Security Deposit Question. WWYD Updated "drama".

[mickeywho?]

Dawn - I would also be taking lots of pictures of the apartment as it is now - make sure to have a date on your pics. Then your DS and current tenants won't be given blame for damage/stains in carpet etc. at the end of your lease. You can at least show that it was in poor condition when received. Even if your DS and DH make some repairs they can provide proof of this as well.

Oh - and say nothing. No more emails or phone calls. Leave it to be sorted out between previous tenant and landlord.

 

[DawnCt1]

Dawn - I would also be taking lots of pictures of the apartment as it is now - make sure to have a date on your pics. Then your DS and current tenants won't be given blame for damage/stains in carpet etc. at the end of your lease. You can at least show that it was in poor condition when received. Even if your DS and DH make some repairs they can provide proof of this as well.

Oh - and say nothing. No more emails or phone calls. Leave it to be sorted out between previous tenant and landlord.

I will tell the boys to clean it up and take pictures. I wish I thought to take my camera up during the summer. Who knew? (although I guess I should have anticipated it). It can't be any worse now than it was then. The carpet? I couldn't tell you what color it was supposed to be. They complex refused to shampoo the carpet with one hold over tenant left.
Yup, if the other mother calls me, I will say, "Your business is with X apts My business is with X apts and we have really nothing to talk about. " My BFF made me rehearse it this morning!

 

[tlbwriter]

That's a good strategy, but I might add one more thing, just to show her a little sympathy while reminding her that you are not legally or morally responsible for any of this. "I'm sorry your son moved out without getting his security deposit back. I know that must be frustrating for you. But your business is with X apts and my business is with X apts and we really have nothing to talk about."

While I'm thinking about it, I might change "we really have nothing to talk about" to "I really can't help you" or something else that's slightly softer and says "I CAN'T help you" instead of "I WON'T help you." This might be one of those situations where it's better to be kind instead of right, if you know what I mean. Not kind enough to pay her a security deposit, but kind enough to say "yeah, I realize you have a problem and I feel bad for you" instead of "not my problem, I'm not talking to you." Until/unless she gets rude, of course.

 

[DawnCt1]

That's a good strategy, but I might add one more thing, just to show her a little sympathy while reminding her that you are not legally or morally responsible for any of this. "I'm sorry your son moved out without getting his security deposit back. I know that must be frustrating for you. But your business is with X apts and my business is with X apts and we really have nothing to talk about."

While I'm thinking about it, I might change "we really have nothing to talk about" to "I really can't help you" or something else that's slightly softer and says "I CAN'T help you" instead of "I WON'T help you." This might be one of those situations where it's better to be kind instead of right, if you know what I mean. Not kind enough to pay her a security deposit, but kind enough to say "yeah, I realize you have a problem and I feel bad for you" instead of "not my problem, I'm not talking to you." Until/unless she gets rude, of course.

I empathized in the beginning but told her I wasn't going to be responsible for the condition of the apartment from 2009. It seems like one of the fathers can at least see both sides.

 

[tlbwriter]

Okay, I must have missed that part, sorry.

 

[DawnCt1]

I just got text from both boys. Interesting; They had been cc'd in on the email as well. "I am surprised by this. We had just cleaned up and "M" has not been in the apartment in weeks".

 

[LuvOrlando]

Sounds to me like that woman is just totally frustrated with the landlord so she is setting her sights on softer targets, being the boys and you other parents. It's a decent enough strategy if you weren't smarter than she is, that is

I think the whole mess could be handled with some artful strategy. When she comes at you,and she will, evasive maneuvers will probably be best. Maybe you could just sidestep her and get on board with her getting an attorney. You could possibly slide out of her line of fire by creating no opposition and in fact, telling her what a great idea it is she got a lawyer to sort the mess out with the landlord. No need to set her straight on who's legally responsible, the lawyer will do that, it's only going to tick her off more so I'd let someone else be the messenger who gets shot on that. In the meantime, if there is any way to somehow create a situation where you are not in opposition to her she will have a hard time coming at you. If you go from being the enemy to being in agreement with her she won't know how to handle you at all.

 

[gina2000]

I can remember this being the norm when I was in college. Students would rent a house, pay the security and the next set of students would pay the security to the previous occupants. My boyfriend got caught on the downside....the owners wanted to take occupancy after living abroad and the house was in disasterous condition after being rented out for over a decade to college students. They worked and cleaned, painted and sanded, but lost their deposits.

Back in my day the kids handled this themselves. The times certainly have changed.

 

[DawnCt1]

I can remember this being the norm when I was in college. Students would rent a house, pay the security and the next set of students would pay the security to the previous occupants. My boyfriend got caught on the downside....the owners wanted to take occupancy after living abroad and the house was in disasterous condition after being rented out for over a decade to college students. They worked and cleaned, painted and sanded, but lost their deposits.

Back in my day the kids handled this themselves. The times certainly have changed.

The kids on my end are handling it themselves. Its two of the mom's that are getting involved. The security deposits are also rather sizable. My nephew's security deposit was only $600. The deposit on this dump of an apartment totals $3800.