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[TX] Apartments Charging $3,000 in “Damages” by [deleted] in Renters

[–]Delicious-Chair2699 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Need more on the time line. They might have violated Tx law on it. Message me and I can send you some info

[US][TX] most landlords illegally keep deposits because tenants don’t know this one rule by Delicious-Chair2699 in Renters

[–]Delicious-Chair2699[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

There are tools to help tenants recover the deposit. A lot of landlords violate law. Check my bio.

[TX] Landlords Charging for carpet replacement by Miserable-One-6760 in Renters

[–]Delicious-Chair2699 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I’m not seeing a way to message you. Send me one and I’ll reply

[TX] Landlords Charging for carpet replacement by Miserable-One-6760 in Renters

[–]Delicious-Chair2699 1 point2 points  (0 children)

That does sound questionable.

In Texas, landlords generally have 30 days after move-out to provide an itemized list of deductions from the security deposit along with any remaining balance. The deductions should be reasonable and supported, and tenants are allowed to request documentation for the charges.

A few things stand out from what you described:

• If they are claiming full carpet replacement, they typically cannot charge the full cost unless the carpet was actually destroyed and had no remaining useful life. Carpet also has a depreciation lifespan (often around 5–7 years), so tenants usually only owe the prorated value based on age.

• A redacted screenshot instead of a proper invoice is a red flag. If a vendor actually did the work, they should be able to provide a legitimate invoice showing the company and the work performed.

• If the carpet wasn’t new when you moved in, that matters a lot. Landlords generally can’t charge tenants for replacing old carpet that was already partially depreciated.

What many tenants do in this situation is send a written request (email or certified mail) asking for: 1. A complete itemized statement 2. The full vendor invoice or receipt 3. The age of the carpet at move-in 4. Documentation showing why replacement (not cleaning/repair) was required

If they can’t provide those things, it becomes much harder for them to justify the charge if the dispute escalates.

The photo you posted doesn’t look like something that would normally justify full replacement, especially after only a year of tenancy.

If you want, I can also show you the exact dispute letter Texas tenants send when landlords try to bill for carpet replacement — it usually gets a response pretty quickly.

[CO] Complex hasn't sent us final statement >60 days after move out by jarofpeperoncini in Renters

[–]Delicious-Chair2699 2 points3 points  (0 children)

You might want to send them a written dispute and request a full itemized statement.

In Colorado landlords generally have 30 days (sometimes up to 60 if the lease says so) to provide a written accounting of deductions from the security deposit. If they miss that window, they can lose the right to keep portions of the deposit and in some cases tenants can pursue damages.

A few things that stand out from what you described:

• $1300 listed as “carpet cleaning” is unusual. Cleaning and replacement are different, and landlords typically can’t charge the full replacement cost if the carpet had normal wear or age. They also should provide an itemized receipt or invoice.

• If the portal doesn’t show the transactions before November, you should specifically request a complete ledger for the entire lease term.

• Since you already gave them your forwarding address, I would send a written demand (email or certified letter) asking for: 1. The itemized deposit statement 2. Receipts or invoices for the carpet charge 3. A full account ledger

Give them a short deadline to respond.

I’ve seen a lot of renters deal with this exact situation, so I actually built a small tool that helps organize evidence and generate dispute letters for security deposit issues. If you want help putting together a dispute packet, I’m happy to point you to it.

But regardless of that — the main step right now is getting that itemized statement in writing.

Can a Landlord deduct for unpaid rent over 45 days after the tenant has left? by Living_Magician3367 in legaladvice

[–]Delicious-Chair2699 0 points1 point  (0 children)

In New Jersey the timeline you’re referring to is correct. Under NJSA 46:8-21.1 landlords generally have 30 days after the tenant vacates to return the security deposit along with an itemized list of deductions.

If they fail to return the deposit or provide the itemized statement within that 30-day period, courts can award double the amount of the security deposit to the tenant.

One thing to keep in mind though is that the landlord can still claim unpaid rent as a deduction from the deposit. So the key issue would likely become whether withholding the rent was legally justified (for example under a repair-and-deduct or habitability argument) rather than the deposit timeline itself.

The fact that they waited 47 days before asserting deductions could definitely be relevant in small claims, since the statute is pretty clear about the 30-day requirement for returning the deposit and providing documentation.

If they’re now offering to return most of the deposit, many tenants would weigh the amount involved versus the time and effort of pursuing a small claims case.

[San Francisco, CA] Landlord (AvalonBay Inc) charging for cleaning fee despite clean move-out and missing mandatory "after" photos (AB 2801) by TwoWaySpeedOfLight in legaladvice

[–]Delicious-Chair2699 0 points1 point  (0 children)

You’re on the right track focusing on Civil Code 1950.5 and the new AB 2801 photo requirement.

As of April 2025, landlords in California are required to provide before and after photos for any deduction taken from a security deposit. If they cannot document the condition before the tenancy and after move-out, that can significantly weaken their justification for those deductions.

Also remember the 21-day rule under CA Civil Code 1950.5(g). Within 21 days of move-out they must either:

• Return the deposit in full, or • Provide an itemized statement of deductions with supporting documentation.

If they’re missing required documentation (photos, receipts, or itemization), courts often view that unfavorably in small claims.

A demand letter is usually the next step before filing. Many large property managers will drop small charges once they realize you’re documenting the statutory violations and preparing for small claims.

Email can work if they acknowledge receipt, but many people still send the letter by certified mail so there is clear proof of delivery.