problems with landlord..sort of..

[quinn]

Here's the story:

My gf was trying to rent out a boat to live on for the school year. She found one and made a verbal agreement (I think, maybe there was a contract) to rent it out for the year. When she got into town to move into the boat, it was in terrible condition. Among other things, there was no hot water or working toilet.. So she and her dad worked on the boat trying to fix it up for a few days (they obviously had no obligation to do this). Then she just decided to go get an apartment. Too bad she had already paid a $200 damage deposit. Her dad called up the landlady and asked for the damage deposit back. She just made up some bullshit about how it wasn't really a damage deposit. Her dad threatened to take them to court, and she hung up on him. He called back later, and she hung up again.

What's the right move? If they go to court, can they get more than $200? How likely is it that they'll get the $200 back?

[phage]

Is you time worth $200...Just seems like an expensive lesson to me.

[quinn]

[ QUOTE ]
Is you time worth $200...Just seems like an expensive lesson to me.

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Not mine, but she makes $9/hour.

[Leo99]

Who would rent an apartment without looking at it first?

[bwana devil]

she broke a lease. the landlord could sue your girlfriend. i would drop it.

[handsome]

I guess the landlady is technically a "sealady." Get it get it??

[PoBoy321]

She could take the landlady to small claims mediation where someone will either help them resolve the problem on their own or refer them to a judge who will basically tell the landlady whether or not she can keep the deposit (it probably depends on the terms of the lease). If the $200 is that big of an issue, I'd look into it.

Most landlord's won't do [censored] for you 'til they hear from a lawyer. My girlfriend had a similar problem earlier this year. They told her Dad too bad we're not doing anything about the various problems with the apt. The day after they heard from a lawyer someone came over and fixed what was wrong.

It's hard to tell if your gf is even in the right here, but if she is a lawyer is the only way she'll ever get her money back.

[ddollevoet]

Do what you want, court, etc.

She did break the lease. I'd bet that she is upside down more than the $200 in the eyes of the law.

[Jimbo]

I can't believe either you, she or her father could possobly think she deserves the $200 back. It is a sign of growing up to take responsiblilty for your own decisions. 200 bucks is a pretty small price to pay for such a useful life lesson.