How long does Landlord have to return Security Deposit
Full Question:
I was given a 30-day notice to move from my apartment on October 1 with no reason given. I moved out and returned the premises to the owner on November 1. By November 30, I still had not received my security deposit back. I called the owner asking where it was and left my forwarding address on their answering machine. On December 1 a message was left on my voice mail at work that I was not getting any deposit back for unspecified damages. The owner stated that I had not left a forwarding address, but I would be getting a "letter" shortly. One item she stated was that there was gum all over the carpet. The apartment was completely cleaned by me and there was no gum. I still have not received the purported "letter." I took photos of the apartment after I thoroughly cleaned it. Are they in violations of the security deposit laws? Can I ask for triple the amount of the security deposit?
12/10/2007 |
Category: Landlord Ten... ยป Security Dep... |
State: Montana |
#13643
Answer:
The following are MT statutes:
70-25-202. List of damages and refund -- delivery to departing tenant.
(1) Every landlord, within 30 days subsequent to the termination of a tenancy or within 30 days subsequent to a surrender and acceptance of the leasehold premises, whichever occurs first, shall provide the departing tenant with a written list of any rent due and any damage and cleaning charges, brought after the provisions of 70-25-201 have been followed, with regard to the leasehold premises that the landlord alleges are the responsibility of the tenant. Delivery of the list must be accompanied by payment of the difference, if any, between the security deposit and the permitted charges set forth in 70-25-201. Delivery must be accomplished by mailing the list and refund to the new address provided by the tenant or, if a new address is not provided, to the tenant's last-known address.
(2) If after inspection there are no damages to the premises, no cleaning required, and no rent unpaid and if the tenant can demonstrate that no utilities are unpaid by the tenant, the landlord shall return the security deposit within 10 days by mailing it to the new address provided by the tenant or, if a new address is not provided, to the tenant's last-known address.
(3) It is not a wrongful withholding of security deposit funds if the landlord mails the funds to the last-known address of a tenant who has departed and the tenant does not receive the funds because the tenant has not given the landlord the tenant's new address, but the landlord remains liable to the tenant for the amount due the tenant.
70-25-203. Failure to provide list -- forfeiture of deduction rights.
Any landlord who fails to provide the departing tenant with a written list of damage and cleaning charges as required by 70-25-202 shall forfeit all rights to withhold any portion of the security deposit for the damages or cleaning charges.
70-25-204. Wrongful withholding of security deposit -- action.
(1) A person who wrongfully withholds a residential property security deposit or any portion of the deposit is liable in damages to the tenant in a civil action for an amount equal to the sum determined to have been wrongfully withheld or deducted. The attorney fees may be awarded the prevailing party at the discretion of the court. The burden of proof of damages caused by the tenant to the leasehold premises is on the landlord.
(2) An action may not be maintained by a tenant for any amount wrongfully withheld or deducted prior to:
(a) the tenant's receipt from the landlord or the landlord's agent of a written denial of the sum alleged to be wrongfully detained;
(b) the expiration of a 30-day period after the termination of a tenancy;
(c) the expiration of a 30-day period after surrender and acceptance of the leasehold premises; or
(d) the expiration of a 10-day period after the landlord has indicated there were no damages to the premises, no cleaning was required, no rent was unpaid, and no utilities were unpaid by the tenant.