My landlord tried to keep my full deposit for a scratch on the floor

I moved out of my Logan Square apartment last month. The landlord sent a letter saying he was keeping all $1200 of my deposit because of a deep scratch in the hardwood. I took pictures before I left, and the scratch was there when I moved in. I sent him a copy of my move-in checklist with that exact damage noted, plus the new photos. He wrote back three days later and said he would return the money. Has anyone else had to fight for a deposit in Chicago? What's the best way to keep records?

3 comments

3 Comments

fisher.thomas4d ago

Actually, that move-in checklist is your best defense (seriously, it saved you). My old landlord tried something similar in Rogers Park, saying we left a wall dirty. The walk-through video from our first day showed the mark was already there. Always take pictures and video of every little thing when you get the keys.

williamhenderson4d ago

That's solid advice. My buddy learned the hard way about not having proof. His landlord kept the whole deposit over a fake grass stain on the patio. The guy even sent a photo, but it was clearly from a different unit with different furniture. Without his own move-in pics, he had to eat the cost.

quinncoleman4d ago

Reminds me of a story @williamhenderson told about a landlord who tried to charge for a broken oven that was already on the fritz.