I'm sorry... what now?

[atrum_speculum]

so my landlady sent a certified mail letter to me stating that due to the carpet cleaning, back patio pressure washing, and need to replace the stove top to "new" condition after 3 years of use we owe her 414.66 over and above the 500 dollar damage deposit

Comments

[dragonzeye]

from my exeriance in my Seattle place, they can bill you but you are not required to pay. They make it all official but your deposit covers it regardless of what you do. She won't be a good reference if you don't pay, but that doesn't really matter

[theworldahead]

Do a quick search on Seattle tenant laws, but IMO you have no legal obligation to pay them unless your lease specifies as such (unlikely!). I bet there's someone at the State's Housing Dept. that could tell you for sure.

[atrum_speculum]

Dear landlady,
I think your out of your freakin mind to even attempt to say that discoloration on a white ceramic stovetop after three years is my responsibility as damage and not "normal wear and tear". you cannot use a damage deposit for cleaning fees so the pressure washing is right out as well. Your claim that the carpet needs to be cleaned to the tune of 454.53 is out-freakin-ragious but even if I did think that it needed to be cleaned AND thought that was a resonable price to pay to do so... you would STILL owe me money. So suck it up and send me a check bitch!
yours truely,
scott

[spazzychic]

Exactly.

Unless it's specifically in the lease, she's just trying to pull a fast one and can therefore suck it.

[iamthemog]

Sounds like bullshit to me.

[moriae]

crookery! it should be their responsibility to replace the stove and clean the patio and carpets and not charge you for that.

i have been at places where they take out a small fee for carpet cleaning but usually that's stated up front before you sign the lease.

[atrum_speculum]

Thanks, I think the issue is the "normal wear and tear" but as others have said it comes down to the fact that she won't get any more money out of me, but I won't get any back. Fine. I'd written it off already. The issue for me that I have been avoiding here is that I am pretty darn sure that i'll be getting a call, email, voicemail etc from eh... the other party involved. This is likely what really has my undies in a bunch as I had thought I was done having to deal with that. silly silly man.

I really miss being able to borrow the 50 cal at school and go shoot at old cars in the quarry today. meh... hot tub here I come

[atrum_speculum]

sweet! thanks