New landlord

[babiedoll78]

On November 2nd, I put in my 30 day notice. On November 3rd the apartment building was sold to new owners. I have never signed a lease with the new owners. They are now stating that they are keeping my security deposit because of damages. I have not damaged the apartment, in fact, it is cleaner now than when I moved in. I do not have pictures of what it looked like when I moved in. I have contacted the previous caretaker of the building and she has agreed to put in writing that the damages that are present were there before I moved in.

I thought that when a person buys real estate that they are buying the building "AS IS." So how can she hold my deposit by what she thinks the apartment looked like a year and a half earlier? Please reply soon. Thanks in advance.

 

[LL]

Sorry, Babe

When a person buys real estate, they generally buy it including safe condition, full disclosure about lots of things, and especially with all obligations that the building already had,(unless they were cleared by the escrow before the transfer), including your lease.

That means that you are responsible for returning the property as you got it, reasonable wear and tear excepted.

If your dispute is only about demonstrating the move-in condition, then good luck in court. You have to convince the judge, and thats not a question of your rights. Its only a question of your ability to convince him.

Getting a declaration from the previous caretaker may help.