Is my ex-landlord right to deduct from my deposit?
Question Details: I rented a condo and the original owner sold it while I was still a tenant, deposit rolled over. I moved out and cleaned the place to a point where it was as, if not more, clean than when I first moved in (it wasn't professionally cleaning prior to move-in nor was there a move-in checklist). New landlord and property management did the final inspection and charged me with pro cleaning services when they didn't even know the original state of the unit before I moved in. They also did not include the receipts/invoices with my return and have a history of conducting bad business.
Cameron Norris, Esq. / Law Office Of Gary W. Norris
Answered 7 months ago
This attorney is licensed in California
View Attorney Profile
Your best bet is to sue in small claims court alleging a "Bad Faith Retention of lease deposit." The applicable code section is CCC 1950.5(l):
(l) The bad faith claim or retention by a landlord or the landlord' s successors in interest of the security or any portion thereof in violation of this section, or the bad faith demand of replacement security in violation of subdivision (j), may subject the landlord or the landlord's successors in interest to statutory damages of up to twice the amount of the security, in addition to actual damages.
You could get up to three times your deposit as damages.
Best of luck.
