Question
who do you call when the LandLord refuse give back money you put down on apartment.?
On june 12,2009 i payed $500.00 to the landlord daughter to rent a apartment. The apartment was nice. Rent $650.00+25.00 for my pet dog. The $500.00 was a down payment until i move in on Aug 1,2009. All together they were asking for at move in time was $875.00+$500.00=1375. But on June 16,2009 i change my mind, because after i got off work at 6:00am on the 16 of june. I want back to the apartment to make sure this is what i really wanted to rent. I want to the end of the apartment building and behind the building was a shed I saw 3 boy behind the shed getting high(Doing Drugs). And i looked up at the apartment windows about 3 was broken out. So right away i said no this is not some place i want to rent. I called the daughter back to let her know that i change my mind. She tells me the money is nonrefundable. We don't do any paper work, no lease agreement sthe $500.00 was nonrefundable. And she don't say it with her mouth that the money is nonrefundable. I called her dad and talked with him he says the money is nonrefundable. I called the daughter back again she stop answering her phone. I called the dad back he stop answering the phone. So finally he called me back and he tells me stop harrssing them. He said if i don't he is going to call the police. I want to the police station to explain what had happen. The lady officer tell me that i have to take him to court. I ask the lady officer can she just call her and talk with her. She called the daughter and the daughter got smart with her on the phone. I ask her what did the daughter say. She said that is her problem, she is not getting anything back. Now the dad is calling me and trying to send me some papers about what is in the lease. But remember that i don't get any papers up front. Now he is trying to say that he gave me papers about the nonrefundable money. I need some help with this one. $500.00 is to much to just let it go. He had some bad reviews on the internet. I don't know that until after i gave her the $500.00. Hoping someone can help me out. Mary R. May God you I know some words are not spell right, but I am still upset about what happen. I have not been to sleep yet from tuesday. Trying to get help from somebody and somewhere. But it was only 4 days when i change my mind about moving in. So i done ask her to keep $50.00 of the money. Or if she wanted to keep $100.00 that would have been find. Talking about 25.00 per day. Not $500.00 for 4days of waiting. People sometimes move in a apartment in the middle of the month like the 15 of the month and they only pay for half the months rent. I have the paper work for the $500.00. But that is all I have, she don't write on the paper work that the money that i am giving is nonrefundable. That's is why i want my $500.00 back or $400.00 of it. But the way her and her dad it talk and laughing like they is trying to get over on me. All of the reviews on the internet was about people not getting back there deposit money back at the end of the lease time. It was not about the apartment only about the deposit money the land lord is not paying them back. Read all of the question first. And read the detail too. I have the receipt for the $500.00 i gave her. But like i said ,on the receipt it don't say that the money i gave her was not nonrefundable. Every place i have move to and left i got back all of the deposit money or part of it. Yes i do have a receipt for the $500.00.
6 months ago - 15 answers
Best Answer
Chosen by Asker
If you truly have no paperwork at all that was signed or read before giving him your $500 I don't see there is any contract, only an "understood" issue. If it were me, I would look up my states "leasing laws" and write a professional sounding letter to the guy something like this. Dear so and so, I am prepared to contact the above agencies to report your unlawful keeping of $500 intended for deposit. Since no leasing took place and since no contract was signed, you are by law required to return my funds.(you don't have to prove this upfront) I would also add, " I am also prepared to contact the IRS to report your accepting funds without legal contracts". No one likes to hear about being reported to the IRS. A lawyer will probably cost you more than your deposit, so a well written letter might work. I would also give him 7 to 10 days to refund you. Hope this helps
by PamJ
6 months ago
Asker's Rating: 
Other Answers
get an lawyer
by Pieter-Jon- 6 months ago
why is that question so long? go to small claims court.
by David Z- 6 months ago
Get a lawyer if you didn't sign anything, why would you give her money? She can claim she never got it or it was for any number of things. Most deposits on anything are non refundable.
by The Wife- 6 months ago
Take them to court !
