We're supposed to be moving out today, and I am busting my BUTT to get it done. We paid $850 deposit when we moved in. I talked to the land lord this morning and they said they wouldn't take our rent for this month ($450) out of the deposit because that was for fixing anything we left messed up. Well, I was in the kitchen cleaning it up and I noticed someone in the back yard. It was THEM! They were taking pictures. Now keep in mind, we don'thave to be out until 11:59pm, and we haven't finished cleaning the yards or anything else. Another thing, they are MAD at us for scheduling to have the lights cut off tonight or in the morning. They said we were supposed to leave them on, but we didn't know that, and that now they were going to have to pay to have them turned back on. Also, they are talking about taking the NEW light deposit out of OUR deposit because we are having them cut off. I am worried they're trying to screw us, and I don't know what to do about it.


Any advice??????

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Do you have any rental agreement? when you first moved in? it should be stated on there what they can deduct. Also I would also take pictures of the house, and maybe take a picture of them taking pictures too!

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We buy things we dont need,
with money we dont have,
in order to impress people
we dont like?
(Ramsey, D)

I don't know where you stand legally, but I would be pissed if they were taking photos before you were done moving and cleaning. So you could clean the place until its spotless but they'll have photos of it not being clean? Something does not seem right at all.

I agree with the taking pics thing that was mentioned above and make sure the time and date is on the pics!! (camera thing) Places like to screw with people!! good luck on the move!!

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Kelly mom to 3 great girls A Peanut, a monkey and a little burrito.

This is a private owner... and something just isn't clicking. We are supposed to do a walk through with them, and I think I am going to make THEM sign the back of my pictures I take to show that they AGREE on how the house was left. I have been up a little over 24 hours, so has Dh trying to move (we couldn't get a truck so it's all being moved in our minivan), and Dh had to work at 7am this morning. I don't know WHEN he will be back home. Sometime between now and 5pm. I'm literally think I'm having a nervous break down. I shake and rock back and forth constantly, and I can't eat anything hardly. I just want to run away from this place, somethings NOT right!

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Can you just call the electric company and have them leave the electricity on, but just switch it to the landlords name? They should not be takeing any pics until you are out. Maybe you should take pics right before you leave to show how nice it looks.

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~Happiness is a large family~

Also, keep in mind, these are the same people that:
1. Didn't tell us there was no AC until AFTER we signed the lease and moved in. Took them a week to fix it. (I was pregnant with Stetson, and it was MAY)

2. They wouldn't pay for pest control to come, we had to pay it.

3. They wouldn't fix leaky pipes, just told us where to buy the stuff to do it.

4. They wouldn't fix the tile that came up in the bathroom floor, told us to calk it back down and that didn't work.

5. Wouldn't have anyone fix the heat this winter (even though we had a newborn) and so WE had to buy heaters for the house.

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did they tell you that they were going to be there? B/c if they didn't then that right there them being on the property w/out notice is against the law. I have a feeling that they are trying to screw you by their actions. This has been done to us before. Take as many pics as you can and it wouldn't be a bad idea to take pictures with a film camera so that they can't say that you digitally altered the pics. I hope that they don't screw you.... Best of luck!

We are landlords and this definitly doesnt sound right to me. I would take pics of the yard right before you are leaving for the last time. I would also take pics of something that shows the date, like todays paper. That way you can prove what day you took the pics on also maybe get a pic of something with the time. Also type up something before the walk through saying that they have done it and agree that it is in good condition. We have a law here that if the landlord is going to keep any of your deposit they must give you notice in a certain amount of time, I believe it is 10 days here, if they fail to do that they must give it all back. I would also look into your lease and see what it says about all of this. Another good idea might be to ask someone like a neighbor or friend to do the walk through with you, so that they can witness it, also have them sign the paper. I will tell you that if you seem to know what your rights are they are less likely to screw with you. As for the lights, absolutly I would not do that, If they move someone into that place and dont change the lights over you will be stuck with their bill. This happens all the time and people will take advantage of you.

It does sound like they are trying to screw you. When taking pictures have that days newspaper in the pictures somewhere. Cameras can be adjusted to show different times and dates, newspapers can't.

None of Georgia’s laws on security deposits apply to an individual landlord who is renting 10 or fewer properties. If you are renting from someone who only has one rental house Georgia law regarding security deposits does not apply. The landlord could be liable if he is using a management company to rent the property and. If the Georgia statutes apply to the landlord then when you move into the property the landlord must complete a move-in inspection. The landlord is required to have you sign the move-in inspection. Any problems or defects in the property should be noted and both parties should sign and date the inspection when it is complete. When you move out to landlord is responsible for performing a move out inspection with you present. The landlord must set up a mutually agreed upon time to perform the inspection. If you fail to meet the landlord to perform the inspection, the landlord is allowed to perform the inspection on their own. After performing the inspection, the landlord is required to provide the tenant within 30 days the details of expenses for repairs and cleaning the landlord has sustained. The landlord can not charge you for expenses that are attributable to normal wear and tear.. The landlord cannot charge you for painting the premises if there are a few dirt spots on the walls. The landlord is entitled to deduct the expenses from your security deposit and return the balance to you with an explanation of the expenses deducted. If the landlord fails to follow the Georgia statutes they may be subject to damages in the amount of three times the security deposit. Also you do not have the right to substitute the security deposit for unpaid rent that owed.

Good luck!