[24-Jul-2013] Landlord maintained property in a cheap manner (painted countertops and painted bathtub which started peeling within months, no insulation, non-functioning/non-locking casement windows, insect issues). I accepted many of these defects in exchange for a low rent, expecting (and planning) to stay only a short while.
Despite the overall low quality of the property, landlord withheld my entire deposit, part of which was used for repair of normal wear and tear ($5 blinds which broke during normal use -- I was charged $15 for replacement even though they were not new on move-in, $40 for replacement of used stove drip pans, $100 for 'touch-up paint'). Landlord rents in a university town and, I believe, uses this to her advantage -- what student is going to come back to sue for return of their deposit? Of my $400 deposit, I feel at least half was withheld unfairly.
When challenged on these issues (quoting the section of the legal code regarding wear and tear), landlord sent me the name and address of their lawyer and said to send future communications to him -- and that I would be billed for said lawyer's time. I know better (if I pay a lawyer, it's MY lawyer), but to a normal student this is threatening language designed to shut down pursuit of reasonable complaints.
Unfortunately, I now live abroad and cannot pursue this issue in small claims court, so I am pursuing any and all other means of recompense.
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