Landlord not returning security deposit

[debjack]

I gave 60 days written notice and moved out of my landlord's house on 6/18/00 (he owns and lives there). On 7/18, I asked when I could expect to receive the portion of the security deposit that was owed to me back. Per his request, I did touch up painting in my room and several other areas in the house (had to wait 2-3 weeks for him to get the paint that matched). After dancing around for a couple of weeks after that, he informed me that he didn't have the money and would have to pay me in installments. I didn't agree with this, but saw no other way of getting my money. He has paid me one installment as of this date and was supposed to pay me another on 9/15 and the final one on 9/30. I spoke with him on the phone last night to see about coming by for the 9/15 installment. He told me to come on over. I did, but when I got there, he took me upstairs to the room I lived in there and informed me that part of the carpet would need to be replaced due to a stain that would not come out. What it came down to was that he still does not have my money. I feel at this point that this is something that should have been talked about and handled back on 7/18. It's now 9/20 and I still don't have my money. I want to take him to court, but the $ amount doesn't warrant it. Is there anything I can do?

 

[HomeGuru]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by debjack:
I gave 60 days written notice and moved out of my landlord's house on 6/18/00 (he owns and lives there). On 7/18, I asked when I could expect to receive the portion of the security deposit that was owed to me back. Per his request, I did touch up painting in my room and several other areas in the house (had to wait 2-3 weeks for him to get the paint that matched). After dancing around for a couple of weeks after that, he informed me that he didn't have the money and would have to pay me in installments. I didn't agree with this, but saw no other way of getting my money. He has paid me one installment as of this date and was supposed to pay me another on 9/15 and the final one on 9/30. I spoke with him on the phone last night to see about coming by for the 9/15 installment. He told me to come on over. I did, but when I got there, he took me upstairs to the room I lived in there and informed me that part of the carpet would need to be replaced due to a stain that would not come out. What it came down to was that he still does not have my money. I feel at this point that this is something that should have been talked about and handled back on 7/18. It's now 9/20 and I still don't have my money. I want to take him to court, but the $ amount doesn't warrant it. Is there anything I can do?<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Since you have not told posted what State the property was in, we have no way of giving you a correct response. I will guess that L has passed the deadline as stated in the L/T law to return your security deposit or provide an accounting of deductions, therefore L owes you the balance of the deposit. And L may even owe double or triple this amount. L would owe you the entire deposit but since L already made a partial payment, L owes you the balance. The L/T law should be specific and should not allow partial payments by L with repect to a return of the deposit. L should not have spent the money as it was your money held in trust.