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My landlord tried to keep my full deposit for a scratch on the floor
I moved out of my Logan Square apartment last month. The landlord sent a letter saying he was keeping all $1200 of my deposit because of a deep scratch in the hardwood. I took pictures before I left, and the scratch was there when I moved in. I sent him a copy of my move-in checklist with that exact damage noted, plus the new photos. He wrote back three days later and said he would return the money. Has anyone else had to fight for a deposit in Chicago? What's the best way to keep records?
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fisher.thomas4mo ago
Actually, that move-in checklist is your best defense (seriously, it saved you). My old landlord tried something similar in Rogers Park, saying we left a wall dirty. The walk-through video from our first day showed the mark was already there. Always take pictures and video of every little thing when you get the keys.
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williamhenderson4mo ago
That's solid advice. My buddy learned the hard way about not having proof. His landlord kept the whole deposit over a fake grass stain on the patio. The guy even sent a photo, but it was clearly from a different unit with different furniture. Without his own move-in pics, he had to eat the cost.
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quinncoleman4mo ago
Reminds me of a story @williamhenderson told about a landlord who tried to charge for a broken oven that was already on the fritz.
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