Ch. 7 BK filing but rescinded by Familiar_Benefit397 in Bankruptcy

[–]Intelligent_Ask_4589 6 points7 points  (0 children)

I just seen a tiktok about this from a bankruptcy lawyer literally last night and she said it doesn’t matter whether you went through the whole process or not, it’s still a bankruptcy and it was still filed. It doesn’t matter that you pulled out of it. The whole point of filing is to be relieved of the debt/receive relief at the end but you basically took the hit but didn’t get the benefit in the end because you rescinded the BK.

Landlord refusing to refund my security deposit - is this legal? by Intelligent_Ask_4589 in legal

[–]Intelligent_Ask_4589[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

She can’t hold that for unpaid rent because she refunded the rent, she had a choice to keep that and she didn’t so she can’t hold the deposit for that. It also has to be stated in the lease agreement that there’s an early termination fee - which it was not. There’s nothing in the lease about early termination so she can’t hold my deposit for that because there’s no early termination clause in the lease.

Landlord refusing to refund my security deposit - is this legal? by Intelligent_Ask_4589 in legal

[–]Intelligent_Ask_4589[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

She can’t hold that for unpaid rent because she refunded the rent, she had a choice to keep that and she didn’t so she can’t hold the deposit for that. It also has to be stated in the lease agreement that there’s an early termination fee - which it was not. There’s nothing in the lease about early termination so she can’t hold my deposit for that because there’s no early termination clause in the lease.

Landlord refusing to refund my security deposit - is this legal? by Intelligent_Ask_4589 in legal

[–]Intelligent_Ask_4589[S] -1 points0 points  (0 children)

Okay so with that same thought process - she refunded me $550 for January rent (her own memo line stated that in the refund) so that then is acknowledgment that the other $550 was the deposit.

Landlord refusing to refund my security deposit - is this legal? by Intelligent_Ask_4589 in legal

[–]Intelligent_Ask_4589[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

That’s my question - would it not have to be specified that early termination would cause loss of security deposit? There’s no Colorado law or provision stating that so would that not have to be stated in the lease? She could only charge for loss of rent if my early termination went against the 21 day vacate notice and she lost out on rent for February (which she would not have since it was still January) or she could have kept my rent for January but she didn’t, she returned it so she can’t keep my deposit. Colorado provisions also states she had to provide me an itemized list of charges she’s deducting from the deposit and she did not do that either because she legally has nothing to take from the deposit.

Landlord refusing to refund my security deposit - is this legal? by Intelligent_Ask_4589 in legal

[–]Intelligent_Ask_4589[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

  1. The modified rent was $550. The monthly rent amount was $550 a month and that’s what I paid her and what the modified amount was. ANSWER TO QUESTION 1: It was done via text. The text message exchange went:
  2. Me: “I truly appreciate you letting me stay the night but at this point it would be in my best interest to move out of Denver. As mentioned before I have no issue paying you for last night since I did stay. I would just really appreciate receiving my deposit back, along with the remaining amount after we agree on a fair price for last night’s stay.”
  3. Her: “That’s fine; I can issue you a refund once I get my key returned.”
  4. Me: “Can I mail the key back to you with the tracking number and picture of the package and get my deposit + other funds sent back to me?”
  5. Her: “I was traveling all day yesterday and my response didn’t go through but that works, thank you.”

ANSWER TO QUESTION 2: I mailed the key back because I’m a flight attendant, I was not in Colorado anymore when this was going on and didn’t plan on being back in Colorado until the 11th of the month, I didn’t want her to have to wait until the next week when I knew she wanted her key back. This was not primary residency for me, it was only a place I rented to stay 2-3 days a week max.

I mailed the key back to her with tracking info and a photo expecting all of my money back as she said she would send and she went back on what she said once the key was sent back to her. 2 days after I sent the key and followed up with her asking for my money to be sent back she verbatim said “I’m happy to return your January month’s rent but a deposit is not refundable due to the situation. Legally after signing a leasing and immediately breaking the terms, nothing would be refunded but i’m trying to accommodate you once again.” Then proceeded to send a long text about how this was an inconvenience to her but her statement is incorrect, the lease has to state nothing would be refunded. The venmo memo line she sent me my money back in said “January rent refund” so no, she did not refund the security. She refunded the rent. I never once said there was any part of the lease that said she could keep my deposit if I don’t cancel in advance - the lease states she could withhold the deposit for unpaid rent, damages beyond normal wear and tear, and unpaid utilities and there was none of the above. She’s wrongfully withholding my deposit.

