Landlord Charging Strange Damages

[rfisherfs]

This situation is in Pennsylvania:

I moved out of a rented property 25 days ago. When we moved in we paid a $2500 security deposit. The landlord had vertical blinds over 2 bay windows in the property, which had slats that commonly fell down when opened or closed, we replaced the vertical blinds with window-size faux-wood blinds of good quality and neutral color. Additionally, we installed these matching blinds on all windows in the property that were left uncovered by the landlord. Upon moving out, we left all of the blinds we had installed resulting in a positive change to the property. I contacted the landlord this week requesting that our security deposit be returned as the allowed 30 day time period is at the end of the week. He responded saying that he was charging us approx. $700 for the vertical blinds that we replaced. Can he do this? If he is claiming that we damaged his property, does replacing old broken vertical blinds with quality faux-wood blinds constitute damage?

As an FYI, we paid all rent and bills in full and on time, and provided proper notice of termination of the lease.

 

[Zigner]

This situation is in Pennsylvania:

I moved out of a rented property 25 days ago. When we moved in we paid a $2500 security deposit. The landlord had vertical blinds over 2 bay windows in the property, which had slats that commonly fell down when opened or closed, we replaced the vertical blinds with window-size faux-wood blinds of good quality and neutral color. Additionally, we installed these matching blinds on all windows in the property that were left uncovered by the landlord. Upon moving out, we left all of the blinds we had installed resulting in a positive change to the property. I contacted the landlord this week requesting that our security deposit be returned as the allowed 30 day time period is at the end of the week. He responded saying that he was charging us approx. $700 for the vertical blinds that we replaced. Can he do this? If he is claiming that we damaged his property, does replacing old broken vertical blinds with quality faux-wood blinds constitute damage?

As an FYI, we paid all rent and bills in full and on time, and provided proper notice of termination of the lease.

You are supposed to return the property in the same condition as when you rented it. Your opinion of the plastic blinds you installed doesn't really matter.

 

[FarmerJ]

Sad to say technically by disposing of the LLs property ( the old blinds) you have caused damage , but the LL cannot just charge you for brand new ones so in the very end if you do not agree with what the LL has held back your free to take the LL to small claims court and ask for the LL to refund more of the deposit since those blinds even though you said something was wrong with them had a depreciated value based on age.

 

[rfisherfs]

Sad to say technically by disposing of the LLs property ( the old blinds) you have caused damage , but the LL cannot just charge you for brand new ones so in the very end if you do not agree with what the LL has held back your free to take the LL to small claims court and ask for the LL to refund more of the deposit since those blinds even though you said something was wrong with them had a depreciated value based on age.

Am I entitled to retrieve my blinds if he does in fact charge me to replace his old ones?

 

[rfisherfs]

You are supposed to return the property in the same condition as when you rented it. Your opinion of the plastic blinds you installed doesn't really matter.

Its pronounced "faux-wood" Zigner, stop looking down your nose at me.

 

[FarmerJ]

A court can decide that for you SO take the LL to court and ask the court instead of getting cash if you can the ones you installed as long as the LL has proof that those were replaced ( not likely since they may have been thrown out) When a tenant installs something in a rental ( where item is fastened/ screwed, nailed to structure) then the something becomes the property of the LL.

 

[Zigner]

Its pronounced "faux-wood" Zigner, stop looking down your nose at me.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Window_blind#Faux_wood


Plastic.

And, I wasn't looking down my nose at you. I have that style of blinds in my own home. The POINT I was making (which seems totally lost on you) is that your opinion of the quality and look of the blinds is irrelevant.