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Updated over 7 years ago, 09/05/2017

User Stats

58
Posts
15
Votes
S Harper
  • Real Estate Investor
  • Denver-metro, CO
15
Votes |
58
Posts

Damage Deposit Itemization - how detailed do you get?

S Harper
  • Real Estate Investor
  • Denver-metro, CO
Posted

I have a difficult tenant who I gave 30 day notice of non renewal on his month to month lease, moved out 1/2/16 (2 days late).  He and his family have been very difficult with the move out;  his son has told me he will break back into the house (filed a report with the city police dept and informed the tenant of his son's threat and my report), he insists that they "took excellent care of the house" and is expecting his full deposit back.  To give a general idea of some of the mess they left - left it with 2/3rd of the lightbulbs burnt out, holes in 4 doors, very poorly patched holes in the walls in more than 5 locations, missing showerhead, missing ceiling lights, excessive mold, large hole knocked into paneling, enough garbage to overflow a roofing trash trailer, 2 tvs (1 stood 4' tall), cobwebs and filthy walls, excessively filthy carpet including over 15 dog male (squiggly!) separate dog urine deposits (we are replacing due to the damage and not charging anything towards his deposit, as it is already exhausted). 

He refused to attend a final walk through, despite my offer of any time at all on the final day.  He chose 4:00 for the walk through.  At 12:00 I texted a reminder.  At 2:30 he called and said that he had left the keys on the counter and the house unlocked and would not be coming back for the walk through.  He had indeed left every window and every door unlocked.  I did a video walk through, took a ton of pictures, and noted his refusal to do the walk through when I filled out the final walk through form.  Kept all text messages and voice mail.

??How much do you itemize out?  Because his only reply to my message about the extent of the damage has been to acknowledge the missing shower head, a "little trash", and he "already apologized for the tvs", he is angry about being charged 2 days pro-rated rent, and his history of being difficult (and his son's history of trouble with the police), I am anticipating some anger when I tell him there is no refund.  I have so far itemized out every invoice/expense.  Damages have exceeded his deposit even without including much of the paid labor. 

Do I itemize in hopes that he will see the extent of damages (and all the things he isn't being charged for due to the exhaustion of his deposit), and hope to avoid additional issues with this family? Or is that a futile hope? 

Any advice is appreciated!

Thanks,

Suzanne

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