Leasing office NOT returning security deposit - Landlord Forum thread 351730

Leasing office NOT returning security deposit by Siri (Pennsylvania) on April 19, 2017 @15:21

Moved in to a rented townhouse on November 2013. Vacated the property in September 2016. Paid security deposit of $850. Never was late paying rent during our stay. Informed leasing office two months prior to vacating the property. Also sent a letter along with last months rent.

Leasing office never walked through with us before vacating the property. Got feedback from the maintenance guys and was told that everything is OK. Online reviews mentioned that these people never pay the deposit back.

One month after we moved out, called the leasing office for update on security deposit and was told that we wont get anything back. We were never given any letter or break down for the expense or damage (as they claim).

Finally got hold of the lady and she says there are bugs, we never had bugs we moved all our stuff to the new home. Inspection report is dated 3 months after we vacated the property.
She mentioned that there were stains on the carpet. After carpet cleaning one small stain (size of a penny) was left. Every thing else is very clean and spotless.

Reached out to the leasing office again in March to see whether I have any update. Front desk lady said she will forward my message, but never got a call back.
What should I do. Its 6 months and we never received any information by mail or by phone. My new address was updated by phone immediately after we moved out. Likewise leasing office had mine and my husbands pone numbers as well.

Few conversations I had the lady was very rude and disrespectful.

Please suggest

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Re: Leasing office NOT returning security deposit by Nicole (PA) on April 19, 2017 @15:29	[ Reply ]

you lose your deposit. you needed to give your forwarding address, IN WRITING, to them. also walk throughs are not required. how did you inform them ... a letter with the last month's rent isn't sufficient.... it needed to be with the prior month to give 30 days notice... some leases require 60 days. Verbal, like address updating, doesn't count. knowing your phone numbers doesn't matter either.

Re: Leasing office NOT returning security deposit by AnonymousFL on April 19, 2017 @16:01	[ Reply ]

Siri is correct. If you did not provide a forwarding address, they are not required to return the deposit. I think it is an unethical business practice and a poor law for PA to have on their books, but they would be within their legal right. Section 250.512e of the PA Landlord and Tenant Act of 1951 says: Failure of the tenant to provide the landlord with his new address in writing upon termination of the lease or upon surrender and acceptance of the leasehold premises shall relieve the landlord from any liability under this section. But, if you did provide a forwarding address in writing and can provide proof, then they would be required to return your entire deposit as they did not send you an itemized list of damages within 30 days.