return security deposit - Landlord Forum thread 359910

return security deposit by John on November 1, 2019 @12:33

Our tenant has vacated, but now he is demanding the security deposit be returned in exchange for returning the keys.

"When your at the house i will be there. Im waiting in ny till you give me my deposit and i will give you your keys"

They've been OK tenants for several years, so we really don't want to end it on an ugly note, but we can't seem to make him understand we're not doing things his way.

What are our options? I am all for calling the police if he comes to the door, or telling him to stop "harassing" or "stalking" us, but my wife wants to get legal advice before acting. We are re-keying the door this afternoon.

Thanks!

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Re: return security deposit by Garry on November 1, 2019 @13:51	[ Reply ]

You said the T has vacated, I assume, as of today, or yesterday. When you go to rekey the locks, take a witness and a camera with you, Take pics of all rooms, cupboards, closets, garage, stove, refrig, etc. Also of any damage the T left you. Once you rekey, there is no need for him to return the "old" keys. If most all his daily, personal items are gone (food in refrig and cupboards, clothes in closets, etc) then, YES, he has vacated. Now you can start cleaning, repairing, etc, to get the place ready to rent again. You could then call him up, and tell him what you have done, that you no longer need his keys, and that he will receive in the mail within 30 days, a statement about how you have used his security deposit. If he starts to argue with you, simply hang up. If he does ever come to your door, yes, you can call the police. Send the sec. deposit statement by both regular and certified mail to his new address. If he did not give you his new address, send it to his last known address, which is your rental property. If you end up returning a portion of his deposit back, send that check in the certified letter, so he HAS to pick it up to get his check. If that cert letter never gets picked up, it should return to you in about a month. If you get it back, keep it UNopened till he contacts you about it.

Re: return security deposit by Brendan on November 2, 2019 @13:11	[ Reply ]

Why won't you give them their deposit? State law?