dress.