Landlords Say The Darndest Things
No-one likes a whiner, I know. But sometimes you just feel so much better when you get it off your chest, don't you? Me, I'm railing against my old landlords at the moment, and I know "railing against them" sounds all hardcore and stuff, like I'm outside their offices with a pitchfork, but really it just means I'm sitting in my spare bedroom surrounded by boxes, making aggravated noises in the back of my throat like a cat hacking up a hairball, and sputtering angry words to myself. It's very productive, I assure you. About the only more passive-aggressive thing I could do at this point is write a huffy tweet about them. Maybe I'd add a #landlordshateholly hashtag to really get it going.
Anyway, we spent all weekend cleaning and painting our old apartment---our old apartment, I might add, that we kept looking pretty darn spiffy for the three and a half years that we lived there, if I do say so myself. And I'm prone to exaggeration, I know, but I'm not exaggerating with this "all weekend" stuff, honest: we were in that apartment from 10am to 10pm both Saturday and Sunday, scrubbing and painting and patching and spackling and mopping and dusting and all the rest of it. I got a chemical burn on my fingertips from bleaching the counters, for god's sake! A CHEMICAL BURN.
We left it---to our minds---spotless. It was spick and span, fresh as a daisy, clean as a baby's butt (wait, that last one.....didn't quite work.) You could have eaten your dinner off the floor. They inspected it yesterday---while we were at work, of course---and the results came in today. Verdict? We owe $85 for "not cleaning under the stove top" (seriously? have you ever cleaned under the stove top in your life? I'm not even a hundred percent sure I actually understand what "under the stove top" even is) and an undisclosed amount---though I'm sure they're going to be revealing the magic number soon enough---for using "the wrong color white" on some of the doors.
I mean, at this point, we should just forget it, right? Close the book, pay the money, give them what they want, and get on the plane to Barbados tomorrow night with a finger (you guess which one) raised in the general direction of their offices. I'd normally fight something like this, get all indignant, write strongly-worded letters and the like, but between the packing and moving and cleaning and new-job-transitioning, I just don't have it in me at the moment. I'm at capacity. My grandmother had a saying, "pay it and forget it," so I guess I'm just going to be paying and forgetting this one, which would be alright, I guess, if I hadn't been paying and forgetting a whole bunch of other stuff lately, like the parking ticket we got on our new street just hours after moving in, or all the gas we've used driving back and forth between two houses, or the PAINT WE BOUGHT THAT WAS APPARENTLY THE WRONG WHITE.
Anyway, I'll stop venting now---but hey, I do kind of feel better!---and get back to packing for Barbados. I think having the words "for Barbados" attached is about the only reason I can stomach packing right now, seeing as its all I've been doing for the last couple of weeks. Thank god I don't have to wrap my bathing suits in bubble wrap and lay them carefully into cardboard boxes, I guess, or I might be going 'round the twist. Not like I even know where my bathing suits are.
Jul 01, 2010
sdfghjkl. Stupid landlords. What does it matter that it's the wrong shade of white?! It's not like the new tenants are going to notice, they'll probably paint over it anyway. And how do they remember exactly what shade of white it was originally?!
I'm not looking forward to renting next year. :(
Jul 01, 2010
grrrrr....Don't get me started about landlords. My last one got all pissy with me because I broke my lease(despite getting new renter for he) and took almost all of my desposit.
I disputed the charges, she disputed my dispute, and then I gave up and wrote a nasty letter attacking her character (as she had most definitely lied about stuff) because I didn't have time to take it to court.
The letter helps. Might have mentioned that it was a shame she shapes the minds of little children as a teacher, and that I could only hope she doesn't teach a class on ethics.
I felt markedly better- I would suggest trying it. Wo0w- that was a long comment
Jul 01, 2010
If it makes you feel better, our old condo association charged us $250 because we left 3 minor marks on the hallway walls as we moved out all of our furniture. While part of me really wanted to dig in my heels and fight, the (wiser) part of me just sighed and added it to our moving expenses. Frustrating, but the excitement of settling into a new home helped take away some of the sting. And I agree that your landlord is being ridiculous, but as outrageous charges go. $85 isn't all that bad . . .
Jul 01, 2010
Bleck! I am already worried about our deposit when we move out next year. What a freaking pain.
Jul 01, 2010
Ah - it's not worth another moment's thought from you. Go, pack, enjoy your trip!
And, despite your sad story, I have to say "going 'round the twist" is the funniest phrase I've heard in a long time!
Jul 01, 2010
Ugh. Landlords. I had a rotten landlord when I lived in Florida. In fact, I thought about him yesterday for some reason and went looking for a way to review his apartment complex and his evil ways. I moved out of that place 7 years ago, and I'm still mad at him for being a jerk!
I don't blame you for being angry although I think going to Barbados might make up for the landlord debacle a smidge.
Safe travels!
Jul 01, 2010
ugh. I'd say if it's less than a couple hundred bucks, screw it. The $ is not worth wasting anymore energy on it.
