How to Tips: Getting Back the Rental Deposit on a Apartment/House

House or apartment rentals require a deposit and those deposits can be hefty. Most deposits are not returned but if you follow these tips, you might get a lot of the deposit back. I was at one time a manager of an apartment complex and I would give tenants a list of things they should do before moving in and things they should do before moving out. These tips will benefit anyone but more for the cash strapped college student.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

1. Label a file folder apartment papers and keep this in a safe place, or scan the papers and make a computer file for these papers.

2. Before signing the lease, ask if the manager/landlord if they have a move sheet and move out sheet.
   The sheet should have a list of what is in each and every room including walls, carpet, window blinds, windows, cabinets, refrigerator, cook stove, sinks, bathtub, flooring, hot water tank, dishwasher, washer and dryer if provided, air conditioner (or window unit). The list should have things listed that don’t belong to you but comes with the apartment. If such a list is provided, write on this list the condition of each item listed. Before returning this list to the manager, make a copy and keep in file with a copy of the lease. If there are problems with the condition of the apartment or house, bring this to the attention of the manager and ask for these problems to be fixed, if not, then you have a list of what the problems or damages are and you will not be charged for these. Another good idea if a check in list is not provided, make a video that is time stamped and keep it or take pictures that have a timed stamped feature on the camera. If the manager/landlord doesn’t have these, then make your own and give a copy to the manager/landlord. This is a way to protect yourself and make sure you put the date on ALL forms.

3. The move out sheet should list what type of things that need to be done to recoup all or most of the deposit. The list should have the following: clean carpet, wash non-carpeted flooring, clean inside and outside of refrigerator, clean cook stove top and oven (a lot of people won’t clean the oven), clean sinks in both the kitchen and bathroom, clean bathtub, wash windows inside and outside (impossible to clean outside windows if no access available), wash blinds, clean out cabinets and wash shelves, repair nail holes in walls, paint if you have time and ask the landlord/manager what brand they use. Repair any damages that you can. If the landlord/manager has to paint or repair damages, that will come out of the deposit which means you may not get the deposit back.

4. After signing the lease, make a copy of the lease before returning to the manager/landlord. Don’t ask the manager/landlord to do this because they may not do it. Protect yourself by doing it yourself.