Secure your next rental deposit

This tenant requested a full deposit.

Moving away from home for first time and into your own place is exciting. But when it comes time to move like a lot of college student do, they often feel ripped off when they won’t be seeing any or little of their $300-$500 security deposit. Managers may say the deposit was kept for cleaning and damages that were made, and that’s where most tenants give up, and receive nothing even if they feel like they should have got something.

There is a way to receive a full security deposit or at least most of it. Before you rent, be sure to check the apartment complex’s policies and check with the manager of what the security deposit covers. Usually it covers cleaning and damages. Joni Kelsey, manager of Oak Vale apartments in Corvallis, said “we are usually generous with giving back deposits,” and claimed most fees are from “unclean window frames and tracks that often can accumulate moisture and cause mold.”

If you decide to rent be sure to do a walkthrough before moving in and write down any previous damages done to the apartment so management can keep record of it. Also take pictures of every room for your own records. If you missed anything or something breaks within your first couple days, then tell management so you are not held responsible.

After you’re all settled in be sure to place work orders with management for any problem that arises and keep a copy of the work order for your records. Try not to attach heavy object such as bookshelves or ceiling plants, as these can cause large holes that you might not be able to patch yourself. Also stay up on utility bills or management is entitled to take out some deposit to cover expenses left unpaid.

When you are ready to move out, give a 30-day notice. If you do not give notice that you are leaving, you will lose the entire deposit. Once all your belongings are out of the unit be sure to note all damages caused by you and ask management how much will be taken out for repairs. But if your pad is just as good or better then when you moved in, you should expect your full deposit. Lastly take pictures of every room again so if your deposit is gone for some fabricated reason, then you got evidence to back yourself up and for last resort, something to show if it goes to small claims court.