Re: Refund of Security Deposit before Lease Signed

Re: Refund of Security Deposit before Lease Signed by Garry (Iowa) on June 30, 2015 @17:06

You are correct. The LL cannot keep your deposit, because both of you needed to sign the lease to make it a binding agreement. However, you may have to take her to court to get your money back, because it doesn't sound like she is going to give it back willingly. But, this is your fault, also. You should never have given ANY deposit money on anything before you were approved for the apartment, had a chance to read the lease, and then signed the lease. I take apps, run them, and once I approve of someone, I call them up, and if they are still interested in the property, I ask them to meet me at the property within 24 hours. Then they can look over the lease, ask questions, and if we agree on everything, we both sign the lease, and then they give me their deposit money ( in which they get a receipt for), and the deal is done. They don't pay any rent till they are ready to move in, at which time they get keys for the first months rent.

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Re: Refund of Security Deposit before Lease Signed by P-Bone (NY and OH) on July 1, 2015 @12:26	[ Reply ]

I would reiterate that it doesn't appear any rental binder or similar document was signed. If in fact a "deposit" was given with no apparent rules regarding its use, deposits are meant to be refunded if agreements aren't finalized.

Re: Refund of Security Deposit before Lease Signed by Joel on July 5, 2015 @10:41	[ Reply ]

Good point!

Re: Refund of Security Deposit before Lease Signed - Landlord Forum thread 336800