Submitted by Brilliant-Sun-563 t3_116vo4i in newjersey
Original Post here: https://www.reddit.com/r/newjersey/comments/zr23us/nj_landlord_returned_partial_security_deposit/
TLDR for the original post - Landlord returned a partial security deposit ($750 out of $2250) after 75 days and I have disagreements over some of the deductions.
The itemized deductions were
- fixing nail holes & repainting walls - $300
- apartment cleaning, cleaning gas stove - $350
- disassembling the couch which we left - $250
- pro-rating the new tenants for 1 week because it took a week to fix the above issues and the new tenants asked for a rent reduction for 1 week - $550
I sent a certified letter to the landlord saying I disagreed with the charges and demanded the entire security deposit to be returned or I would sue him in small claims for 2x the deposit amount as he was supposed to return it within 30 days.
He asked if I am willing to discuss it over a call to reach a solution. On the call, we still had disagreements. We didn't reach a conclusion and said he will send a check. He sent a check for $750 saying he is willing to relieve the apartment cleaning, clean the gas stove, and pay for 50% of the disassembling of the couch & new tenant's pro-ration.
So I know that as per 46:8-21.1, the landlord is supposed to return the deposit within 30 days, or else the tenant can sue for 2x the amount. But if I go to court, I have a couple of questions regarding which law takes precedence.
Our lease had a holdover clause stating "If the tenant remains in possession of the Apartment with landlord's permission after lease expiry, a month-to-month tenancy shall be created between Landlord and Tenants". The lease was ending on the 31st of the month at 11.59 pm but with the landlord's permission, we vacated the apartment on the 1st morning at 9 am (9 hours late). The landlord claims that because we were occupying the apartment on the morning of the 1st and left the couch in the apartment (why we left is explained in OG post), he was concerned the new tenants would ask for their deposit back leaving the apartment empty making me responsible for even more rent. However, the new tenants agreed to move their move-in date ahead by 1 week (but still occupying the apartment). So, they were pro-rated for 1 week, so he is charging me for that 1 week only.
If I end up going to court, I have the following questions:
-
- The 46:8-21.1 states that owner-occupied apartments are exempt from this law but it doesn't state what the timeline is for security deposit return for the landlord. Is there any clarification?
- Can the landlord claim the whole month of rent since technically, I violated the lease agreements by vacating 9 hours after the lease ended converting it into a month-to-month lease even though the new tenants were charged for the rest of the month?
- I left a couch behind and the landlord claims it took him a week to dismantle and discard it, hence the new tenants were pro-rated for 1 week. Does this take precedence over his failure to provide itemized deductions within 30 days making him liable for 2x the deposit? (he sent it to me after 75 days).
- He is charging us for 7 days of rent but he didn't inform us that when I handed over the keys, does that allow him to charge for 7 days of rent? If he is charging, does that mean I should have been in possession of the apartment and the new lenants were technically living illegally?
- Since he failed to send itemized deductions within 30 days, can he still claim for all the above expenses if he somehow proves that they were valid?
Training-Basket2058 t1_j9986om wrote
I’ll get back to you tomorrow but look up landlord tenant law and truth in renting that you should have received when you signed your lease