Getting back security?

My brother and his wife just moved out of their old apartment--their LL was a jerk from day one, but I digress...

They did a walk through with him today and he said he is not giving any money back to them because the carpet needed to be shampooed and then he said the paint was peeling in the bathroom and he said it was "because you do not leave the door open when taking a shower to let the steam out".

FOR REAL?! They told him it was because there was no exhaust fan in the bathroom and no, they do not keep a bathroom door open when someone showers!!!!!!!!!!!

They are going to pursue this in small claims court--wouldn;t those be considered "normal wear and tear" anyways?

Anyways--how to pursue in Small claims court? This is in east hampton town---do they file there or is it thru Suffolk County?

and their lease, honestly says, the dates they moved in, the dates they move out and their signature--no condition of the place, etc...

Re: Getting back security?

I believe you go thru small claims in suffolk

Hopefully they took pictures of what damages the landlord is claiming to show as proof in court

I can't see them losing because like you said there weren't any conditions to how the apartment needed to be left

I know sometimes it takes 30-60 days to process the security deposit back

Re: Getting back security?

That is insane.

It should be normal wear & tear.

I don't know where you'd file, but they should do it.

Carpet cleaning/holes in walls/fresh paint....that's all stuff the landlord should take care of.