Using your security deposit as last months rent

CardonaLJ**

CardonaLJ**

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Anyone do this? Have u ever been met with opposition from your landlord when/if you brought it up?

Finally told my landlord I'm moving out at the end of february after he raised rent. Considering telling him to keep the security deposit and just pay him the balance due ($200). I just don't want to have to deal with his shit anymore
 
I am a licensed property manager. I wouldn't suggest it. That is not what the security deposit is for.
 
not sure what the rules are where you live, but when I worked in residential leasing, we would keep a close eye on tenants in their last month trying to do that and issue an immediate eviction order if they fell 14 days behind in their rent in their last month of the tenancy.

Sounds harsh, but the security deposit is there to ensure the landlord has some access to compensation if you've caused damage to the place, not just to make sure the rent is paid.
 
What if you completely trashed the house in that last month? A deposit is normally returned after you've done a hand over and the landlord's happy you're leaving it in the state you found it.
 
A few tips. Make sure you give WRITTEN notice at least 30 days before moving out. (or whatever it states in your lease) Make sure you turn your keys in after you get your things out. Rent will continue until the keys are delivered. I don't know what state you are in, but here, the property manager has 30 days to return your security deposit minus any damages. Clean the place up to avoid any charges. Places we look are the stove, toilets, walls, sinks, and the states of the carpet. Even a decent run with the vacuum helps. Make sure you also change the air filter if you have one. That way you are less likely to be blamed for damage to the unit.

If I think of anything else I will post it or if you have any questions, I will do my best.
 
I can see why as a renter you'd want to just give him the balance, as you'd have more available cash in your bank account - especially if you have to pay first/last + deposit at a new place.

Problem is, as others mentioned, that money is meant for the landlord to hang onto until you've moved out, and they are satisfied everything is in good condition. If there are damages, they have that money to use for repairs. If he/she accepts that for rent, they could be in a lengthy battle, potentially in small claims court, to get any money from you for repairs.

Weird thing is, I've never paid a security deposit, and I rented two different places before.
 
pls no dun do dis
 
BlazeCarolina said:
A few tips. Make sure you give WRITTEN notice at least 30 days before moving out. (or whatever it states in your lease) Make sure you turn your keys in after you get your things out. Rent will continue until the keys are delivered. I don't know what state you are in, but here, the property manager has 30 days to return your security deposit minus any damages. Clean the place up to avoid any charges. Places we look are the stove, toilets, walls, sinks, and the states of the carpet. Even a decent run with the vacuum helps. Make sure you also change the air filter if you have one. That way you are less likely to be blamed for damage to the unit.

If I think of anything else I will post it or if you have any questions, I will do my best.
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I paid this month's rent (January) and gave him a verbal notice of my plans to vacate the premise at the end of february. He informed me that I would get my deposit back if the house was in good order. Iveblooked up what normal wear and tear is. The carpet is a bit dirty in spots but that's to be expected with living there for almost 5 years.

I do have a question. Land lots informed me in person and via text message that the rent would go up to 1800 in january. I never agreed to the raise and paid him the regular amount (1700) in january. I was expecting him to present me a new lease with the new amount (he did this when the rent from 1600 to 1700). Now he's asking for the difference. Can I tell him to kick sand since I never signed a lease agreeing to the increase of rent?
 
CardonaLJ said:
I paid this month's rent (January) and gave him a verbal notice of my plans to vacate the premise at the end of february. He informed me that I would get my deposit back if the house was in good order. Iveblooked up what normal wear and tear is. The carpet is a bit dirty in spots but that's to be expected with living there for almost 5 years.

I do have a question. Land lots informed me in person and via text message that the rent would go up to 1800 in january. I never agreed to the raise and paid him the regular amount (1700) in january. I was expecting him to present me a new lease with the new amount (he did this when the rent from 1600 to 1700). Now he's asking for the difference. Can I tell him to kick sand since I never signed a lease agreeing to the increase of rent?
Click to expand...
Does your old lease include a clause for interest accrued on the deposit...
 
CardonaLJ said:
I paid this month's rent (January) and gave him a verbal notice of my plans to vacate the premise at the end of february. He informed me that I would get my deposit back if the house was in good order. Iveblooked up what normal wear and tear is. The carpet is a bit dirty in spots but that's to be expected with living there for almost 5 years.

I do have a question. Land lots informed me in person and via text message that the rent would go up to 1800 in january. I never agreed to the raise and paid him the regular amount (1700) in january. I was expecting him to present me a new lease with the new amount (he did this when the rent from 1600 to 1700). Now he's asking for the difference. Can I tell him to kick sand since I never signed a lease agreeing to the increase of rent?
Click to expand...
It really depends on the terminology of your lease. Has it expired? He really is suppose to give you notice of a rent change, but in your shoes, I would try to make things as smooth as possible. I know you gave verbal notice, and in a perfect world, that would suffice. In business, you have to do things in writing. You never know what will piss him off and get him to start kicking. When it gets to court, it is he said she said.

If I were your landlord, I wouldn't charge you for certain things if you were a good tenant of five years, but the other property manager I worked with would charge you $120.00 for carpet cleaning no matter what.

On the rent change, he has nothing in writing. Odd he would conduct business that way. He should know the law and should have had more than enough bad experiences to know better. I would politely handle the situation and if it goes to court (which it likely won't) he has nothing to prove.

Usually it is not worth it to us to go to court. He is more likely to bad mouth you to your next landlord. Landlords talk. It is not necessarily legal, but we have our ways of getting around it. Handle it as politely as you can and you just have to weigh it. Is it worth the $100 to have a potentially bad reference? You know the guy. How do you think he will react?
 
What you are asking for makes no sense. I have no idea why he gave you that option before, but it seems like his brain is in working order now. I guess theres no risk in trying to ask but like someone said before get everything in writing. I dont think he would agree because there is no incentive on his part to agree
 
if he offered this option then yeah. why the hell do you always leave out key point Cardona? lol.
 
alphaomegaman said:
Does your old lease include a clause for interest accrued on the deposit...
Click to expand...
Every lease I have ever signed has had a clause stating that we put the deposit in an escrow account and any interest accrued is signed over to us. It isn't worth dealing with it. Does anyone's bank actually give decent interest anymore anyway?
 
Why tell him you're leaving?

Just leave in January instead of February. Surprise, bitch, I'm out.
 
FWIW, between this thread and your previous threads about disagreements between you and your landlord, you're not really doing much for your case that you're in the right to feel aggrieved.
 
BlazeCarolina said:
Every lease I have ever signed has had a clause stating that we put the deposit in an escrow account and any interest accrued is signed over to us. It isn't worth dealing with it. Does anyone's bank actually give decent interest anymore anyway?
Click to expand...

I get over 2% in a chequing account...that would be about $200 over a 5 year span on $1700...and any lease I have signed as a landlord or tenant had the interest accrued going back to the tenant, as long as there were no damages...
 
CardonaLJ said:
Bc when he tried to force me out in October he offered this option to me
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I missed this part. Key information here, but the fact remains, nothing is in writing. No idea why he conducts business this way. Seems like it will get him in quite a bit of trouble down the road. When I send anything out, I send you a copy, and I keep a copy myself exactly like the one I sent. That way when you call with an issue, I can pull my copy and me and you are looking at the same document. That way when you say whatever the case may be...I didn't agree to a poet deposit or whatever I can give you the section of the agreement where it states that you did. I also read every bit of my lease to the tenant whether they are listening or not and make them sign each part with me as we go through.
 
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