Here is the answer
A:
The law requires that landlord return the deposit or an itemized list of deductions within 21 days, unless repairs cannot reasonably be completed within that time. In that scenario, they're allowed to deduct a good-faith estimate, as long as they account for the deposit within 14 days of completing the repairs. Cal. Civ. Code, Section 1950.5(g)(3).
So what you're looking at is what repairs were done and when. If all they did was paint and clean the carpet, they should have been able to do it within 21 days and you can probably get the remainder of the deposit back. If they had to order materials, it can take a little longer. Also look at the dates on the receipts. Did they send your check within 14 days of finishing the work? If not, you can get it back.
They're also required to prorate repairs like painting and carpet repair based on how long you lived there. Look at each item individually to see if they did that. It's possible that you could be entitled to get more of the deposit back, even if they were justified in sending only the estimate and not the totals w/in 21 days.
Q:
The landlord did not begin any of their work until post-21 days. It was not completed until early Jan and we did not receive the balance of our deposit until the beginning of March 2014.
A:
If she did not send the accounting within 14 days of when the work was completed, that's evidence of bad faith. When a landlord withholds a security deposit in bad faith, the tenant can sue to receive up treble damages.
Sometimes, explaining the treble damages clause of the statute to the landlord can elicit a refund. But the tenant can also go to Small Claims and file a lawsuit.
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Awesome!