Landlord wanting to sue

[silverbullet15]

Help. I am currently in a situation with my old landlord. I am from Ks. My girlfriend and i had signed a lease and we paid the 450$ deposit and did everything as stated. When moving out, our LL did not want to give our deposit back. Before getting into details i had a heated conversation over the whole ordeal and i decided it was not worth it and ended it there. A couple weeks later i get a letter to pay for expenses that they accrued cleaning the place up or they will take me to court. Several charges were on there. We took pictures after moving out because i was leary of what they might do. I want to know first off, why are they taking me to court.... just me and not both me and my girlfriend??? We both signed the lease. Mistake number one on their part? Also, we cleaned the place, it was just as clean if not better than before we moved in. ( we have pictures. ) I just do not see how this could go through court. It angers me becuase i dont want to have to get a lawyer and end up paying him and court costs to win this case.

When 2 tenants sign a lease, both are jointly and severally liable for the obligations. This means that either or both of you can be pursued for any obligation under the lease. The LL does not have to go after both of you. He can choose to go after only one - usually the one with a job or better credit.

What charges were on the statement? What did he deduct and why? You should write him a challenge letter debating each item he listed on his statement. Tell him why you shouldn't owe for that charge or why it shouldn't be that amount. Detail your arguments with estimates if needed. Send it to him by certified mail, return receipt requested, keeping a copy. In the letter, you should ask he contact you within 10 days. If he fails to respoind, you can file against him in small claims court.

[silverbullet15]

Thank you very much for the reply. This case is already headed to small claims. I appealed it already. Some charges were on there, such as cleaning the stove, 15$ which we did. Cleaning carpets in each room, 30$ which we did. Cleaning toilets and tubs 50$, which we did. Replacing locks and a deadbolt, 100$, which we gave the keys back the day we moved out. i left a waterbed in the garage, they charged me 50$ for removing it..... which to this day is still there. I work with the current tenant that stays there now. All of this are lies.. i have pics. None if this adds up and am just confused at how they could possibly get this money from me.

When you cleaned the stove, did you remeber to clean under the stove top? (We often forget to clean those!) Were therer stains on the carpets, or do you have any receipts from the carpet cleaner you used? Cancelled check to him? Did you take pics of those things being clean when you left?

He can charge you to haul away the bed. Sooner or later, it has to be removed. It can't just sit in the garage forever. At some point, he's going to have to pay to have it removed to the dump. You are responsible for the fee to do this.

But for now, gather your photos and receipts to show that you did clean these things, and don't miss that court date. Good luck.