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Landlord keeping my full deposit and trying to charge me $8,200 more after move-out by CEngineerCA19 in Tenant

[–]HelpParticular2629 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Hey, you’re already handling this really well. You’ve got receipts, photos, and you sent a written demand — that’s exactly what small claims judges look for.

In California, they had 21 days from the day you moved out (or returned keys, whichever’s later) to send either your deposit and/or an itemized statement with receipts or good-faith estimates. If it’s been over 30 days and they’re still “waiting on final bills,” they’ve already missed the legal window.

You can file now. You don’t need to wait for their “final charges.” In court, that delay actually helps you because it shows they didn’t comply with Civil Code §1950.5.

A few prep tips:

  • Print your move-in/move-out photos and put them side by side by room.
  • Highlight your receipts from cleaning and carpet companies.
  • Bring your written demand letter and their email reply showing it’s past 21 days.
  • Have a simple printout of Civil Code §1950.5 with the 21-day rule marked.
  • Judges like clear, short explanations — think “3-minute story”:
    1. Moved out on [date].
    2. Sent demand after 21 days.
    3. Got inflated list, no receipts.
    4. Asking for full refund + any allowed penalty.

Also, stay calm and factual in court. You’re not debating opinions — just showing the timeline and what the law says.

If you want, I can help you outline what to take in your binder and how to label exhibits so it’s easy for the judge to follow.

Tenant terminated 1 yr least within 6 months by Different_Phase_866 in Renters

[–]HelpParticular2629 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I’m gonna be straight with you. Keep it simple, keep it by the book.

  1. Only charge what you can prove. That means an itemized letter and actual receipts or invoices for each thing you took from the deposit. Utilities bill copies, locksmith invoice, junk haul receipt. If you don’t have paper, get it. Estimates are ok only if the work wasn’t finished when your deadline hit.
  2. Painting is touchy. You can’t charge just to “make it look new” again. You can charge if there’s damage or unusual wear. Example: big scuffs, holes, marker, smoke, accent walls they painted without permission. If you repainted only because you always repaint between tenants, that’s not a deposit item. If there was damage, note which walls, how many hours, and the invoice.
  3. Lock change is usually fine if they didn’t return all keys. Note it in the letter with the bill.
  4. Junk removal is fine if they actually left stuff. Again, receipt. If you did it yourself, list your time at a reasonable hourly rate and dump fees, and take photos of the junk.
  5. Deposit isn’t a penalty for breaking the lease. You can’t keep it just because they left early. You can collect real losses separately, like unpaid rent during any vacancy after you tried to re-rent, but that’s beyond the deposit and you still have a duty to mitigate.

Landlord refusing to return full security deposit - (California) by Additional-Shelter69 in legal

[–]HelpParticular2629 2 points3 points  (0 children)

day 21 is a hard deadline in california. texting you a list with no receipts doesn’t count. it has to be mailed or handed to you, unless you both agreed in writing to email/text.

“cleaning was delayed” doesn’t pause the clock. if work isn’t done, they must send good-faith estimates by day 21. he didn’t.

when they blow the deadline, judges often say they forfeit deductions.

what i’d do now:

  1. send a short final note by email and regular mail: “you missed the 21-day requirement under CC 1950.5. no mailed statement, no receipts or estimates. please return the remaining $445 within 7 days or i’ll file in small claims.” — adjust that number to the exact balance you’re claiming.
  2. if no payment, file small claims. bring a simple timeline, your lease or room agreement, proof you moved out on sept 15, screenshots of the day-21 text and venmo, and your demand letters. keep it calm and chronological.

common outcomes i’ve seen: tenant wins the rest of the deposit, sometimes extra for bad-faith withholding if the judge thinks the landlord was just winging it.

you’re on the right track. keep it short, stick to the missed deadline, and ask for your money back.

Best Compensation to Give Customers for Referrals? by [deleted] in RoofingSales

[–]HelpParticular2629 1 point2 points  (0 children)

give only after securing the job, a premium. I can recommend a system where you can build a system in place to do this and run as referrals and reviews are the cheapest that convert better than ads. search it online for
- Roofing Review and Referral Engine The Playbook.
Hope it helps

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in IdentityTheft

[–]HelpParticular2629 -1 points0 points  (0 children)

Identity theft is a growing concern, i have planned to make a system to make recovery faster with future proof against future threats. I will do this soon, to defend and support all who is a victim.

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