In 30 years of renting property I have always given the security deposit back, never had any reason not to until now.
Because these tenants had a good previous reference we allowed them to move in with 3 dogs and a cat with no pet deposit. (I have never charged a pet deposit) We even let them move in two days early at no charge, plus numerous other things we did for them which I will not go into.
It was obvious after a few months that they were not the tenants we thought they were. The outside of the house always looked like a junkyard and we constantly had to ask them to cut the lawn. When they finally gave in their notice we were very happy. I went to take photos of the inside of the house to show prospective tenants and the house stunk and was not clean and certainly not in the least tidy. I told them I thought it was a disgrace (big mistake).
They maintain the house and yard is as they found it. They had stored hundreds of gallons of cooking oil in an outside building which is now going to cost $175 to be power washed and de-greased, they removed the blind and air conditioner, put up shelves, the carpets stink and they left the garden in a mess and had burnt something in the middle of the grass and dog poop everywhere. The lease required they pick up the poop everyday. Solar garden lights missing. There are a few other things but what does it matter.
My Husband wants to fight it. I just want to give them their deposit and write them a letter telling them what i think of them as politely as possible. They have bought a house so they do not need us as a reference.
She maintained she was house proud, into everything organic and is a Doctor of something or the other. Amazing that someone who is educated can lie like this and be so dirty .
I would appreciate sensible feedback from people who have experienced this sort of thing.
Thank you Rebecca for your very detailed answer.
I would not dream of charging anyone the highest price and the wear and tear I understand. I even consider all the dog scratch marks on the windowsills as normal wear and tear. We are not greedy, vindictative people, just annoyed at our property and us being treated this way. Have a good weekend and thanks again.
Because these tenants had a good previous reference we allowed them to move in with 3 dogs and a cat with no pet deposit. (I have never charged a pet deposit) We even let them move in two days early at no charge, plus numerous other things we did for them which I will not go into.
It was obvious after a few months that they were not the tenants we thought they were. The outside of the house always looked like a junkyard and we constantly had to ask them to cut the lawn. When they finally gave in their notice we were very happy. I went to take photos of the inside of the house to show prospective tenants and the house stunk and was not clean and certainly not in the least tidy. I told them I thought it was a disgrace (big mistake).
They maintain the house and yard is as they found it. They had stored hundreds of gallons of cooking oil in an outside building which is now going to cost $175 to be power washed and de-greased, they removed the blind and air conditioner, put up shelves, the carpets stink and they left the garden in a mess and had burnt something in the middle of the grass and dog poop everywhere. The lease required they pick up the poop everyday. Solar garden lights missing. There are a few other things but what does it matter.
My Husband wants to fight it. I just want to give them their deposit and write them a letter telling them what i think of them as politely as possible. They have bought a house so they do not need us as a reference.
She maintained she was house proud, into everything organic and is a Doctor of something or the other. Amazing that someone who is educated can lie like this and be so dirty .
I would appreciate sensible feedback from people who have experienced this sort of thing.
Thank you Rebecca for your very detailed answer.
I would not dream of charging anyone the highest price and the wear and tear I understand. I even consider all the dog scratch marks on the windowsills as normal wear and tear. We are not greedy, vindictative people, just annoyed at our property and us being treated this way. Have a good weekend and thanks again.