"damages" to apartment, WTH?!
I would be so appreciative if anyone has any advice or thoughts on how to handle this, since it seems to be that there are a few things going wrong here and I'm in a bit of a panic over what to do.
I moved apartments on July 31st, and I received a letter postmarked August 18th, saying I owed the apartment complex $200 in unspecified damages. The letter states that I have until August 27th to pay them the money, or it will be sent to a collection agency for delinquency. What with all the changing my address stuff and general start-of-the-semester BS, I only got to checking my postbox today, so now I pretty much have tomorrow to pay it, or my credit score gets a beating. >:(>:(>:(
Is there anyone I can speak to about this? I don't know what to do because no matter what action I want to take, I pretty much only have tomorrow to do it. I haven't even had a chance to speak to the property office yet so I will see if I can get more time to pay it, and also find out what the fucking damages even are. The only thing I can think of is that I didn't paint the walls back to white as required in the lease. BUT, I went into the property office to ask what the charges for this were, and an employee told me it would be $10 a wall ($40) which I was ok with. Unfortunately, the guy doesn't work there anymore.
(1) Shouldn't they state in the letter what the damages actually are?
(2) Can they really send me a letter giving me only 9 days to come up with $200?? I moved out on July 31st and they waited til August 18th to mail it!
(3) Is there any way I can have a hold put on them giving it to a collection agency while I try to dispute/resolve it? Or should I let it go to the Agency and then fix it afterwards on my credit report?
That complex leases by the bedroom, and so any damages in the kitchen/lounge etc should have been billed both to me and my ex-roommate, but as far as I'm aware she received nothing. So either they billed me for the whole apartment, or I have $200's worth just in a bedroom and bathroom!.
Thanks in advance people, I could really use your help!
Re: "damages" to apartment, WTH?!
$200 seems fairly standard to me for "damages" to an apartment. The guy who told you $10 a wall was either ignorant or just didn't care, I've never heard of an apartment that needed repainting only being charged that.
And it's likely they charge you for the paint/labor, and also a penalty fee, since many leases state in it that the walls must be painted back to white.
Your best bet would be to dig out your lease, and see what language it uses about damages. It will most likely outline the penalty fees, requirements, minimum timeframes, etc.
Re: "damages" to apartment, WTH?!
Do you still have your rental agreement/contract?
Re: "damages" to apartment, WTH?!
Re: "damages" to apartment, WTH?!
I do still have my lease contract, and I am in South Carolina.
I heard from a friend just a second ago who also just left there, who told me she also received a bill for $200, and when she asked about it they told her it was to cover the cost of re-painting her bedroom walls back to white. In my lease it does state that we will be charged for the costs of re-painting and my walls WERE bright pink when I moved out, so I guess I can't really contest the costs. (But $200, who the hell painted it, Jesus?!)
The thing that's getting me is the 9-day notice to come up with $200. I looked all over the web and I can't find a definite answer, but shouldn't they have to give 30-days notice at least?
Re: "damages" to apartment, WTH?!
Did you have a security deposit? If so, you should be able to have any damages deducted from it. You should also pull out your original rental agreement, and have them fax an itemized bill over to you (or mail, whatever). Read over both of them, and then you can move on with either disputing it, having it deducted from a security deposit, or contesting it altogether.
If you call up your old apartment manager, make sure to be sweet as pie. I ended up having an entire bill for damages dismissed because I just sorta laid out my case, and mentioned how I thought the security deposit would take care of things.... The manager ended up dismissing $200 of the bill and let the security deposit cover the rest.
Re: "damages" to apartment, WTH?!
Usually the landlord pays for the wear & tear to a rental. Things like painting, carpet cleaning, carpet replacement, holes in the walls from hanging pictures - are up to the landlord. Your original Rental Agreement should state the condition the rental should be left upon vacating, the instances which are chargeable upon moving out, the as well as the timeframe in which they are due.
A Security Deposit is usually required before moving in. In case there are things that require repair/replacement, the landlord can deduct those charges from there.
Move-In/Move-Out Inspections are always a good idea - that way both you & the rental agent can walk through and sign off on what damages were already there (or not). You should insist on one for every place you rent. That way they can't pull charges outta thin air.
It isn't uncommon for landlords to charge $200 (or more) for simple shit like repainting 1 wall. Sure, paint only cost $30, but they use the Security Deposit as leverage (or in your case, by threatening your credit score). To avoid this hassle in the future, be sure to leave the rental in the condition it was in (or better) when you rented it.
