I'll brief everyone on the situation - ANY AND ALL ADVICE IS MORE THAN WELCOME!!!!
February 2011 - Rented apartment through landlord JEREMY
Apartment when rented had HORRIBLE carpets - cigarette burns, dirty carpets mostly.
October 2011 - JEREMY sold house to new landlord JOHN
John never did a walk through of the house with tenants which is required per the Tenant Rights Guide as follows
“the tenant must thoroughly inspect the apartment with the landlord before moving in and document any pre-existing conditions.”
This new landlord, JOHN never has tenants sign any sort of lease - just a month to month basis HOWEVER kept the security deposit from when house was sold to him by last landlord JEREMY.
December 31, 2011 - moved out of apartment as landlord JOHN wanted to raise rent and lease was broken anyway from change ownership of house.
JOHN states we aren't getting security deposit back because of burns in carpets (when told him we don't smoke) he stated that it could be from ANYTHING. They were there when we moved in last year! BEFORE the house was even sold to him. We are taking him to small claims but ANY HELP or evidence would be GREATLY appreciated.
THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH!!!!!!!!!!!