Property Manager won't pay back security deposit

[Jessica Everitt]

I recently fired my pm and requested that he forward the security deposit to me. He has not complied with my request. Neither the Residential Leasing and Property Management Agreement nor the Residential Lease Agreement addresses what happens in the event the pm is fired. Has anyone ever encountered this situation? What did you do? I am hesitant to consult legal advise as the cost is most likely as much as my security deposit! Any advice would be most helpful. Thanks.

[J Scott]

Are PMs required to be licensed in your state? If so, you can go to whatever licensing board oversees it, or if he's required to hold a real estate broker's license (like in my state), you can go to his broker or the real estate commission.

Barring that, why not small claims court? That should be pretty inexpensive (that's the point of small claims court), and if you have the lease agreement, it sounds like a pretty open and shut case. Of course, you'll have to be able to collect if you win, which will depend on whether he has any assets, cash or income.