As for now, I would go to their office, meet with the person in charge, and calmly discuss the situation. Offer to repaint the room (in a timely manner) - yourself. See what they say. Maybe that's all that's necessary to get them off your back. If I were the landlord, I'd just want it in rentable (is that a word?!) condition to make money INSTEAD of wasting my time trying to collect money from someone who isn't able to pay.
If they've already painted the room and are now trying to recoup funds, tell them you don't get paid for 3 wks (new job) and offer to pay them the full (or agreed upon) amount then. Be clear that you're willing to work with them, be sure to get it in writing and make sure you pay it on time.
Good Luck :)
Re: "damages" to apartment, WTH?!
To be completely honest, painting over bright pink walls is a bitch to do. A couple of coats of white won't do it, the pink just keeps bleeding through, so it very likely would take several days and about 6 coats, so I can see $200 being reasonable.
Re: "damages" to apartment, WTH?!
Quote:
Originally Posted by
kandie_kitten
To be completely honest, painting over bright pink walls is a bitch to do. A couple of coats of white won't do it, the pink just keeps bleeding through, so it very likely would take several days and about 6 coats, so I can see $200 being reasonable.
:( you just made me realize my paint scheme for my office might not be the best plan. I wanted that bitch bright!
Re: "damages" to apartment, WTH?!
I always ask for a list of the damages so I can be sure I'm not being scammed. I do agree, bright pink walls are a bitch to cover and with the paint most places use it takes alot..
Re: "damages" to apartment, WTH?!
Didn't you get a copy of the lease when you first signed it?
Even if you didn't paint the walls a color, landlords sometimes do charge tenants painting costs, or paint "touch-ups," depending on the agreement and the condition of the walls. When I moved out, I paid about 75% of the painting costs, as was specified in my lease for the time I had stayed there. It was around $100, I covered about 70. Although, I didn't paint aside from my own "touch-ups" upon vacating.
Painters generally cost $10 PER HOUR, not per wall. A wall per hour is pretty damn fast, even if they were only doing one coat. The man you originally spoke with was probably confused or misspoke.
The only time frame I know is placed on landlords for the costs is to present an itemized list of what the tenant needs to pay within 3 weeks of the lease termination along with the remainder of the deposit money, if there was a deposit. If he/she doesn't, or tenant gets to keep the entire deposit, if there was one.
I would, however, check on the required time frame for you to pay it, 9 days does seem a little odd. I think if anything, you should be held to the same standards as the landlord: 3 weeks.
Re: "damages" to apartment, WTH?!
If you left the walls bright pink and they have a no-paint clause in the lease, you really have no choice but to pay the bill. You can ask for an itemized list of the charges, and I would do that.
When you pay the bill, make sure you get a receipt from the leasing office stating the amount paid, what it's for, AND that this completes the contract!!!
Re: "damages" to apartment, WTH?!
I'm a photographer for dancers, and also a real estate pro.
In PA, I have to give you a detailed itemization on the costs incurred. I also have a security deposit equal to one month's rent, to cover most things...most of my tenants get money back
Up here, $200 is the basic charge for one room, two coats (pink takes about four coats...it's a bitch of a color). Alot of my tenants paint back to white themselves before they leave...but BE CAREFUL. Ruin my carpet and it's about $2Grand.
Re: "damages" to apartment, WTH?!
It's also common practice for leasing companies to charge everyone a standard fee for "cleaning and minor repairs". The last place I moved out of, I left it spic and span, in BETTER shape than I'd found it, and the fuckers still charged me $150. They held the money out of my deposit.
Re: "damages" to apartment, WTH?!
Quote:
Originally Posted by
kandie_kitten
To be completely honest, painting over bright pink walls is a bitch to do. A couple of coats of white won't do it, the pink just keeps bleeding through, so it very likely would take several days and about 6 coats, so I can see $200 being reasonable.
^^^This.
I was going to say "to paint over bright pink walls... this seems pertty reasonable to me."
2 coats primer + 2 coats of paint IF they buy high-quality stuff.
Re: "damages" to apartment, WTH?!
Charging a cleaning fee for a clean apt is wrong
also illegal here.
If you do a "reasonable and courteous" job of cleaning, even if I want it cleaner, that's not your problem. It's on me to hire someone and pay for it.