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AITA for refusing to pay for renovations? A couple of years ago, my wife and I were moving out of our old apartment. On the day we were leaving, the landlord came by for a final walkthrough. We went through the entire place together, and even though he pointed out a few minor issues, he agreed to return our full deposit, and we left on good terms.
A few days later, we were surprised by a furious voicemail from him. He claimed that while renovating, he discovered a terrible smell in the room that used to be my office, accusing our cats of repeatedly urinating in there. He demanded that we return to fix the room ourselves or else he’d hire professionals, and inspectors, and charge us for everything, including removing wallpaper, replacing the floor, and repainting the walls.
We were shocked. While we did have cats, it just didn’t add up. I used that room daily, and we had the apartment professionally cleaned before moving out. There’s no way the room was in that state when we left. It could’ve been a raccoon or something else that got in after we left, but it wasn’t our fault. When we called the landlord to refuse responsibility, he got nasty, making outrageous claims about the apartment and insisting we’d have to pay. After a heated exchange, I just hung up.
We were on edge, worrying that a huge bill might arrive any day. The stress was especially hard on my wife. Seeing her so anxious made me determined to find a solution. I researched our options and found out that in our area if a landlord doesn’t formally state why they’re keeping a deposit within six months of the lease ends, they’re legally required to return it. So, I decided to wait until the deadline passed and then take action.
As soon as the six months were up, I messaged the landlord, politely asking for the deposit to be returned within two weeks. He responded sarcastically with, “Yeah, sure, buddy.” We waited, but no money came. So, we sent a formal letter setting a final deadline. Again, nothing. At this point, I was actually glad he wasn’t paying because it meant we could escalate things.
We hired an attorney to handle the case. The landlord tried to justify keeping the deposit with ridiculous claims, but our attorney dismissed them since the time to make those claims had passed. Even after all that, the landlord only returned about 80% of the deposit, so our attorney had to push for the rest. It seemed he didn’t realize that all this was adding to his legal fees, which he was also responsible for.
In the end, he was forced to pay back the full deposit, plus interest, and cover a hefty legal bill that far exceeded the original amount. We were thrilled with the outcome.
Once everything was settled, my wife and I relaxed in the garden of our new home, enjoying a glass of wine and burning the old rental agreement, all while happily planning how to spend the money we finally got back.
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AITA for refusing to pay for renovations, making my landlord pay instead?
A couple of years ago, a couple was preparing to leave their apartment after a long stay. On a moving day, they met with their landlord for a final walkthrough. Despite some minor issues, the landlord agreed to refund their full deposit, and they parted on seemingly good terms.
However, a few days later, the landlord left an angry voicemail, claiming that while renovating, he discovered a terrible odor in what had been the husband’s office. He accused their cats of repeatedly urinating in the room and demanded they return to renovate it or face steep charges from contractors, health inspectors, and more.
The couple was shocked by the accusations. Though they had cats, the husband used the room daily, and the apartment had been professionally cleaned before they moved out. There was no way the damage the landlord described existed when they left. They called him to refuse responsibility, but the conversation quickly turned nasty, with the landlord making wild accusations and insisting they pay up. Frustrated, the husband ended the call.
The couple was anxious, fearing a large bill, and the stress began to take a toll, especially on the wife. Determined to find a solution, the husband researched their legal options and discovered that, in their area, landlords must formally claim a reason for withholding a deposit within six months of the lease ends, or they are legally obligated to return it. They decided to wait out the deadline and then take action.
When the six months had passed, they politely requested their deposit back. The landlord responded dismissively, and when no money came, they sent a formal letter with a final deadline. Again, there was no response. Realizing they would need to escalate the situation, they hired an attorney. The landlord made ridiculous claims to justify keeping the deposit, but the attorney dismissed them as invalid due to the time that had passed.
Even after all this, the landlord only returned about 80% of the deposit, forcing the attorney to pursue the remaining amount. The landlord seemed unaware that his actions were only increasing his legal fees, which he would also be responsible for covering.
In the end, the couple received the full deposit, plus interest, and the landlord was stuck with a hefty legal bill far exceeding the original amount. They celebrated the victory in their new home’s garden, enjoying a glass of wine and burning the old rental agreement while planning how to spend the money they had finally reclaimed.
Let’s Find Out: AITA for refusing to pay for renovations, making my landlord pay instead?
IrrawaddyWoman Writes:
I’m also in CA. You can also demand receipts that prove the damage was actually fixed, and that they didn’t just pocket the money and leave the damage for the next tenant to just live with.
Misa7_2006 Writes:
Nope, my state gives 30 days and slaps them with 3x the deposit, and they pay all lawyer fees. Now, if it’s eviction, it swings the other way, and the tenant is on the hook for everything.
Good for you to sticking it to the slumlords.
Despite paying for the managements referred professional movers and taking days off work to accommodate their professional (full cash by me) paid movers and cleaners they recommended, I’ve been denied my last 4 security deposits back.
But I was also low key threatened (not that they had any sway with making GOOD rental credit despite me going the extra miles)
Slumlords gonna slumlord, I guess
stacer12 Writes:
Oh, yes, I’m going to be researching that. I have one text from him saying he can’t return it because he doesn’t have it anymore, and then another text saying he won’t return it because of having to pay for the realtor. I also know he is cheap as hell and hard up for money because when he had to replace the main sewer drain line, and remove the back fence, he had the absolute temerity to ask that we pay for the fence.
No_Information8088 Writes:
“He agreed to release us without penalty.” Got that in writing or recorded? Or will it be a “I never said that!” opportunity for him?
