Shouldn’t be a issue since landlords never lie to keep deposits right?
In Germany, it is possible to ‘‘make a deposit’’ with the bank, so the landlord gets only the confirmation (Bürgschaft). Furthermore, it is also a thing to pay that deposit in rates (installments), not to burden the new tennant immediatelly.
I think it works a lot like insurance: you pay a smidge every month, but you also get no money back at the end, so… not really a deposit. However, it does satisfy the landlord and the deposit is legally provided, so… to give up one or two coffee’s every month (for a couple of years) is worth it at the rough beginnings.
For comparisson, you pay some 20 € monthly instead of 3500 € on hands of the landlord. You are moving, you are already burdened with the costs and expenses, so instead of having a financial blow on top of all the misery, you simply walk into the bank, make ‘‘Bürgschaft’’ (depost confirmation), agree to pay 20 € monthly, beginning from next month… and you exhale. It is a practical guarantee that the bank wil cover your deposit.
You give that ‘‘Bürgschaft’’ (deposit confirmation) to your landlord and all is good. If your landlord later, turns out to be an a…hole, he has to claim the deposit with the bank. If you contest landlords claims (bank will 100% contact you in that case), then it is a direct war between him/her and the bank… and good luck with that. To you it is all the same anyway, as you pay (paid) monthly installment (rate).
If there are no disputes and you are moving out earlier, then you can simply cancel the ‘‘Bürgschaft’’ contract (based on canceled rent agreement) and you don’t have to pay anymore.
The downside is - no money back.
It is not really a hype thing here, but I’ve done it and it worked OK; (no disputes though).
Wait, this ISN’T how it works where you live?
Where I live (in Victoria, Australia), the bond is held in trust by the residential tenancies bond authority. At the end of the lease the landlord can try make a claim, but you can take them to VCAT (a small claims tribunal) to argue against it, and until either all parties agree, or the court orders it, the bond doesn’t get paid out to anyone.
Our laws are far from good, and still favour owners too much, but damn. Just trusting them to pay you out of their own pocket?
In my state they have to give you an itemized statement of damages and/or return your deposit within 30 days or you’re entitled to tripple the amount.
What state is that??
In Norway your deposit is payed into a special account in your name and both parties have to agree to it’s release or settle in court. If the landlord takes some for repairs to abnormal damage (can’t charge for “normal wear and tear”) they have to provide proof that they used it for that (receipts etc).
In Canada your landlord is required to pay back your deposit with interest, so if you gave them a $1000 deposit and stayed for 10 years and interest is at 5% they would be giving you back about $1600.
Very few actually do this and most of the time interest is so low nobody bothers to fight for it.
Better yet, don’t allow corporations to own residential properties at all. Only allow individuals to own two residential properties. Make renting residential property a crime like human trafficking, because that’s what it is. Let hedge funds speculate on commercial and industrial real estate. #RentIsTheft
It’s a requirement in Australia for it to be paid to the government bond agency. Typical method of paying it is a cheque payable only to the bond authority. Once you hand back the keys at the end of the lease you can apply directly to the bond agency for it to be refunded to you and the landlord needs to formally object to claim any of the bond.
That sounds like a way more reasonable system! As far as I’m aware it’s not super common here (Netherlands) for landlords to not pay back the deposit but it is entirely in their hands :(
Well, still plenty of dogdy landlords who take advantage of people who don’t know about that requirement and either take it for themselves or push renters towards “resolving disputes between themselves” and not involving the bond authority at end of lease time.
Ah yes… Lords of land… The greatest of leeches.
In NZ if the bond is not lodged with the tenancy tribunal within a couple of weeks, the LL is in serious trouble.
Meanwhile in America, my old ll tried to tell me I couldn’t have my deposit back because “it’s summer and the bank is on vacation”
It’s different in my region.
Landlords have been challenged to show when and why they withold deposits. It’s not guaranteed but when brought to the board the tenant often wins unless the landlord can present a good case.
Then again, we only rent from companies for a reason.
Why more? Why add an extra layers, more complexity? Why not just ban deposits? The rental contract already covers damages caused by tenants. And it’s not like you pay a €2000 deposit, cause €10.000 worth of damage and not have to pay the additional €8000.
Maybe in the past, with cash payments and paper records. Deposits added a layer or security. But does that still hold true today? I’m sure landlords will disagree.
If the landlord believes the tenant left the property in a damaged state, they can enforce the contract. Upside is that it’s not worth it to sue for trivial shit like nail holes or greasy stove vacuums. Now the tenants are always on the backfoot, spending money to get their own money back.
This is actually how it works in some places in Canada. It’s a very effective system.
Check unclaimed funds with states you’ve lived in. No shit. I did it last year and found like 1500 bucks just in deposits past landlords said I didn’t deserve. The landlords might be shady but their accountants aren’t.
Check your local laws and ordinances, your landlords may be required to provide itemized expenses to you within a certain time frame. Where I am, it’s within 30 days.
I mean apartments should be run by the state but baby steps I guess