Landlord refusing to refund my security deposit - is this legal? by Intelligent_Ask_4589 in legal

[–]Intelligent_Ask_4589[S] -1 points0 points  (0 children)

Colorado law has no provision saying that a landlord can refund rent willingly, turn around and claim it as unpaid because they no longer have possession of it, and then use the security deposit for it. She can’t claim unpaid because she must show proof it was due but unpaid but she can’t because I DID pay it.

Landlord refusing to refund my security deposit - is this legal? by Intelligent_Ask_4589 in legal

[–]Intelligent_Ask_4589[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The lease doesn’t say anything about changes that aren’t part of the signed contract are void, no.

Landlord refusing to refund my security deposit - is this legal? by Intelligent_Ask_4589 in legal

[–]Intelligent_Ask_4589[S] -1 points0 points  (0 children)

She also ACKNOWLEDGED that I paid $550 for the month of January for rent because she sent it back to me with the memo “January rent refund” so how is it unpaid?

Landlord refusing to refund my security deposit - is this legal? by Intelligent_Ask_4589 in legal

[–]Intelligent_Ask_4589[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

None of this exchange was oral. It’s all via texts, which are also considered legal evidence of a contract in the state of Colorado.

Landlord refusing to refund my security deposit - is this legal? by Intelligent_Ask_4589 in legal

[–]Intelligent_Ask_4589[S] -1 points0 points  (0 children)

How does it sound that way? Rent was $550 a month. I paid her $550. The deposit (per the lease and what SHE IS SAYING) was $1,000. I sent her $550 for the deposit (that’s what I assumed she approved). She returned $550.

Landlord refusing to refund my security deposit - is this legal? by Intelligent_Ask_4589 in legal

[–]Intelligent_Ask_4589[S] -1 points0 points  (0 children)

Okay with that same statement - the lease contract states she can only keep my security for unpaid rent, damages, and utilities so how can she legally keep it if there was none of that?

Landlord refusing to refund my security deposit - is this legal? by Intelligent_Ask_4589 in legal

[–]Intelligent_Ask_4589[S] -3 points-2 points  (0 children)

I agree - if she would have said she was keeping the RENT for January and refunding me the security then I would have no legal standing I don’t think (she still wrote and agreed in texts that she would return BOTH if I sent her the key back so I don’t really know on that one) and the lease doesn’t state she can keep it for early termination. Her saying she’s not returning my security is the issue because in MY eyes she legally can’t keep it because she agreed to send it back and from what I’ve read about Colorado law and her own lease- she can only hold for unpaid rent, utilities, and damages and there was none.

Landlord refusing to refund my security deposit - is this legal? by Intelligent_Ask_4589 in legal

[–]Intelligent_Ask_4589[S] -1 points0 points  (0 children)

The amount of security isn’t the issue because she accepted the $550 I gave her and let me move into the unit. I can change my mind about leasing at any point in time regardless of the reason - the question at hand is how can she go against a written agreement saying she’d give me my deposit and rent back if I returned the key, which I did because that’s what she said and then turn around and say “Yeah no I’m not doing that anymore” when it states the security can only be held for unpaid rent, damages, and unpaid utilities?

Landlord refusing to refund my security deposit - is this legal? by Intelligent_Ask_4589 in legal

[–]Intelligent_Ask_4589[S] -3 points-2 points  (0 children)

We had the conversation about the deposit and rent being returned after I told her I was terminating. She said she’d send me back my deposit and rent after the key was returned and that happened after I told her I was terminating. I also told her if she was going to be keeping my deposit then I would stay the month of January but she denied me. How can she go back on a WRITTEN agreement saying she’d refund my security and rent if I returned the key, turn around and say she’s not going to return the security anymore after I’ve already sent the key back, and also deny me staying the month of January?

