cindyin214
Junior Member
What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? Texas
Hi~ My family rented a house for 1 year from a woman (who also happens to be a real estate agent) who is now making ridiculous claims as to "damages" that we caused, and refusing to return $1400 of our $2500 deposit. She is claiming $300 to re-sod a portion of the back yard- which did not have grass when we moved in. (in fact, we bought fencing to put up to keep our dogs out of that area because it was perpetually muddy.) She is claiming $200 to replace peel and stick flooring that is seperating in front of the kitchen sink---due to a water leak under the kitchen sink that WE found and fixed and I had informed her of. She is claiming $400 in cleaning fees. (we spent 5 hours cleaning upon move out) She is claiming $200 to replace dead shrubs along one side of the house- which were half alive at best when we moved in. (We watered at least 3 times a week during the hot summer, and all of the other shrubs were healthy and thriving) She is claiming $300 to have "pet urine stains which were detected through black light technology" removed from hardwood flooring. Our dogs are predominantly outdoor dogs, and never once did I clean up a doggie accident! In fact, she told me that her previous tennants (her son and daughter in law) had dogs AND cats that frequently urinated in the house. I have researched and found that this "black light technology" can pick up on 10 year old urine stains.
She is also claiming that there has been "significant shifting" in the house (it's 70 years old) and that she will be consulting a foundation company. She apparently plans to hold us accountable for that as well. (there were NUMEROUS places in the house thathad clearly previously been taped/bedded/painted over due to previous shifting)
Is she right? Can she withhold our the balance of our deposit based on these items? If I'm wrong, I'm wrong... but we have rented before and never been denied one cent of our security deposit upon move out.
Hi~ My family rented a house for 1 year from a woman (who also happens to be a real estate agent) who is now making ridiculous claims as to "damages" that we caused, and refusing to return $1400 of our $2500 deposit. She is claiming $300 to re-sod a portion of the back yard- which did not have grass when we moved in. (in fact, we bought fencing to put up to keep our dogs out of that area because it was perpetually muddy.) She is claiming $200 to replace peel and stick flooring that is seperating in front of the kitchen sink---due to a water leak under the kitchen sink that WE found and fixed and I had informed her of. She is claiming $400 in cleaning fees. (we spent 5 hours cleaning upon move out) She is claiming $200 to replace dead shrubs along one side of the house- which were half alive at best when we moved in. (We watered at least 3 times a week during the hot summer, and all of the other shrubs were healthy and thriving) She is claiming $300 to have "pet urine stains which were detected through black light technology" removed from hardwood flooring. Our dogs are predominantly outdoor dogs, and never once did I clean up a doggie accident! In fact, she told me that her previous tennants (her son and daughter in law) had dogs AND cats that frequently urinated in the house. I have researched and found that this "black light technology" can pick up on 10 year old urine stains.
She is also claiming that there has been "significant shifting" in the house (it's 70 years old) and that she will be consulting a foundation company. She apparently plans to hold us accountable for that as well. (there were NUMEROUS places in the house thathad clearly previously been taped/bedded/painted over due to previous shifting)
Is she right? Can she withhold our the balance of our deposit based on these items? If I'm wrong, I'm wrong... but we have rented before and never been denied one cent of our security deposit upon move out.
