Moving? 10 Tips to Avoid Losing Your Apartment: House Security Deposit

How to Get Your Rental Security Deposit Returned

 Have you ever moved out of an apartment and weeks later found out that the 
leasing manager has made big deductions from your rental deposit?  How frustrating!
Especially when you had planned to use your apartment security rental deposit to
update your new house or apartment.

​The purpose of the security deposit is to cover damage and expenses that the landlord may incur from your use of the apartment or your sudden vacating of it. However, you want to avoid getting charged when moving out of an apartment, when giving notice of intent to vacate clean or hire a cleaning service to get your quarters spickie-spanny clean.

Always refer to your lease carefully to make sure you're in compliance with vacating terms. If your lease is ending, the lease may stipulate that you need to notify your landlord of your intent to not renew by a specific date usually 30 days notice.

If you're vacating before the end of the lease, you'll need to communicate directly with the landlord about your plans to vacate. The landlord may have grounds to withhold all or part of your deposit to recover expenses and lost revenue from your move in this situation.
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Follow the 10 tips below:

1. Write the landlord a letter that explains your plans to vacate the apartment in detail and send it to the landlord within the time frame specified in the lease. Include your new address in the letter so your landlord knows where to send your deposit refund.
2. Get a moving-out checklist from the landlord before you vacate the premises. This should be a written checklist that spells out exactly what the landlord expects you do to before leaving, including cleaning, painting and repairing walls, appliances and floors.
3. Move every item that belongs to you out of the apartment. Empty every cupboard, drawer and closet. Many landlords will charge tenants a fee if it’s necessary to move items and furniture out of a vacated apartment.
4. Clean the kitchen from top to bottom, including cabinets, counters, sinks, floors and appliances. It’s especially important to get the stovetop and oven spic and span, removing every spatter of grease and food debris. Similarly, clean out the refrigerator and freezer to make them spotless. If the freezer needs defrosting, perform this maintenance too.
5. Clean the bathrooms from top to bottom, including sinks, counters, floors, mirrors, tub and toilet. Make the toilet gleam and scrub out the tub and shower to remove every trace of soap scum or mildew. If the shower curtain was one you purchased, remove it.
6. Check the walls for damage and make any minor repairs. If you see tiny cracks or holes in the walls, fill them with spackling paste. Repaint over the spackled areas to match the walls – it shouldn’t be hard to match because most apartments have white walls. If you painted any walls after getting the landlord’s permission, you’ll have to paint them the original color again before you move out.
7. Vacuum the carpets thoroughly. While you vacuum, look for any stains or damage. If you find stains that you created, use a carpet stain remover to scrub out the stains. If the entire carpet seems soiled, rent a carpet cleaner.
8. Sweep hard-surface floors to remove dust and debris. Damp-mop tile and vinyl floors.
9. Clean the windows with window cleaner. If the apartment came with window coverings such as blinds, dust them with a feather duster or damp cloth. Dust the windowsills with a damp cloth too.
10. Return all keys, garage door openers and other gadgets that were included with the apartment. Failure to return every item may necessitate deductions from your deposit.

Contact your leasing agent|landlord before you leave so you can have a walk-through inspection before you leave the premises. If the landlord finds issues, provide information as appropriate. Refer to the original list or imperfections if any issues of other than normal wear and tear arise.  Always be proactive to avoid losing your security deposit.

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Original Article: " How to Avoid Getting Charged When Moving Out of an Apartment" K. Hatter

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