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From: tbul@trsvax
Newsgroups: net.legal
Subject: Help! $7 apt. deposit back
Message-ID: <66200003@trsvax>
Date: Wed, 21-Aug-85 10:17:00 EDT
Article-I.D.: trsvax.66200003
Posted: Wed Aug 21 10:17:00 1985
Date-Received: Fri, 30-Aug-85 10:05:22 EDT
Lines: 48
Nf-ID: #N:trsvax:66200003:000:2444
Nf-From: trsvax!tbul    Aug 21 09:17:00 1985


This is the situation:

When I moved into my apt about 5 years ago, I paid $175 security deposit
(half month's rent).  Recently, I moved out and got back $7.  They charged
me 14 hours of work @$12/hour for a total of $168.  The problem is that I
thoroughly cleaned the apt myself.  On the day of the move, after we had
finished moving the stuff, I vacuumed in front of my friends.  They charged
me for vacuuming.  They charged me for cleaning the ceilings (stucco type
ceiling!) and the walls when they should have been painted (I filled in all
holes).  They charged me for cleaning the stove burner plates even though
they were not installed on the burners (I never used them and just re-installed
them before I left), washing and waxing the upstairs bathroom floor even though
the floor was faulty (epoxy never dried when they put in new floor tile).

They violated the lease by sending me my deposit past the 30 days after I
surrendered (turned in my keys) (it was only about 5 days late).

In any case, if they do not reimburse for all but 2 hours of labor (some
things I did not clean, like under the fridge and wasn't that thorough with
the light fixtures) I am taking them to court.

Questions:

A few questions come to mind:  I would like to picket outside the complex.
From my limited knowledge, I know that only the person wronged can picket,
not my friends etc.  I would put on the sign some things like "I won't live
here again", "$12/hr cleaning fee takes U to cleaners", "You won't get full
security deposit back" - something the cleaner admitted to me even though
the lease says otherwise.  Is this type of picketing legal to do?

Has anyone gone to small claims court?  What lessons were learned?  Would
you do it again?  What does it cost?

I know it won't be easy to prove that I cleaned the apt, but I do have some
people that did see it just before moving (after most of it was cleaned by
me).  I am quite sure that I can win, at least I can get back more than
$7.

Any suggestions?

By the way, the place is Richland Chateau, Richland Hills Tx (part of Fort
Worth, TX).  Rent on the apt is up to $465 + utilities but my security
deposit was never increased (it is probably is still half month's rent).
............................................................................

"Find an aim in life before you run out of ammunition." - Arnold Glasow
Thomas Bulkowski  allegra!convex!ctvax!trsvax!tbul  Fort Worth, Texas