Re: No deposit - Landlord Forum thread 356473

Re: No deposit by Garry (Iowa) on March 17, 2018 @14:12

Your story was TOO short. DID they paint the inside of the house ?? If they did, they have a security deposit established with you. What were the terms you originally agreed upon? And how much in damages and unpaid rent did they leave you? Why and how were the tenants evicted, and what were the costs involved in evicting them? In short, we need more info.

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Re: No deposit by Frank (California) on March 17, 2018 @14:28	[ Reply ]

They did paint the inside. It was agreed that instead of the tenants putting up money for a security deposit they could paint the inside. We paid for the paint. It was never discussed that there would be some form of money returned if they moved or were evicted. We don't know if any damage has occurred because they have not moved out yet. They wanted to use the "deposit" as the last months rent. The tenants were evicted through a property manager. There is some unpaid back rent and that was one of the reasons for the eviction.

Re: No deposit by Frank (California) on March 17, 2018 @14:30	[ Reply ]

They wanted the inside painted because they didn't like the color.

Re: No deposit by Garry (Iowa) on March 17, 2018 @22:20	[ Reply ]

Your ex-tenant is right, and you are wrong. His labor has some value to it, no matter what the normal security deposit would be for the place. For instance, lets say he painted the living rm, dining rm, 3 bedrooms, and a hallway. You both could have decided that that labor was worth $600, and you would credit him $600 as his deposit, even though no money was given to you. The reason that the T did not like the original colors does not matter. It's the fact that he did labor for you without getting ANYTHING in return. It's no different than if he was renting from you for 6 months paying $600 per month rent, and you both made the same agreement at that time, but it was for the RENT, not the deposit. He would have painted the same rooms, and you would have credited him as paying you $600 in rent, EXCEPT, you would have gotten NO cash, just the labor. That doesn't mean he gets it back. It means YOU must show him having a "deposit" of $600, AND you will need to show any unpaid rents, any damages, and any costs involved in evicting him, as costs taken out of his "deposit". You really need to establish "SOME" amount as a "deposit" before he decides to take you to court, and have a judge establish an amount-----which you may not like.

Re: No deposit by Frank (California) on March 18, 2018 @11:12	[ Reply ]

That's what I thought originally but I just wasn't sure. Thank you for the information.

Re: No deposit