I'm having some problems with my landlord. I signed a lease on a house with 3 other people about 3 months ago. This lease was supposed to be for a year. I paid $575.00 for my portion of the security deposit and a down deposit for the water. I paid rent for three months with the utility bills. He is refusing to return my deposit because he says it cost him exactly $575.00 to place signs, return e-mails and take calls to find a new person. The house isn't damaged in anyway and everything was payed for by check from my parents. Can he legally withhold the security deposit? The lease he sent me back had a few sentences highlighted.
"If tenant does not take occupancy of said unit other than unit not being ready of occupancy, security deposit will be forfeited. Tenant will also be responsible for the rent of said unit until landlord can re-rent it."
"If tenant vacates property before the end of the lease term, they are liable for the balance of rent due to landlord during the remainder of the lease term. Tenant shall further remain liable for such other damages sustained by the landlord due to tenant breach of lease and/or tenants termination of possession of the premises as long as such liability is not expressly prohibited applicable law. Such other damages shall include, but are not limited to, costs incurred in recovering possession of the premises (such as rental commissions, administrative expenses and advertising expenses) utility costs for the premises while same remain vacant, and costs incurred in redecorating the premises"
He also sent me this list. Not everything had a specific price on it, but just a general list with total owed, $575.00 at the bottom.
1. Labor paid to our maintenance personnel for placing rental signs at several of our properties in an attempt to generate phone calls. Time included picking up signs from storage, posting the signs at the properties, retrieving them after the lease was signed and then picking them back up to be placed back into the storage.
2. Landlord's time spent meeting and showing the property to prospective roommates.
3. Labor paid to our office staff for sending e-mails, responding to e-mails and handling telephone calls regarding the property.
4. Labor paid to process applications, meeting with prospective roommates to explain the lease agreement, typing of necessary paperwork and sending the documents to parents.
5. Cost of postage for mailing the documents to parents.
Total charges on account: $575.00
Total credits on account: $575.00
Less Total Charges on Account: $575.00
Total Amount Due to Tenants From The Landlord: $0.00
I don't understand how the labor costs for him equal my EXACT amount of the security deposit. Something smells really fishy to me and I want to know what I can legally do. From what I read on Maryland law, he has to state the exact cost of every single labor cost individually. I did technically live there for a couple of days. I just want my money back because I find this to be unfair and unjust. I think the labor and advertising costs are outrageous.
"If tenant does not take occupancy of said unit other than unit not being ready of occupancy, security deposit will be forfeited. Tenant will also be responsible for the rent of said unit until landlord can re-rent it."
"If tenant vacates property before the end of the lease term, they are liable for the balance of rent due to landlord during the remainder of the lease term. Tenant shall further remain liable for such other damages sustained by the landlord due to tenant breach of lease and/or tenants termination of possession of the premises as long as such liability is not expressly prohibited applicable law. Such other damages shall include, but are not limited to, costs incurred in recovering possession of the premises (such as rental commissions, administrative expenses and advertising expenses) utility costs for the premises while same remain vacant, and costs incurred in redecorating the premises"
He also sent me this list. Not everything had a specific price on it, but just a general list with total owed, $575.00 at the bottom.
1. Labor paid to our maintenance personnel for placing rental signs at several of our properties in an attempt to generate phone calls. Time included picking up signs from storage, posting the signs at the properties, retrieving them after the lease was signed and then picking them back up to be placed back into the storage.
2. Landlord's time spent meeting and showing the property to prospective roommates.
3. Labor paid to our office staff for sending e-mails, responding to e-mails and handling telephone calls regarding the property.
4. Labor paid to process applications, meeting with prospective roommates to explain the lease agreement, typing of necessary paperwork and sending the documents to parents.
5. Cost of postage for mailing the documents to parents.
Total charges on account: $575.00
Total credits on account: $575.00
Less Total Charges on Account: $575.00
Total Amount Due to Tenants From The Landlord: $0.00
I don't understand how the labor costs for him equal my EXACT amount of the security deposit. Something smells really fishy to me and I want to know what I can legally do. From what I read on Maryland law, he has to state the exact cost of every single labor cost individually. I did technically live there for a couple of days. I just want my money back because I find this to be unfair and unjust. I think the labor and advertising costs are outrageous.
