tenant breaking lease but wants full deposit

[Betty Klein]

On a recent turnover the tenant broke her 1 year lease 6 months early, because she found a better deal. She had lived in m y property for 2 1/2 years. I let her go because she was not the easiest tenant. There were cleaning , landscaping and damage expenses deducted from her deposit. Because it is winter and the irrigation could not be inspected and because the landscape repair was estimated more than her pet deposit it was not returned. She got before and after pictures as well as copies of the work. Now she send me a certified letter stating she did 'improvements to the property and wants them reimbursed or counted against the damages!

[Julie Hartman]

@Betty Klein if the "improvements" were not authorized or agreed to between you ahead of time, then she has nothing. If you handled the deposit according to the lease and state law, then I would ignore her.