Transferring to a diff apt building in complex. Give advice pls

[Vandole]

I'm pretty much being targeted in my townhouse. My electricity meter has been stolen once, my motorcycle was stolen in august, and now my laptop is gone. The complex is going to let me transfer to a building on the other side of the complex in hopes that it ends. They won't really let me out of my lease, so this is the only option. Tentatively I'll be transferring buildings next weekend.

Do you guys have any advise on making sure I get to keep my deposit so that I don't have to pay any extra fees? My game plan now: I'm going to clean my apartment from bottom to top within the next few days and pack up most of my stuff. Then once we've moved everything out, clean again and spray lysol everywhere.

The complex is renovating these townhouses right when people move out, does this give me any leeway on keeping my deposit? The second I'm out of here, they are replacing the oven, fridge, dishwasher, and putting down hardwood floors. The appliances I have now are at least ten years old in here. So it's going to make them money to fix up this place and charge a higher price. They prettttty much want me to do this, anyway.

So yeah, tl;dr time: I'm transferring buildings, give me advise to keep my deposit and make this a smooth transfer.

[Koul]

It probably varies from place to place but at mine, the deposit counts towards both of your apartments. I switched from a studio to a one-bedroom and they said when I completely move out of the complex, depending on the quality of both apartments, they'll deduct or give me back my deposit.

if they're renovating em it might not matter. Not too sure.

[Stumblingdrunk]

No one help until he spells advice correctly

[SephYuyX]

Doesnt matter.
If the owner likes you, he'll give the deposit back. If he doesnt, he'll find a reason to keep it.

Why are you even wanting it back when youre just going to turn around and give it right back to him? Funny money/business transaction so it's on the up and up? If he's allowing you to transfer w/o the lease breaking, i'm willing to bet he'll give you the deposit, just because he'll be getting it right back.

[Tokitoki]

Fill any holes in the wall and paint/mold door frames that may have gotten chipped. This usually occurs with those over-the-door hooks that people use. Can use a putty or wood glue depending on where it is chipped.

If you ran any cables (ethernet, coax/fiber, telephone) either check with the landlord/maintenance to see if they'd like it to stay or remove it yourself and patch the holes if they are large. Most holes made from cable staplers can be painted over.

Clean out the cabinets with actual cleaner. I had this disgusting sticky rice stuff in all of my cabinets when I moved in. I would suggest running some Drano down the shower drain as well just to be sure. If they are replacing the flooring with wood I wouldn't worry too much about mopping, but you can run it over with a Swiffer or something if you have one.

Remove any decals/stickers/whatever from doors and walls. I know wall decals are popular for filling space now, but you notice them even if you try to paint over them. Take down/throw out shower curtains and general removal of all garbage.

Landlords have tried to charge us for ridiculous things when moving out of field offices as well. Fill holes, touch up anything chipped/broken, clean out corners and cabinets. A white toothpaste can also be used as a makeshift filler material. Dries hard and looks like Spackle.

[Grieverbk]

Who the fuck steals a utility meter?

Anyway...
Make sure you get an updated copy of the lease agreement with any modifications initialled by both yourself and the landlord.
Also, since you're just transferring within the complex, why would your damage deposit not transfer with you to the new unit?

Or are you more wondering what you have to do in terms of cleaning the place up to ensure that you do not forfeit your deposit?
As you mentioned, it sounds like they're going to reno the place soon as you leave anyway, i'd probably just talk with them as to what the expectation is if they're just going to come in and gut/reno the place right away.
Just make sure you get any agreements or changes in writing/noted on your lease agreement, gotta cover your ass on everything these days.

[Lucavi]

Sounds like you were a dick to the wrong person, Dole. Maybe if you had just let me run that AK, Dole, none of this would have happened, Dole. Why, Dole? Why?

[Vandole]

Maybe if you had just let me run that AK, Dole, none of this would have happened, Dole. Why, Dole? Why?

IF ONLY YOU WERE CAPABLE

Who the fuck steals a utility meter?

could be a crackhead wanting a small smudge of copper.

Why are you even wanting it back when youre just going to turn around and give it right back to him? Funny money/business transaction so it's on the up and up? If he's allowing you to transfer w/o the lease breaking, i'm willing to bet he'll give you the deposit, just because he'll be getting it right back.

makes sense, but I was just automatically assuming the worst.

[Grieverbk]

IF ONLY YOU WERE CAPABLE

Sick burn.

[Ksandra]

Before you waste your time ask them what their procedure is. Majority of my apts that I've lived in, it's standard that they hire a cleaning company after someone leaves no matter how much you cleaned it. And they charge you for it.

Obvious things like holes n' such you should do regardless, but things like getting a rug doctor or w/e might be a waste of time for you if someone is just going to do it again.

You should just also ask them what their deposit policy is on switching homes. Most will already have a set thing they do as that isn't actually all that uncommon. The deposit is probably going to just get carried over.


