Broken tenant/landlord rental agreement

By Tanishadk

We gave our landlord 30 days notice that we were going to be vacating the home we were renting from them.  They sent us a letter saying we were great renters and they were sad to see us go.  So we have moved out 95% of our things and have cleaned 90% of the house and have 4 more days to be out of the house and have the cleaning done.  So three days ago my landlord texted me and said she wanted to show the house to a potential renter that night, I asked if I could go and clean up a few things so it would look nicer for them and she said don’t worry about it, they knew we were moving out.  I said I’d really like to do a few things and she said that they were already there.  We had all of 15 minutes notice that they were going to be there instead of the 24 hours notice stated in the rental agreement and by landlord/tenant law in Montana.  Then the next day she gave me 4 hours notice they were going to show the place.  I went over and cleaned a few more things and picked up a bit for her.  We had the carpets cleaned tonight and are doing are final clean up tomorrow morning.  Well my husband drove by the house and noticed the lights were on and there were vehicles in the driveway.  When he drove by on his way back, the lights were off and they were gone.  He called and asked her if she was there and she said yes.  He asked why she didn’t give us 24 hours notice and she said it was her "damn" place and she didn’t need to give us notice.  She became very rude (which she has always been super nice and polite the last year we’ve been there).  My husband reminded her that it was law and in our agreement that we were to be given 24 hours notice and she asserted again that it was her house and she can do what ever she wants, when she wants.  So complained that the the garage hadn’t been cleaned and the floors needed cleaned in the living room.  My husband reminded her that we were not done cleaning yet and would be tomorrow.  She threw a fit and was swearing at my husband and complained that we had turned the power and electricity over to their names two days ago and we told her we were more than willing to pay for those two days and that the water bill was turned over to her name and we owed money on it.  We also said we realize that and we obviously are responsible for that money.  She also did not supply us with a statement as to the condition of the house when we moved in like is required and I found that by MT state law "if the landlord does not provide such a statement, the landlord may not keep any part of the tenant’s security deposit for damages when the tenant moves out…".  We have mudded the nail holes for hanging pictures and have even touched up with paint those spots minus a few that we are going to do tomorrow.  It makes it hard to want to finish and put more effort into the house if she is just keeping the deposit like she said she is going to do.  She has no right especially after entering the house 3 times in 4 days without 24 hours notice and also by not properly supplying us with the statement of condition.  She also told me husband that she wanted us out tomorrow morning.  Well we have paid through the 1st so how can she say we have to be out sooner?  We did nothing wrong and the play looks great for not being completely cleaned yet.  We just don’t understand what her deal is and why she is being so hostile after a year of being nothing but nice.  Any advice on where to go from here if she keeps our deposit?

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Holy Cow, we couldn't find any other related post. Sorry. :(