Return of Security Deposit

[Nghi Le]

A friend just called me to ask what she can do with her situation.  I don't know much about renting or the landlord-tenant laws in Seattle (other than it's tenant-friendly), so I thought I'd reach out to the experts here.

When the tenant moved in, the landlord never did a walk-through with her, and no one recorded the existing state.  Right now, the landlord is saying that it's the tenant's responsibility to make a checklist, and that it was in the lease agreement.

The tenant has moved out and the landlord is keeping her security deposit for the following reasons:

- $250 for cleaning (which she's fine with)
- $250 for carpet
- $300 for various repairs
- $100 for cleaning window blinds

Is the landlord at fault at all?  Would the tenant be able to get her deposit back (minus the $250 cleaning), and how so?