Let’s face it: Moving is expensive. There’s the broker’s fee, first month’s rent and last month’s rent. Plus, you will need to rent a van and/or pay movers. And you’ll probably be buying some new furniture.
The list builds up fast. The silver lining in the painful and costly process of moving in NYC is that you usually get your security deposit back from your old place, which can then be used to finance your new place. Getting your security deposit back is sort of like finding a thousand bucks in the back pocket of a pair of old jeans, except that instead of blowing it on something fun, you will most likely have to put it toward your next lease.
This delicate transition of shuffling funds from one security deposit to the next, however, gets thrown off if and when your landlord withholds your security deposit. While you may like to think that getting your security deposit back means exchanging your keys for a nice, big check, that’s rarely how it works. While some landlords are accommodating and return the security deposit in a fair and timely manner, others do not. Many landlords will ding you for damages that exceed normal wear and tear and retain parts of the security deposit on those grounds, while others may simply withhold it without reason.
Both situations are incredibly frustrating and can put you up against a wall if you’re on a tight budget. In truth, there is little you can do to prevent your landlord from withholding your security deposit without reason. But there are measures you can take to prevent your landlord from claiming you left your apartment in a state that exceeds normal wear and tear. Here are some tips.
So you’ve got photos to support you, but what if your landlord claims that the damages you’ve done exceed normal wear and tear and withholds some of your security deposit? What does “normal wear and tear” even mean?
The term is subject to interpretation, but the general rule of thumb is that normal wear and tear includes natural deterioration resulting from typical use over time. It does not cover major things you broke or problems arising from the fact that you ignored an issue that got worse over time. Here’s what counts as normal wear and tear and actual damage.
Damage means broken things in the apartment:
Your landlord does not legally have to give you the chance to fix damage, even if you are present during the final walk-through. But if you arrange for it to take place before you hand over the keys, nicer landlords may be willing to negotiate.
In all cases you should thoroughly clean your apartment before vacating. That means more than just a sweep of the floors and a squirt of Fantastic on the fridge. Think about the state of the apartment when you moved in and the state in which you hope to find your next apartment. You want it clean and sparkly, right? As best you can, try to leave your current place that way. Sure, we hear you, moving is a busy and stressful time and the last thing you want to do after a long day of moving is hang out in your empty apartment cleaning it up for the next guy. But three hours of thorough cleaning can save you unwarranted dings on your security deposit that could translate to hundreds of dollars of withholdings. Landlords can be ruthless. If you don’t have the time or energy, consider hiring a cleaning service. The $100 you invest could save you a lot in the long run.
[This post has been updated and republished.]
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