What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? Colorado
I lived in the apartment from August to June. In September, since I was a grad student, he hired me to help around the building; like to shovel snow or help with the computer, or whenever the maintenance tech needed extra help or did not want to come down on a weekend.
In March the landlord complained that I had dirty dishes in the sink and that the smell of my cooking was filling the hallway. In April the landlord gave me the Three Days to Comply or Evict Notice. So I had the apartment professionally cleaned. The superintendent did surprise inspections from time to time after that.
Now back in November the landlord sent all the tenants a notice that he was sealing the windows closed. Then a couple weeks later, he sent everyone a notice that the hallway was filling with the smell of everyone's cooking, and that he was going to have to flush the air in the hallways. Also, the apartment building was originally built as a hotel. So it was not built for kitchens. And the hallways are heated and cooled with air that is pushed from the apartments.
I have tried to get those notices. I have asked neighbors, I even asked the landlord and superintendent. The landlord wrote me a note that he would not give them to me, and that "if I want to get legal I am on my own."
In his Notice to Comply, he claimed I was breaking the lease and that tenants complained. But the only time the superintendent noticed the smell of my cooking or the dishes in the sink, was when he came into my apartment. Also, the clauses in the lease that he claimed I violated state that: "The apartment to be kept in good condition as when rented," "In every way to cooperate with all tenants...," "To use the apartment in no purpose in violation of the laws... to make no marks or modifications to the apartment... to keep the hallways clear at all times... Even minor modifications will (such as light bulb...) will be subject to penalty."
One thing I just thought of, the superintendent lives in the building. The landlord lives and has his office in another county. So maybe he is claiming that since the superintendent lives in the building, that tenants complained.
Then in May he asked if I could move out a few weeks early, because he had someone who wanted the apartment. So I agreed to move out one week early. Then five days before I was scheduled to move out, he serves me with a three day Notice to Quit. I called him and said that I was scheduled to move out anyways. He said he was not going to move on the Notice to Quit until the day after I was scheduled to move out.
He also sent me a notice that before I move out, I had to professionally steam clean the carpets and drapes; since they most likely had the smell of cooking in them. I smelled them, they smelled like dust.
Here we are in July, and he sends me a bill for the Security Deposit. Not only is he keeping the $800, but he is billing me for another $900. According to the bill he is charging me for a new oven plus $100/hour to install it. He is also charging me to replace the pots and pans for $100 plus sales tax. He also checked a box that said to pay immediately to avoid late fees and legal fees.
Before I moved out, I photographed EVERYTHING. Every pot, every appliance inside and out, every inch of the carpet, every piece of furniture, everything.
What can I do?
I lived in the apartment from August to June. In September, since I was a grad student, he hired me to help around the building; like to shovel snow or help with the computer, or whenever the maintenance tech needed extra help or did not want to come down on a weekend.
In March the landlord complained that I had dirty dishes in the sink and that the smell of my cooking was filling the hallway. In April the landlord gave me the Three Days to Comply or Evict Notice. So I had the apartment professionally cleaned. The superintendent did surprise inspections from time to time after that.
Now back in November the landlord sent all the tenants a notice that he was sealing the windows closed. Then a couple weeks later, he sent everyone a notice that the hallway was filling with the smell of everyone's cooking, and that he was going to have to flush the air in the hallways. Also, the apartment building was originally built as a hotel. So it was not built for kitchens. And the hallways are heated and cooled with air that is pushed from the apartments.
I have tried to get those notices. I have asked neighbors, I even asked the landlord and superintendent. The landlord wrote me a note that he would not give them to me, and that "if I want to get legal I am on my own."
In his Notice to Comply, he claimed I was breaking the lease and that tenants complained. But the only time the superintendent noticed the smell of my cooking or the dishes in the sink, was when he came into my apartment. Also, the clauses in the lease that he claimed I violated state that: "The apartment to be kept in good condition as when rented," "In every way to cooperate with all tenants...," "To use the apartment in no purpose in violation of the laws... to make no marks or modifications to the apartment... to keep the hallways clear at all times... Even minor modifications will (such as light bulb...) will be subject to penalty."
One thing I just thought of, the superintendent lives in the building. The landlord lives and has his office in another county. So maybe he is claiming that since the superintendent lives in the building, that tenants complained.
Then in May he asked if I could move out a few weeks early, because he had someone who wanted the apartment. So I agreed to move out one week early. Then five days before I was scheduled to move out, he serves me with a three day Notice to Quit. I called him and said that I was scheduled to move out anyways. He said he was not going to move on the Notice to Quit until the day after I was scheduled to move out.
He also sent me a notice that before I move out, I had to professionally steam clean the carpets and drapes; since they most likely had the smell of cooking in them. I smelled them, they smelled like dust.
Here we are in July, and he sends me a bill for the Security Deposit. Not only is he keeping the $800, but he is billing me for another $900. According to the bill he is charging me for a new oven plus $100/hour to install it. He is also charging me to replace the pots and pans for $100 plus sales tax. He also checked a box that said to pay immediately to avoid late fees and legal fees.
Before I moved out, I photographed EVERYTHING. Every pot, every appliance inside and out, every inch of the carpet, every piece of furniture, everything.
What can I do?
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there is nothing he can charge for.