We moved out of Ohio over 4 months ago, finally got an apartment up here in North Dakota. Our prior landlord has had our new address the entire time. Now, as soon as we're about to move into this new apartment(tomorrow), signed a lease, paid deposit, a moving truck & everything, we are told by our new landlord that our prior landlord in Ohio is all of a sudden saying we owe almost $800 in damages. We never had a notice or anything, now our new landlord is acting like it has to be all cleared up when we didn't do the things our prior landlord is accusing us of. They kept our $200 deposit(because we didn't give them a 30 day notice, it was like 22 days notice) & the only things we agreed to doing was leaving a trash bag there, not "scrubbing" the oven & fridge, a shelf in the fridge came loose & so did the toilet paper holder. We didn't want the maintenance man to come into our apartment & tighten the toilet paper holder & fridge shelf though cause he was a registered sex offender & there were rumors saying he was putting cameras in people's apartments(right before we moved out he got fired for being caught going into women's apartments go figure). Can we be charged $1,000 for these minor wear & tear things? I know we weren't able to give him exactly 30 days notice, but according to Ohio law, the landlord was required within 30 days to give us an itemized list of damages/expenses but we haven't heard anything til now. Is that list completely null merely because we didn't give a 30 day notice? I'd highly appreciate it if someone could assist me! Thanks!
Update:No, he DIDN'T give us the listing within 30 days, he's giving it to us over 4 months later, that's what I'm saying. Read please!
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Just tell your new landlord that you disagree with the prior landlord, and it may have to be settled in court. That in fact you think he owes you money. Just stay calm and indignant. Don't go off into details about sex perverts, you might scare him.
Then, ask if he's going to let you move in or not. That's all that really matters here. Then, obviously, don't use the previous landlord as a reference anymore lol!
I bet he lets you move in. Obviously, you looked like a good risk when he checked you out. I doubt he wants to lose more rent by looking for someone else.
Edit_ I did read. What I am saying is that the law says he must itemize deductions from your deposit. These charges are not deductions because they are not coming out of your deposit.
If you didn't give notice, you are responsible to pay rent for 30 days from the date you gave notice. you're lucky he is only charging you $200 for that and not a full months rent.
Leaving trash and not cleaning out the oven/fridge is NOT normal wear and tear. The LL isn't your cleaning service. Fridge and TP holders coming lose is Not normal wear and tear, either.
If you just got a new place after for months, how is he supposed to give you notice. Where is he going to send the notice?
In the end, he can legitimately charge you for the things you have listed. He doesn't have to give you an itemized list of deductions for the other things because they weren't deducted from your Security Deposit. He is seeking damages in excess of the $200 security deposit. he has apparently filed in court for the damages. If you feel he is unfairly charging you, go fight it in court, but I do not think you will prevail from what I've heard.
Did you properly provide your new address to the landlord ? If not, he is only required to send a list of 'damages' to your last known address and such address is his property. You did not provide the required notice to vacate, and you are VERY lucky that he is only asking $200. He could legally demand another full month's rent You didn't clean the oven and fridge ? LOL...you are also responsible for those cleaning costs.
I'd suggest that you shut your yap and take what is offered. You could legally be sued for FAR more.
i don't comprehend Ohio regulation (I stay in England), yet 22 days sounds like a lifelike volume of time on your landlord to place an itemised record of damages mutually. additionally, it kind of feels extremely unreasonable to can charge for the refrigerator shelf and the lavatory roll holder for the reason that they are upkeep subjects, as you state.
Did you do a final walk through of the place before you left? Did you receive a signed copy? If you didn't, that HUGE mistake opened you up to this. If he gave you this listing within the 30 days....now it is your job to PROVE you left the place in good condition. Since he waited 4 months, he is SOL.
regardless of damages you did or did not do, the fact is 22 days does not cut it for notice. you essentially gave 52 days notice then. you owe another months rent plus the damages. FYI, you don't get to make up your own laws.
If he didn't send itemized list in 30 day, he has no claim. Send him certified letter stating as such. You may have to contest in court.