Moving time is right around the corner, and what renters do now may influence the amount of cash in their pockets in the near future.
As the school year ends, so do leases for many renters, and it’s time to start thinking about what needs to be done to get deposits back. Landlords and property management agencies stress that the most important factor for getting a deposit back is cleaning. Apartment complexes such as Duck’s Village offer an extensive cleaning checklist for renters to follow before moving out. The Duck’s list requires scrubbing all areas from baseboards to ceiling light fixtures and also mentions cleaning the toilet seat bolts.
Duck’s Village Leasing Manager Cathy Engebretson encourages renters to begin cleanup about a month before moving.
“Sometimes it takes you two to three times longer than you would think,” Engebretson said.
Many renters don’t receive portions of their deposit because of cleanup they unintentionally failed to do. To avoid these charges, follow the checklist provided by management. Landlords should provide adequate instructions to help avoid unnecessary charges.
Managers also assess damages after renters move out, so it is important renters get an apartment inspection report prior to moving in. The report allows renters to list damages that already exist.
Alecia Yenter, 24, said she has always had her deposit returned.
“The most important thing to do is walk through with your landlord before you move in and again when you move out,” she said. “Make copies of the agreements and even take pictures if you need to.”
Yenter said to take time to walk through the house with the landlord and document damages to avoid paying later for them. Then, ask for a copy of the initial damage report and keep it.
She added that taking pictures is a valuable tool in avoiding paying for damages made prior to moving in. Sign and date the pictures upon moving in and again when moving out. Landlords can charge for damage beyond normal wear and tear, which can be an issue of interpretation.
Some landlords offer the alternative of a separate non-refundable deposit for allowing pets to live in the unit.
Landlord Kathy Re said typically this deposit is significantly less than the security deposit.
“We charge a separate $200 non-refundable deposit for pets,” she said.
The non-refundable animal fee will usually cover the cost of carpet cleaning upon the tenant moving out.
If a landlord finds a pet when the lease doesn’t permit animals, the renter risks losing a larger amount of money from the security deposit. It is better to pay the initial pet deposit.
Renters have options if they feel they have wrongfully been denied the return of a deposit. ASUO provides free legal services for these types of situations.
Linda Miller, assistant director of ASUO Legal Services, said renters need to make an appointment to talk about the situation. She said these cases are common and rarely result in a court case.
“We are usually able to negotiate and get a satisfactory settlement for students without going to court,” Miller said.
Renting advocates said the first thing to do is notify the management in writing that there is a disagreement with the charges and why. Send the letter with a return receipt requested, and keep the receipt.
Student Chrystal Price, 21, said the $200 carpet damage charge she received when she moved out of her apartment last year was unreasonable. Price contacted her mother and lawyer.
“I wrote them a letter saying that I had contacted my lawyer and refused to pay the damages,” she said, adding that she reached an out-of-court settlement.
The last resort is small claims court. The Oregon State Landlord Tenant Security Deposit Law states that in Oregon, landlords must return deposits to their tenants within 30 days, but they do have the right to withhold a reasonable amount from the security deposit for damages claimed. The reasonable amount usually cannot exceed the cost of the repairs and the time needed to repair the damages.