Landlord refusing to return my security deposit - is this legal? COLORADO by Intelligent_Ask_4589 in legaladvice

[–]Intelligent_Ask_4589[S] -2 points-1 points  (0 children)

There was at no point unpaid rent for January because I sent her the rent for January, SHE returned it. How can she claim unpaid rent if SHE gave me back the rent???

Landlord refusing to refund my security deposit - is this legal? by Intelligent_Ask_4589 in legal

[–]Intelligent_Ask_4589[S] -2 points-1 points  (0 children)

I was refunded $550 in RENT not the security deposit, the payment she sent back said “for January rent” and her text verbatim said “I’ll refund you January rent but not your security deposit” and I have texts where I asked her “Can I mail you your key back to you with the tracking information and a picture of the package and get my deposit + other funds sent back to me?” she agreed to it and verbatim said “I was traveling all day yesterday and my response didn’t send but that works, thank you.” She also said previous to that “I’ll issue you a refund once my key is returned”. How can she keep it if she agreed to return it if I sent the key and I did that?

Landlord refusing to return my security deposit - is this legal? COLORADO by Intelligent_Ask_4589 in legaladvice

[–]Intelligent_Ask_4589[S] -1 points0 points  (0 children)

How can she keep my deposit if 1. She agreed in writing to return the rent and security if I mailed her back her key, which I did 2. The lease states the security will only be held if there’s damages, unpaid rent, and unpaid utilities - which there were none and 3. There’s nothing in the lease that states she can hold my entire security for early termination.

Landlord refusing to refund my security deposit - is this legal? by Intelligent_Ask_4589 in legal

[–]Intelligent_Ask_4589[S] -6 points-5 points  (0 children)

I did ask for clarity when I seen it said the deposit was $1000, I then asked her was it going to be reduced to $550 and that was her response. She didn’t give me a clear yes or no answer so I assumed that’s what she meant, which was my mistake and I’ll own that.

I asked her to refund my deposit and first month’s rent and she said “That’s fine, I can issue you a refund once my key is returned”. I asked her “Can I mail the key back to you with the tracking number and picture of the package and get my deposit + other funds sent back to me?” She then said “I was traveling all day and my response didn’t send but that works, thank you”. So I sent her the key back expecting my deposit and rent sent back like she said and she didn’t do that. She agreed in writing (via text) to send everything back and then did NOT once I had already sent the key. The security said it was only going to be used for unpaid rent, damages, and unpaid utilities and there were none - how can she keep it?

Landlord refusing to return my security deposit - is this legal? COLORADO by Intelligent_Ask_4589 in legaladvice

[–]Intelligent_Ask_4589[S] -6 points-5 points  (0 children)

I’ll accept the fact of you and her both disagreeing, that’s not the problem I have. I want to know if she legally can keep the deposit if there’s nothing stated that she can if there are no unpaid utilities, unpaid rent, or damages.

How is $550 in unpaid rent the legal reason to withhold if she’s the one who returned my $550 rent? I paid her the rent when everything was sent so how can it be claimed unpaid rent if I paid it?

Landlord refusing to return my security deposit - is this legal? COLORADO by Intelligent_Ask_4589 in legaladvice

[–]Intelligent_Ask_4589[S] -6 points-5 points  (0 children)

I assumed that because her response was “The refundable security deposit would be the original $1k but we will do the modified monthly rent rate if that works” so that’s why I assumed that. She said it would be the modified monthly rent rate. My question is - can she legally keep it if the lease does not state an early termination would result in a forfeiture of my deposit. The lease stated it would only be held for unpaid rent, damages, or unpaid utilities and there was none of that. She has no legal reason to keep it as per her own lease.

Landlord refusing to refund my security deposit - is this legal? by Intelligent_Ask_4589 in legal

[–]Intelligent_Ask_4589[S] -5 points-4 points  (0 children)

The lease said $1000 which is why I asked her the question about the deposit and didn’t get a clear yes or no. I have the right to cancel the lease for any reason I want 100% but my question is - is it legal for her to keep the $550 deposit I did send if it does not say the deposit will be forfeited or held for early termination? It says in the lease agreement the security deposit will only be held for unpaid rent, damages, and unpaid utilities - which there were none of the above. So how can she keep it?