by Leslie- 6 months ago
if you didn't sign anything then they have to give you the deposit back...the deposit is part of the agreement....some landlords in certain states must disclose all nonrefundable fees in writing before you give them the money...and you have to sign! Some states may enforce the "non-refundable" deposit but most will not. I suggest you go to small claims court...if you do need to speak with the daughter or the dad do so in e-mail or send a letter and keep a copy do you have proof that you gave them $500? do you have any kind of proof that it was for a deposit? check your state's laws on renting as well I agree with PamJ! write a formal letter to them!
by jayjay- 6 months ago
Get an attorney - which will probably cost you more than the $500.00 you lost. Either that or try Small Claims Court. You should have totally inspected the place when you first saw it. You agreed to move in - you gave them $500.00 of your money - then you deccide not to move in and expect your money back? I don't think you have a case.
by kwflamingo- 6 months ago
Sorry hun but being stupid doesn't come for free, you have to pay for the privilege and it's cost you $500 bucks! You don't EVER give people money without a receipt explaining what it's for and all terms of the agreement in writing with both parties signing it! It is widely known that if you give someone money to hold something for you, you don't get it back just because you changed your mind, you need to be SURE it's what you want BEFORE you give the money! This is a lesson you'll not soon forget! Chalk it off to a learning experience and move on, it will cost you more than $500 to go after it!
by iiidontknowdoyou- 6 months ago
This a civil matter not criminal, as such, small claims court is your only option
by goz1111- 6 months ago
I'm sorry, but you honestly acted really foolishly about this whole thing! 1.) Why were you dealing with the landlord's daughter instead of directly with the landlord? 2.) How did you not notice 3 broken out windows when you looked at the apartment? 3.) Why on EARTH did you give someone $500 with no written agreement????? 4.) If you suspected the boys were using drugs, you should have called the police on their illegal activity, not complained to the landlord's daughter. All you can do is go to court, but I DOUBT you'll get anything back. It will cost more than the $500 to take them to court and you probably won't even win. Maybe someone from the Better Business Bureau can help you.
by Kiss the Irish- 6 months ago
Call the local Legal Aid Society. They will help you for free. This is your best option. Also complain at once to the local Better Business Bureau. You can ask them for advice as well , though they usually aren't too much help. Also call your local newspaper, which may have some sort of Help Line. Many papers do; if so, they will help you for free. Alternatively, you can file suit without a lawyer in your local Small Claims Court. Go down to the courthouse and ask anyone for instructions on doing this. You should be directed to the proper place.
by Husker41- 6 months ago
You are most likely out of luck. You spent $500.00 to learn that you never just hand over money to anybody without getting a receipt. You don't really have any proof that you gave them anything. Almost all lease or rental agreements come with a "no refund" clause. Next time inspect the premises first--that includes checking out the whole building and the neighborhood. Always ask for a copy of the lease and read all of it before you sign or pay anything up front. You can try to continue to fight for this money but legal fees might end up costing you more than it is worth. I am sorry this happened to you. Learn from your mistakes and good luck with finding a place.
by Kat- 6 months ago
Your only recourse is small claims, but honestly your odds of winning are slim, and you will owe the landlord the legal costs. You had an agreement and she stopped looking for a renter as she promised the rental to you. She is legally entitled to 1 months rent as you broke the agreement, which is 650, not 500. She does not have to write non-refundable, as it is legally non-refundable, to make it refundable would be against the norm and need to be in writing. After the small claims court I would expect you to owe her $150 for the unpaid rent and whatever her costs of going to court with you are.
by Landlord- 6 months ago
Nobody. You do not get that back. When you agree to take a place and back out, you lose any deposit paid. The receipt does not have to say it is nonrefundable. This is covered by general law. Just because you go it back before does not mean anything. It is legal for them to keep it. It does not matter how many days passed. I understand you are upset, but they have not legally done anything wrong.
by Wildcat- 6 months ago
Pam Js' answer is the best plan of attack thus far, in the natural. Take this in conversation before The Lord. Ask for His help. You need to pray BLESSINGS on these individuals, and mean it, once your done with this letter thing, you need to repent to God, and forgive them. You should to this immediately, but it sounds like your having an issue of letting go yet. Read, and study your Bible, all the answers are in there. It's not your "human" owners manual for nothing!!!
by Jeff M- 6 months ago