Protect Your Security Deposit When You Move!
There are several unique benefits to renting a home or apartment instead of buying, such as access to shared facilities (gym, pool, clubhouse, etc.), no lawn maintenance, and free repairs of all major services.
One of the disadvantages of renting, however, is the possibility of forfeiting your security deposit if the landlord believes you damaged the property or otherwise broke your lease agreement. Roblox HackBigo Live Beans HackYUGIOH DUEL LINKS HACKPokemon Duel HackRoblox HackPixel Gun 3d HackGrowtopia HackClash Royale Hackmy cafe recipes stories hackMobile Legends HackMobile Strike Hack
So if you’re a renter who’s preparing to move, you should follow some steps to ensure you get back 100% of the security deposit you originally paid.
Did you take pictures when you first moved into the rental property? If so, make sure you have access to them. Assuming you stayed at the property for just 12 months, that’s an entire year in which those pictures can get lost. Pictures are arguably a renter’s most valuable tool when attempting to retrieve a security deposit.
If the landlord accuses you of damaging a light fixture – but the fixture was already damaged when you arrived – you can show him or her a photo of it. If you took photos upon arriving at the property, keep them in an easily accessible location for future reference.
According to an article published by the U.S. News & World Report, more than a third of renters whom forfeited their security deposits said the landlord did not provide a clear explanation.
“More than a third of the renters surveyed who did not get back their deposits (36%) said the landlord gave no explanation—which is actually illegal in 47 states. Unless you live in Louisiana, North Carolina or West Virginia, your landlord is required by law to give you a written account of charges to your security deposit,” wrote the report.
To protect yourself against crooked landlords such as this, you should read your contract word-for-word. The fact is that most tenants sign their name without reading the details in the fine print. The landlord may issue a verbal explanation of the lease agreement, but it’s ultimately what’s written in the contract that matters. Whether it’s located in your office file cabinet, your car’s glove compartment, or the “junk drawer” in your bedroom, dig up your contract and read it.
When reading your contract, look to see if there’s a clause for sending a written notice. It’s not uncommon for landlords to request a written notice of 30 days or more in advance from tenants who intend to move. Failing to send this notice in time, or not at all, could result in forfeiture of your security deposit.
Cleaning up after you move is another important step in getting back your security deposit. Check out our previous blog post here for some helpful cleaning tips.
Our team of moving professionals are here to help. We specialize in making your move as easy and stress-free as possible and we would love to help with your next move. Get a free online moving quote today.
Read more home moving tips here.
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