I’ve read a lot of stories where landlords try to keep a tenant’s entire security deposit. In a lot of those cases, the tenants fight back to get their well-deserved security deposit, but if a landlord was just trying to keep a small part of your security deposit, would it be worth fighting back?

In this story, one guy thought it was worth the fight. He was even willing to pay additional fees to make sure the landlord had to pay every penny he owed.

The ending is very satisfying.

Let’s read all about it.

Scam me for $80 for “cleaning” on move out? I don’t think so, Jack.

Background:

About 10 years ago my landlord died. Or at least the person who owned the place we were renting. The property managers had been delightful, but whoever inherited wanted to sell, so the house was for sale.

Enter a jerk–we’ll call him Jack–who decides to buy the place.

Now ours was the top floor (ie: attic converted into a suite) of a house, less than 35sq meters (375sq feet). The bathroom was literally where the stairs up to the top floor used to be.

The place was tiny.

They only met Jack for a few seconds.

Jack came to check out the place, as you should before buying a place. He had one of those blue-tooth earpieces in and I can’t even remember if he even acknowledged us.

He spent about 30-45 seconds in our suite.

Next time we hear from him is about a month later, apparently he’d bought the place. He stops by to give us a notice of rent increase, effective in 6 months (legal minimum). From $485 to $795.

The place is not worth that much.

They decided to move.

We say nuts to that and decide to buy a house, since WTH it’s not much more per month (surprise to anyone who’s never bought a house: it _was_ more than just mortgage payments).

We give him all the required notice to move out.

We move, and clean the place up really well.

Mind you, when my partner moved in it was not especially clean (and we happen to have the move in inspection which mentions this).

Not cool!

Jack decides to try to scam us for $80 of our damage deposit for ‘cleaning.’ He doesn’t provide the required forms, just says, “I’m going to hold $80 from your damage deposit for cleaning.”

We respond with: Um, no. You’re not.

Jack (assuming we need the cash for our next damage deposit or bills and will settle for anything): Take this or I’m going to keep your whole deposit.

It gets worse.

Cue Revenge:

So he decides to just keep the whole deposit ($485).

I file paperwork with the rentalsman: who unsurprisingly, after their investigation, rule in my favour. He’s ordered to refund the whole deposit.

But Jack decides, not to pay. And the rentalsman doesn’t have any enforcement powers.

This is getting expensive!

So I have to go to the local sheriffs office. They can send a legal demand letter for the deposit + costs. But it will cost me $100-150 (I forget) up front.

Sure go ahead.

Jack decides to ignore the sheriff’s kindly letter.

Sheriffs say that they can start proceedings to recover the debt + costs, but I again have to pay up-front: about $250, and it might take quite a while.

OP was not backing down.

I guess most people quit at this point. Being out of pocket ~$700, throwing more money at the problem and maybe having to wait months didn’t appeal to them. And there’s also a chance you never collect.

I chose to pay the sheriffs.

They sent another, less friendly letter to Jack. But here’s the best part: now that they’re recovering a debt, they’re going to recover on ALL of the outstanding judgements against him. And apparently he has tried this before.

They send him another couple letters: pay up or else.

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Let’s see who wins in the end.

Jack chose else.

Then they seize title to Jack’s giant white SUV (I can’t remember what it was, but not a cheap one). They didn’t physically take it away or anything, but they gave him 30 days to pay all the judgements against him or they would take it and sell it at auction.

Somehow he all of a sudden found the money.

My share: $485+$150+$250=$885. The other people who’d registered judgements, but not paid to start the collections processes were about $5,000 more. I can’t remember how long the whole process took, at least 6 months though.

I’m glad OP didn’t back down. He got all his money back, plus Jack had to pay everyone else he owned. Fantastic!

Let’s see how Reddit responded.

This person calls OP a hero.

Another person makes a good point.

Australia has a much better way of handling security deposits.

This person doesn’t think the landlord learned his lesson.

A system that makes you pay upfront to send a letter to get your money back when the law is clearly on your side seems messed up. I’m sure most people give up even if they’re in the right.

I’m glad he didn’t give up. He helped himself and the other people the landlord stole from.