Ultimately, though, don't expect it back. If you ever do move elsewhere, the best advice I can say is find a complex that is giving one of those "$100" deposit deals. If you weren't like super smart about taking photos of EVERYTHING when you moved in and then when you moved out, it's a bitch and a half to take them to small claims to recoup the money. Landlords know this, and most will use the money to do upgrades, respackle, etc.

[edit] even after moving, I honestly would invest in some sort of security camera for the outside area. Either it's happening because the robber has easy access into the home and figures "well I haven't been caught yet!" Or you specifically pissed off someone. If it's the latter, it probably won't take long for them to figure out where you are.

[tyven]

good to know people not liking you isn't limited to the internet.

[Tokitoki]

I had a longish post typed up again, but lost it hitting backspace somehow. Follow Ksandra's lead on pictures, but don't let them charge you for a cleaning service. Your deposit is for damages you caused to the space; cleaning is their own problem and they more than make up the money in the rent they earn from the next tenant or earned during your use of the space.

Check for some of these too when looking at a new place: heat works, A/C units working/filters cleaned, piping under sinks not rotting/corroding, dryer exhaust cleaned out (causes fires and should be cleaned once a year), hot water working, check several outlets per room (spaced 12ft from each other in newer construction).

That's all I can think of for now. It's all stuff I've had to check setting up new offices.

[Ddz]

It's the law in WA that you have to handle the deposits on different units separately. Do not have them transfer your deposit. Get your deposit back for the unit you're in now, and then re-submit the new deposit on the new unit.

And I agree, a cleaning fee should be separate from the deposit.

[Laugana]

I rented a house for 5 years. Out of our deposit, charges were made to clean the carpets and the oven. We had painted over marks on the walls with matching paint, cleaned the bath, the toilet and the kitchen as thoroughly as we could. There was still some mold around the edge of the bath but the agency said that was expected so no charge for that.

When you move into the new flat, make sure you take pictures of anything suspect or just in general so nothing will bite you in the ass later.

[Vandole]

Do not have them transfer your deposit. Get your deposit back for the unit you're in now, and then re-submit the new deposit on the new unit.

And I agree, a cleaning fee should be separate from the deposit.

That's a train of thought I'm really considering exploring.

This thread is helping me so much so far. Keep the advise coming, imo.

BTW, a friend that is a mover is offering to move my shit for me for $60. Is that a good deal?

When you move into the new flat, make sure you take pictures of anything suspect or just in general so nothing will bite you in the ass later.

That's definitely going to be happening this time around.


Luckily the secretaries at my complex REALLY like me, so they are going to be sticking their neck out for me to have the transfer fee waived entirely.

[Grieverbk]

cleaning is their own problem and they more than make up the money in the rent they earn from the next tenant or earned during your use of the space.

This entirely depends on what you agreed to on your lease, it can vary from landlord to landlord.
I've been in places where the cleaning was something they took care of after the fact, but i've also lived in places where you're expected to clean before leaving, or you can opt to have them hire a cleaning crew and they will deduct the charge from your deposit.

[Ddz]

Do you not have rental insurance, Dole? If you don't, buy a policy. It's like $8/mo. Document all damages upon moving in. EVERYTHING.

[Tokitoki]

BTW, a friend that is a mover is offering to move my shit for me for $60. Is that a good deal?

Depends on how many hours it would take and how much stuff you have to move. Is anything heavy? Will it take more than a U Haul truck to get over to the new place? $60 sounds like a good deal. You'd be surprised how quick a mover or two will make an otherwise long move go.

[Vandole]

Do you not have rental insurance, Dole? If you don't, buy a policy. It's like $8/mo. Document all damages upon moving in. EVERYTHING.

I do indeed have renters insurance. My current plan is $18 a month. $250 deductible for property damage from weather/broken pipes/electrical fire and other shit but $500 for theft.

Is anything heavy? Will it take more than a U Haul truck to get over to the new place? $60 sounds like a good deal. You'd be surprised how quick a mover or two will make an otherwise long move go.

When I originally moved we had a uhaul, but that was because we wanted to put it all in one unit and get it done. It was mostly myself and some football player I hired to help me out with it. Everything can fit into a truck, so we just have to transport it ot the other side of the complex and have it lug it a short distance. Idk about other people, but I'm fit enough to just be willing to walk it the entire distance. But thankfully i'll have someone's pickup. The worst thing will be getting my dresser and bed downstairs. I'm in a townhouse.

[Tokitoki]

This entirely depends on what you agreed to on your lease, it can vary from landlord to landlord.
I've been in places where the cleaning was something they took care of after the fact, but i've also lived in places where you're expected to clean before leaving, or you can opt to have them hire a cleaning crew and they will deduct the charge from your deposit.

True. Normally leases are pretty boiler plate and include a "broom clean" line in there somewhere. You're generally expected to clean any space you rent. I have never seen anything in a lease regarding paying for a professional service despite some of them trying to deduct it from a deposit we have given them.

If it isn't in the lease, don't pay it.