Can I be charged for repairs without proof they were needed or even done?
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Can I be charged for repairs without proof they were needed or even done?
I moved out of an apartment before my lease was up. My wife and I spent several hours cleaning the apartment and making sure everything was in order but my landlord still kept my security deposit. Also, I got a letter from her stating that she had to replace window blinds in both bedrooms and the kitchen and she is charging me an additional $105 for those. We never used the blinds in our bedroom and the extra bedroom was only used if guests stayed over so those blinds didn’t get used either. The blinds in the kitchen worked fine, just like when we moved in.
Asked on July 9, 2012 under Real Estate Law, Illinois
Answers:
FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney
Answered 11 years ago | Contributor
It is entirely possible that your former landlord can charge you for repairs to the unit you rented after move out without proof that they were done or needed.
However under the laws of all states in this country, a landlord is required within 21 to 45 days of move out to provide his former tenants with a written itemization and back up documentation showing what charges are being assessed post move out for proper debit reduction attempts.
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