FYI, if you DO decide to fight it, according to landlord-tenant law in California, I'm pretty sure they're not allowed to charge you for any kind of repainting if you've lived in a place for more than 2 years (I think - you can download an info book about this that's really helpful). That is to say, the life of a paint job is considered to be 2 years, so they'd need to repaint anyway when you moved out, and they can't charge you for it. And they can only charge you for cleaning under the stove top if it was cleaned before you moved in. I fought my last landlord on something like this (cleaning the carpets) because they weren't cleaned before I moved in (reeked of cat poop in my spare bedroom, I had to clean them myself then), and won.
Jul 01, 2010
Ick ick ick. I hate nasty landlords. SUCH a pain. I would offer to go clean under the stovetop myself--I could do it in 5 minutes--rather than pay $85. (You just raise it up by the edges and you'll be shocked how nasty it gets under there) So maybe I'm not the one to talk to. But the wrong shade of white? Ridiculous!! Is it specified in your contract that a specific shade of white be used? If not, can they charge you for not using this imaginary paint shade? Cuz sometimes if you just growl nastily back, they curl up in a ball and play nice. But I'm pretty sure the others advising you to take a deep cleansing breath and let go are right. Stuff like this just bugs me though.
Jul 01, 2010
BARBADOS. Forget the landlord and think of BARBADOS.
Jul 01, 2010
You are better than me, since I would fight them... they are trying to get away with it and they will continue to do it again and again... But, I'm high on the principle factor.
Plus HELLO A WRONG WHITE? is there such a thing? How can it be wrong?
Sometimes all it takes is a letter making sure they know you are no pushover and they will usually back down.
I would go to Barbados and come back fresh and in fighting mode.
Jul 01, 2010
You grandma is right. Pay it and forget it. You've got much more important things to focus on. Unfortunately, I think this is what landlords generally bank on.
The last place I lived, I also left in better shape than it was when I moved in. Yet I was still charged a $150 cleaning fee and $75 for new screens because there were holes in them. Holes which were there when I moved in. I thought about fighting it, but in the I end realized I would much rather never have to deal with my terrible landlords again.
Landlords are the worst. Just move on and be glad that this is most likely the last time you'll have to deal with one. And enjoy Barbados! You've earned it.
Jul 01, 2010
Ugh we once had a landlord INSIST there was not a...creature of some sort..in the attic. He charged us for the pest removal person to go out there and look. We found out later that there WAS a creature in the attic and even worse, it had DIED AND FALLEN BETWEEN THE WALLS. Good Lord. Anyway, we never got our $100 back but I like to think he sure got the karma that was coming to him.
Jul 01, 2010
Sympathies! You just have to pout and bear it, I've discovered. We moved out of our last rented place (to our very own flat at last, hooray!) a few months ago and, like you, cleaned the rental place until it was not only spotless but also SIGNIFICANTLY cleaner than when we'd moved in. The inventory check-out person told us that although she accepted that the flat was tidy, she couldn't "put down that it's clean because there's some dust on the skirting boards".
The ONLY thing that got me through it without punching the (beautifully clean) wall was holding onto the thought that we'll never have to go through it again. And neither will you! Remember that!
Jul 01, 2010
I feel like everyone has one of these stories (mine was getting a fine for leaving up a full length mirror in a bedroom - an improvement to their apartment cost me $50).
But! Barbados!! I've heard it's beautiful there! (And not everyone has one of those stories!)
Jul 01, 2010
I think they are required by law to paint the walls between tenants. So it wouldn't matter what color you painted it. Because they HAVE to re-paint!
That's BS! I would fight it! But also, it's $85, so not a horrible amount.
Have fun in Barbados!
Jul 01, 2010
After 3.5 years, they need to repaint the walls anyway, and I've never moved into a spotless apartment in a lifetime of renting. Do you have a friend who is a lawyer? Sending them a letter on their letterhead will get them to knock this off, because they're threatening to withhold money that they are probably not entitled to. It's a small amount in the scheme of things, but they'll do it to EVERYONE if people don't stop them, because landlords have power and renters don't. Fight Fight Fight!!
Jul 01, 2010
We have had good ones, we have had bad ones. Yours sounds like they were of the, "Gonna get money from them somehow," set. Yuck.
I guess I'd just pay it, fume, and then let it go.
Jul 01, 2010
our last landlord tried to charge us $250 to clean the carpets after we had moved out, 2 days prior to RIPPING THE CARPETS OUT TO INSTALL HARDWOOD FLOORS. my landlord 4 years ago was so awful, i gave her a negative review on an apartment rental website, and signed up to be notified of future reviews so I could see that everyone else thought she was awful as well. unhealthy behavior much? obviously these are still sore spots with me and i need to learn the art of letting go...
Jul 01, 2010
What if you held an internet contest--your readers could submit letters to your landlord in your behalf. In theory he'll get so fed up with the protesting he'll write off the sullied under-oven and (un)white doorframes and call it a day. The other side of that coin is that he will charge you $15 for gunking up his mailbox....
Even so, I could get some creative venty juices flowing at your landlord. :)
xox
Jul 01, 2010
I was fined for not dusting the windowsills in a basement apartment (windowsills @ sidewalk level). Thing is, I did wipe them down. Apparently a week later they were dirty again. Surprise!
