Michael    |    Hoboken    ,    New Jersey 07030    Landlord Complaint 23-9030

Subject - Rent Deposit Deduction Problem Rent Location : 39-10B Dobrin Court, Fair Lawn, NJ 07410 Prior Renter : Harry Kim : 100 Rinaldi Blvd, Poughkeepsie, NY 12601 Landload : Michael Elfant : 901 Madison St Apt6, Hoboken, NJ 07030 Deposit amount : $2,362.50 8/19/17 - moved out & took video evidence 8/26/17 - returned keys & gave him our new address (when he was painting the interior walls) 10/3/17 12:10am - Requested the landlord about rent deposit money return via text message 10/3/17 8:45 am - He replied back with his explanation of rent deposit deduction via text message. He sent following message: “Hi Mr. Kim. We were assessing damages and getting quotes from handymen and cleaners prior to sending your deposit. We had to change the lock to the back door as you left it damaged as well as fix the ripped net on the storm door, that cost $350. We also had to replace other damaged doors and knobs as well as electrical sockets that were damaged around the unit. That cost $250. The shower door was broken, that cost $125 to fix. We had to do a deep clean around the sink and the bathroom as you neglected to clean the hard water deposits over time. That cost $225. Your total deduction is $950.00. There were several other issues that I determined to be normal wear and tear that were questionable as I delivered the apartment to you in satisfactory condition. Not to mention that we went through an expensive renovation a couple of years back that I believe you neglected to maintain. Furthermore you did not allow me to market the unit during your last couple of weeks there and that clearly fails to uphold our lease agreement. You will be receiving your initial deposit + interest of $2407.29 minus $950 for damages listed above which is a total of $1,457.29. We will be sending it today. Thank you and good luck.” Regarding the back door knob & screen net cost of $350, this apartment was built in 1965, and backdoor knob was already rusty and door knob was not firm but loose. But landlord claimed that we have damaged the doorknob. Also, the ripped net was already so old and rusty. Also, the weather condition such as storm made the net in worse condition. Landlord never took care of the net. Regarding the doors and sockets inside the house cost of $250, I don’t think it make any sense that as a tenant, we have damaged the doors and sockets, if the doors were new and landlord took well care about this old apartment. Which means, he never replaced the old doors and sockets ever since we moved. And he blamed us for such damages. Regarding the shower doors cost of $125, he forced a renovation in the bathroom during 9/25/14-9/29/14, when water was leaking to the downstairs apartment due to old condition of the bathroom. After a recent bathroom renovation(9/29/14), the shower door frame kept falling out and it almost fell off constantly when we took showers. How can the shower door repeatedly pop out and readily fall out so easily when we had a bathroom construction recently? Construction it was a sham with little money. I don\\\'t understand this item costs $225. why would he polish all taps that we already cleaned with our rent deposit? . To wrap up, as a landlord, he has to maintain and not imperil a tenant’s health, especially when house is old and many parts are falling apart such as the door knobs, doors, sockets, etc. It is the landlord’s responsibility to keep the unit livable, not deducting the tenant\\\'s deposit money and using that money to fix old parts in house.