Unreturned security deposit - Landlord Forum thread

Unreturned security deposit by Anonymous on November 9, 2006 @15:28

We were recently sued in small claims court by a tenant who broke her lease and left us with unpaid PGE bills and water bills. Due to the fact that she was such a troublesome renter, we decided to not sue her for a broken lease etc...for we were glad to get rid of her. Eight months later, she drags us to court and sues us for unrefunded security deposit. We had attempted to reach her but due to the fact that she owed us money and left no forwarding address, we were unable to show her an accounting of how her security deposit was forfeited due to a broken lease etc...I believe we are going to lose on a technicality, for we were suppose to send her a letter to the old address stating were her deposit ended up. My question, if we lose due to this issue should we appeal and counter sue her for the broken lease and the owed PGE/water bills etc?

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Re: Unreturned security deposit by Anonymous on November 9, 2006 @15:39	[ Reply ]
Sure. You should always send a security settlement statement when you keep deposit money. Now you have to countersue her for what she owes you.

Re: Unreturned security deposit

Re: Unreturned security deposit by Lakeman on November 9, 2006 @23:03

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Albeit you'll be on the defensive end, I'd suggest you at least put together a comprehensive chronological history of what transpired with respect to the lease default on the part of the tenant and your actions afterwards.

A "Talk" paper if you will. Not a book but a brief synopsis of events and resulting expenses related to same. It'll refresh your memory and possibly provide some solid details on your behalf when it's your turn to speak and/or offer an explanation/evidence.

Some items may not have been evident within the time frame that you may have been required to send the SD accounting such as utility bills that the ex-tenant is responsible for.
The tenant is probably thinking of a win based on the SD accounting time frame that they learned about months after they screwed you over. Perhaps a bit of truth related to their default and resultant expenses in a counter will set the record straight.

Re: Unreturned security deposit