Despite the existence of numerous rules and laws, many people still seek to take advantage of tenants. Many landlords try to charge for anything and everything, or make tenants pay for things that are the landlord’s responsibility. For example, in Ohio, a landlord is trying to charge a tenant a fee for damage to the property. However, that fee is separate from the security deposit the tenant provided at the beginning.
Redditor ConcertFast6402 shared several photos on r/Renters of the apartment where he lived until a month ago. In the images, the place looks quite clean, well-kept, and without apparent damage. However, his former landlord is trying to charge OP $2,500 for a “damage fee” for all the imperfections he made to the property in Ohio. In the comments, OP broke down the charge, saying it would be $500 because the drains are running “slow,” $200 to paint the property, and $200 for a filter that he didn’t change in two years. Though the most outrageous part of the charge is that the landlord is demanding $895 to replace the carpet “because it has more damage than normal wear and tear,” and $150 because OP took the dishwasher.
However, in the comments and in another post, OP says that the dishwasher was his and that the landlord may have retaliated against him. This is because the landlord wanted OP to leave the dishwasher in the apartment. It’s not that OP isn’t taking responsibility, because he says that the place probably needs a deeper cleaning, which is normal. In addition to some repairs to the doors, the hinges are loose. What OP disagrees with most is having to replace the carpet, as he paid for a deep cleaning. This is because OP has two dogs and didn’t want any complaints, which clearly didn’t work. To clarify, the landlord doesn’t want to return the security deposit, and this fee is extra.
‘My comment is not about your specific situation or the validity of your LL’s claims. But I must say it’s f*cking outrageous that the “security deposit” has become a fee in many places. A security deposit is not supposed to be for covering normal cleaning and resetting costs that a property owner has to pay in order to maintain their rental. It is meant to be a collateral DEPOSIT in the case of extraordinary damages and situations. And there’s absolutely no practical accountability for us plebs. Nor a way to voice this so future renters are aware of scammy tactics‘ said Kjm520.
Fortunately, OP said that he went to small claims court. For now, he will have to wait until October to get a response about this excessive charge.
