Rental deposit

[frogbison]

Daughter (and cat, in lease) rented a house in Bloomington, Indiana for 2 years. Damage deposit - $700. Upon leaving, we cleaned and it looked pretty good. Owner cleaned carpets. He used entire damage deposit for that, and for what else, I'm not sure. No holes in walls or anything like that. New renters are complaining about pet odor. Owner wants to replace carpeting and charge daughter half of the cost - over and above damage deposit.

Seems like he is overstepping, but what do you think?

[grasswire]

1. he cleaned the carpets himself?

Or he hired someone else to do it?

You need to look into the rental law in that county. I believe in most counties the landlord must give the detail as to how the damage deposit was used.

And how do you know the new renters are complaining about odor? If he paid $700 to have the carpet cleaned and didn't think it smelled, then he's either lying or has very poor judgment.

We had a landlady who wanted $5,000 from us over and above the deposit! Turns out she wanted to have her hardwood floors refinished and some remodeling done. She was an absolute horror. Fortunately, we had photos and witnesses as to the condition on moveout.

[Karl_Bonner_1982]

5. What was her excuse for the $5k demand?

I'm pretty sure that landlords cannot directly foot tenants with bills for remodeling and improvements!

Then again, they could try to jack up rent. That might be an incentive to remodel, if the revenue from extra rents exceeds the costs of remodeling.

[Rosa Luxemburg]

2. did he outline his items against the damage deposit in writing?

he has to issue a written statement within 30 days. You can contest this legally if you have proof. If he did the work himself then you can take him to county court and say prove it. If a company did the cleaning then he needs to provide a receipt.

[frogbison]

3. Well, I'll ask daughter

if he has outlined what the damage deposit was spent on. Thank you both. He hired the cleaning done and is a lwayer, which is somewhat intimidating. I think he is strong-arming her.

[thecrow]

4. He has probably charged the new renters the $700 damage deposit too

If your daughter has moved out her responsibility should be ended as well.
She paid the damage deposit, and he used it.
I think he is overstepping.