9/29    Anyone had any success with taking your ex-landlord to small claims
        court over idiotic move-out deductions from your security deposit?
        Ours deducted such things as $140 for "cleaning windows, inside and
        out" and $300 for "mini blind repair (est.)" (only damage that I know
        of was that *one* blind had the plastic rod that opens/closes the
        louvers snapped off).  Unfortunately, I didn't do a walkthrough or
        take pictures of such minutia as the move-out condition of every mini-
        blind.  Landlord is an asshole, so appealing to his sense of reason and
        fairness won't be any help.  Will I just be wasting my time and getting
        into one big he-said/she-said catfight?
        \_ I'm not an expert, but I'd say that your odds are pretty poor.
           The landlord most likely has documents with notes made during the
           initial walkthru, and similar notes during the exit inspection.
           If you don't have any records or evidence that they're playing
           games with you, then you're basically screwed.  Again, I'm not an
           expert -- So it might be worth your while to check with any
           renter's associations that exist (berkeley has many).  Luck.  -mice
           \_ Actually I think you sould take him to small claims court.
              You have to pay a minor filling fee but relaly, if you have
              a bill as unreasonable as you say it is you should get back
              most of your deposit.  Plus you make the landlord have to spend
              a day going to court.  And, at least in some areas, not sure
              about CA, you get things like tripple damages.  There are a lot
              of landlords abusing deposits and the judges know it.  Hell,
              just threatening the guy with small claims court might get you
              your deposit back.
              \_ tripple? treble?  What are you trying to say?
                 \_ Triple?
        \_ Take this as a lesson.  How to rent: when you move in, *after* you
           have signed a contract with the landlord but *before* you have moved
           your shit in, you take pictures, and give a written description of
           *every* trivial anal rententive mark, gouge, stain, piece of fluff,
           dent, discoloration, drip, water stain, or anything else less than
           brand new.  DO A WALK THROUGH WITH THE LANDLORD WHEN YOU MOVE OUT!
           And you'll also want a pre-moveout walkthrough to give you a chance
           to correct anything before you're gone and the bastard sends you a
           bill.  Death to landlords.   Protect yourself from landlord scum
           and buy a house ASAP.  --ex-renter, happy home owner
           \_ Walkthroughs on entering and leaving an apartment with the
              landlord are SOP here--make sure you also both sign the above-
              mentioned written list of damages.  And bring a friend as a
              witness--even better, if it's a friend who knows what sort of
              damages to look for in apartments.  -John
        \_ Landlords can't charge you for "maintenance" things like washing
           windows--it's not your fault they're dirty.  You're not in great
           shape on mini-blinds and such.  -tom
           \_ Why not?  If you don't clean up the place before you leave,
           they should be able to bill you for that.  When you refer to
           maintenence items I think of items that need replacement, like
           bathroom tiling.  Not dirt removal.
           \_ However you may feel about it, tenants' rights are written as
              Tom describes. Cleaning your apartment is basically a courtesy to
              the landlord and the next tenant. The damage deposit is just
              that, a deposit to cover actual damage. E.g., when my housemate
              has a bad day and kicks a baseball sized whole in the wall near
              the fridge. --ulysses
              \_ Maybe in Berkeley or SF, but not the rest of the state.
        \_ In Berkeley, you can get the Rent Board to come to your appt and
           video tape it before you move in. It's highly recommended.
           \_ How much do they charge for that?
              \_ It's Berkeley... if you have to ask... well, it's free.
                 \_ Tax dollars.  Nothing is truly free, except BSD code maybe.
                    \_ Wasn't BSD code developed in a public university which
                       runs on tax dollars?
                       \_ Hmm, got me there. Ok, nothing is truly free.
                          \_ "property of the Regents of the University
                              of California"...
                              \_ Yermom is free.