All Forum Posts by: Alex Rodriguez

If the seller in fact didn’t know about the security deposit, but the tenant issued one to the owner before the seller had the property, do I have a legal claim to the seller? Maybe small claims? Whether it’s worth it or not is another issue, I just want to know the legalities.

I just purchased a multi-family rental property. The seller said they were all under oral agreements and no security deposits. After closing, one of the tenants said that they gave the previous (before this seller) a security deposit and that the seller recognized that their deposit was transferred to him. They have lost their written agreement with the seller, but they have a lease with the owner before the seller where they have a security deposit. We reached out to the seller but he stated he did not receive any deposits. Am I responsible for returning or to try to get their deposit? Or should they try to get it from any of the previous owners? The attorney is not getting back to us I guess he knows he is not getting paid to do the extra diligence.

I bout a property 1.5 years ago and inherited these tenants. That are bad and dirty tenants. I made the mistake of letting them stay. Anyway, one of the first things I did was to replace the bathroom ceiling, which was in bad state. This was 1.5 years ago. Now they are saying that since then, because the contractors didn’t cover the drain, dust got in and the tub has been slow moving. I just got the complaint today 1.5 years after the work was completed!.

I have this on my lease: "Tenant accepts the cost of clearing the drain of any and all stoppages within the property except those caused by defective plumbing, tree roots, or act of Nature or God." I offered the tenant to hire a plumber, but unless it’s a defective plumbing issue like corrosion, they will be responsible for the cost. She said it was unfair because there could be something that traveled from the tenants above them (it’s a 3 story 3 unit building). I don’t think that would be possible and told her that. She said it’s unfair because hairs can pass through the drain cover over time too. And lastly said that she will figure out how to fix it.

But I’m worried because I don’t know if it’s possible that she can break the plumbing trying to use a snake, or using too many chemicals? Should I hire a plumber and bill her (if it’s a clog) regardless of her not wanting to? Can I claim that not fixing it could cause more damage to the property?