More than a quarter (26 percent) of all renters have lost their security deposit at some point
37 percent of men and 44 percent of 18-24 year olds said
they did not get their deposits back because they moved out early
More women (9 percent than men (3 percent) lost a deposit
due to pet damage
36 percent of renters who did not get their deposits back
said the landlord gave no explanation - This is likely illegal although
tenant/landlord laws vary by state but according to several state law sites
(ag.ny.gov, ca.gov, oag.state.tx.us, illinoisattorneygeneral.gov, mass.gov) the
landlord must return the deposit less any lawful deduction.
If you’re renting, review the following tips—provided by
rent.com--for maintaining your apartment and your relationship with your landlord:
“It’s better to beg forgiveness than ask for permission”
does not apply here. When renting, it is always best to get written permission
from your landlord before doing any renovations, changing paint color, etc.
Read your lease. Many renters miss the specific guidelines
laid out by their landlord regarding the return of their deposit. A list should
be made and agreed upon regarding the conditions of the apartment at the end of
the lease BEFORE you sign it.
Snap a photo. It’s always a good idea to take some photos of
the apartment when you first move in. Make sure they are time/date-stamped!
Then repeat the process on move out day. This way pre-existing damage is
documented and the blame cannot fall on you!
Be reasonable and your landlord might be too. There is no
guarantee that a landlord will negotiate you breaking your lease but maybe
there is a compromise that can be met. For instance, you could help find a
replacement tenant, agree to pay rent for an additional number of months or
until a new tenant is found, etc.
Source: www.rent.com.
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