Security Deposit Security deposit

[danielh]

I kept the first security deposit in 25 years when I found the carpets and other items destroyed in the apartment. I sent an itemized list to the tenant but failed to sign it. The person hearing the case ( judges assistant?) says that I now owe triple the security deposit because of this. The case has been delayed and we still need to go through the list to see what if anything I am entitled to deduct from this. Can I appeal this decision or is their anything else that I can do? It just doesn't seem right that even though she destroyed my property I owe her triple for failing to sign the letter.

 

[Betty3]

In Ma. if a landlord keeps or deducts from the security deposit without furnishing the tenant with a written & signed itemized list of the damage, a judge can order the landlord to pay the tenant triple the deposit with interest. You'll have to see what happens (judge decides) when the case is resumed & when the list is gone over.