Might need a lawyer

[Hammock Parties]

moved out of a place 30 days ago...landlord has my forwarding address...have e-mail proof that they received keys, etc

e-mailed them yesterday checking on status of my deposit return...no reply in 24 hours

what's next?

just go get a lawyer or politely inform them i am talking to one?

[Hammock Parties]

Originally Posted by JohnnyV13

Clayton, did you record video evidence of the condition you left the property?

If you did not, you will have a hard time proving you left the property in pristine condition.

I took multiple photographs on the day I moved out proving the condition of the property.

I also have witnesses.

I'm not sure why that would even matter at this point because they've exhausted their 30-day period in which to accuse me of wrecking their shit.

[Valiant]

Originally Posted by Hammock Parties

I think not.

I waited 30 days and sent an e-mail.

Now I'm looking into other options since apparently they don't abide by the law and ignore their customers.

This is the step you call or meet in person.

[BWillie]

Originally Posted by Hammock Parties

moved out of a place 30 days ago...landlord has my forwarding address...have e-mail proof that they received keys, etc

e-mailed them yesterday checking on status of my deposit return...no reply in 24 hours

what's next?

just go get a lawyer or politely inform them i am talking to one?

Don't let them try to **** you on depreciable materials. Asshole landlords will try to charge you for new carpet, flooring, etc. That stuff doesn't have long useful lives to being with. You may be able to fight that a bit, if you had photos before you moved out.

[alpha_omega]

rrrrrring.....

[MGMT CO]Hello, management company person here, how can I help you?

[GC] Answer your email asshole.

[JohnnyV13]

Originally Posted by Hammock Parties

I took multiple photographs on the day I moved out proving the condition of the property.

I also have witnesses.

I'm not sure why that would even matter at this point because they've exhausted their 30-day period in which to accuse me of wrecking their shit.

Lower level courts like traffic court and small claims court have very loose procedures that will often be up to the judge. Often, it's simply not worth appealing them and the judges know this so they can be pretty arbitrary. Thus, I'd want to have that evidence. Ideally, you should take pictures or video of the property both the day you move in AND when you move out.

I would try to contact them by email and request a return of your security deposit. If you continue to get no response, your choices are to seek legal counsel or to simply file in small claims court yourself.

If it were me, I'd file myself simply because I can research the law and feel good about my ability to present the case.

[Rain Man]

Originally Posted by BWillie

Don't let them try to **** you on depreciable materials. Asshole landlords will try to charge you for new carpet, flooring, etc. That stuff doesn't have long useful lives to being with. You may be able to fight that a bit, if you had photos before you moved out.

When my company was first starting up, we had office space in an old mansion, down in the basement. It was very start up like, and the carpet in my office look like somebody had slaughtered oxen on it. What I moved out, the landlord came down to check me out and pointed at the carpet. He said, "Did you do that?" I told him that it had probably been there since the 1950s.

[KCUnited]

Also sends emails about his money.

[Hammock Parties]

Originally Posted by JohnnyV13

I would try to contact them by email and request a return of your security deposit.

[DenverChief]

Originally Posted by Detoxing

From what you've told us so far:

You moved out, left your forwarding address and received email confirmation that your keys had been received.

Then you did nothing for 30 days until you finally wrote an email (of all things) and since you didn't get an immediate response (****ing millennials) you're panicking.

Dude....

Emails are really archaic? Should he have tweeted it or tagged them in a Facebook post instead? Or is snail mail back in? I'm asking because I am genuinely curious...

[JohnnyV13]

Originally Posted by Hammock Parties

Have you already done this? Any answer is evidence. Lack of answer is evidence. If you never do this, you'll look really stupid in small claims court if the judge asks if you've done this and you have to say, "No."

That's why I said "email" b/c it's actually easier to prove than snail mail. If you get no response from email, then I'd send a certified letter.

Ask for return of your deposit, include the applicable Missouri statute with respect to their 30 day window and point out they are now in violation of the statute, and that failure to respond can result in up to a 2x penalty.

Basically, it's a demand letter and is the first thing any attorney will do.

[Couch-Potato]

Typically you walk the site with the landlord before you leave and discuss anything that may be taken off the deposit. You should always film the place when you're viewing originally, and then when you are walking the site with the landlord for your exit. This will save you a lot of trouble in the future!

[Hammock Parties]

Originally Posted by JohnnyV13

Have you already done this? Any answer is evidence. Lack of answer is evidence. If you never do this, you'll look really stupid in small claims court if the judge asks if you've done this and you have to say, "No."

That's why I said "email" b/c it's actually easier to prove than snail mail. If you get no response from email, then I'd send a certified letter.

Ask for return of your deposit, include the applicable Missouri statute with respect to their 30 day window and point out they are now in violation of the statute, and that failure to respond can result in up to a 2x penalty.

Basically, it's a demand letter and is the first thing any attorney will do.

I did it last night.

I also have a text from them on April 18 asking for my forwarding address.

[Couch-Potato]

Originally Posted by KCUnited

Also sends emails about his money.

lol this. How does OP know that they didn't already send the check via mail? If you recieve on the 31st day after raising hell you're gonna feel real stupid.

[Hammock Parties]

Originally Posted by Couch-Potato

lol this. How does OP know that they didn't already send the check via mail? If you recieve on the 31st day after raising hell you're gonna feel real stupid.

I mean, that's tomorrow.

I'd bet anyone the entire deposit it doesn't come.

I'm going to draft a certified letter at work tomorrow and pop it in the mail if I don't have a check in my hand or an e-mail in my box.

[Rain Man]

Did you check your lease language? They may have a lease clause that lets them keep the money longer. If it's a large property management company, they may just have a policy of keeping it until the last day.