How do they rationalize an $85 charge for the under stove top cleaning. Even if the cleaning person is paid $20/hour, does it take 4 hours to clean? right.
Jul 01, 2010
Ugh, landlords. I had a rental management company show up an hour and a half before they were supposed to for an inspection/walk through. He wanted to get to happy hour, but said he would make exceptions for us since he had showed up early. He didn't! He totally screwed us so that he could get to happy hour! The gall! And they charged us $120 cleaning fee for a perfectly clean house. A house which was going to sit unrented for 3 months as they dug up the septic system and installed french drains in the yard.
And they tried to charge us for lightbulbs and the little trays that go under the burner. Which you can't do in WA state. When I called them on that part, they just took the charges off... But I quoted the landlord tentant laws in my letter.
GRRR! So angry on your behalf!
Jul 01, 2010
I have to say, having been a caretaker at an apartment complex, that even if you clean meticulously, they WILL clean again, and charge you for it. We plan to do the basics but nothing that we know they'll just do over ;) but our deposit was small so we care less about getting it all back.
Jul 01, 2010
Yeah- there is usually a way to lift the top of the stove (and prop it up like a car hood) to clean under it. My parents used to be landlords before I was born and so they always help me move out and point out all the little things that need to be done. And one of them always scolds me for never having cleaned the oven or under the stove top until I move out. But... I would be annoyed, too. So maybe I should shut my yap and let you be annoyed. Have fun in Barbados!!
Jul 01, 2010
I'm a landlord and I've definitely withheld money from tenants upon move-out even for stuff not being clean. But I'm also very detailed about what I will be inspecting, what is considered per NC rental law to be "ordinary wear & tear" and what would constitute a deduction in the security deposit returned. Otherwise, I couldn't really hold them to a standard they didn't know about, could I?
I always paint between tenants, so I would never have expected you to paint your rooms back and certainly wouldn't have charged you for using a different shade of white! That's ridiculous. I would have been thrilled to have you as a tenant - especially seeing how lovely you made the place!
I would forget about the stove top cleaning, it's probably already been done - but I would argue about the paint color on the doors. And send a strongly worded letter. At the very least, it will make you feel better! And go to Barbados being glad you don't have to rent anymore! :)
Jul 01, 2010
thanks for the mantra of pay it and forget it. i just got parking tickets totalling $100 because i forgot that the parking sticker goes on the curbside window, rather than driver's side. that'll teach me! but yes, instead of being mad about it and fighting it, i think i will just pay it and forget it (even though that $100 could have gone to a nice cruiser bike with which to enjoy summer). damn you, city of portland!
Jul 01, 2010
I agree about the landlord thing, especially the paint!! If it's against the law, just let him know that YOU know, and they will back down. ALSO, as far as the parking ticket goes... its worth an appeal to the city showing proof that you had just moved and were unaware... It might be a waste of time, but if it works- that's probably at least one gallon of new paint right there yes? :)
Jul 03, 2010
A former landlord accused me of running a 'flophouse.' I had to ask an older generation what that meant.
Maybe TLC should have a new show, Landlordzillas?
Jul 03, 2010
Landlords can be difficult. It might be easiest to just pay it and leave a bad review on their website/third party raters/etc.
Jul 03, 2010
if only there is such thing as a website rating landlords. i have to move bcause my landlord does not believe in heat in the winter. prob will never see my deposit back. but its ok. i tell myself its only money. peace of mine is worth it.
Jul 04, 2010
landlords charging their tenants post-lease is probably standard procedure for them. i'd fight back quoting a big chunk of law just to frustrate them and for the sake of their next tenant, if not for myself. happy holiday! can't wait to see pictures!
Jul 05, 2010
By "pay" do you just mean not fight them for withholding it from your security deposit, or actually cut them a check? If it's the former, then let it go; but if it's the latter, don't do it. Just because they charge you doesn't mean you owe it - they would have to sue you in small claims court, which would probably cost them as much as they're claiming you owe, so it is very unlikely they would bother.
Jul 06, 2010
Grrr on the whole painting thing. What a waste for you to do all that work and then them re-doing it?
Anyways, I've found that, when notifying landlord of move-out they will provide the paint if I ask. But only if I ask.
Jul 09, 2010
1950.5. Security; Landlord's Use of Security:
"3. Repainting walls
One approach for determining the amount that the landlord can deduct from the tenant's security deposit for repainting, when repainting is necessary, is based on the length of the tenant's stay in the rental unit. This approach assumes that interior paint has a two-year life. (Some landlords assume that interior paint has a life of three years or more.)
Length of stay
Less than 6 months
6 months to 1 year
1 year to 2 years
2 or more years
Deduction
full cost
two-thirds of cost
one-third of cost
no deduction
Using this approach, if the tenant lived in the rental unit for two years or more, the tenant could not be charged for any repainting costs, no matter how dirty the walls were."
Brown, Warner and Portman, The California Landlord's Law Book, Vol. I: Rights & Responsibilities, pages 384-385; (NOLO Press 2009).
Aug 03, 2010
Thanks for such a great post and the review, I am totally impressed! Keep stuff like this coming.
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