If you are ready to move and you have already informed your landlord about your decision, then you might be expecting to get your security deposit back in full amount. However, you may be surprised to see when the landlord does not give you the amount you were expecting. How do you deal with these issues?
Your security deposit is the landlord's safety blanket for a number of reasons. As previously reported on Realty Today, the security deposit can function in a lot of ways. In instances wherein the tenant is unable to pay the rent, the landlord can deduct that amount from the security deposit.
Aside from this, the landlord also has the right to deduct repairs and damages incurred by the tenant during his stay in the apartment from the security deposit. If you are looking into getting your security deposit back in full amount, then here are some tips you may want to check out:
Before anything else, it is important that you familiarize yourself with the state laws and policies for tenants and landlords. Doing so will help you become more knowledgeable about what you can and cannot do and what the landlord can take from the security deposit, Money Crashers reported.
According to the publication, after acquainting yourself with the laws and regulations, the next thing you need to do is to document the condition of the apartment before you move anything. This way, you can prove to the landlord that the apartment was already in such a condition prior to your move and if there was already a hole in the wall before that, then you may not be liable for the said damages.
It is also important to clean the apartment before moving out, as the landlord would have to take the cleaning costs from your security deposit, especially if you left it in such a mess. You also need to establish a good relationship with your landlord and make sure that you pay on time so that you can get your security deposit back in full amount.