If this Apartment complex tries to say you owe them money when you move out (especially RIDICULOUS AMOUNTS like over $1000). ALWAYS ALWAYS ALWAYS "Fight" with an apartment complex on what they tell you that you owe in "damages"
ALWAYS!!!!!!!!!!

DO Everything in Writing. DO NOT rely on "Well, I talked to so and so in the Office" THEY WILL LIE, LIE, LIE THROUGH THEIR TEETH.

VERY IMPORTANT to SEND VIA CERTIFIED MAIL ALL CORRESPONDENCE.

YOU MUST HAVE *PROOF* you are disputing what they say you owe. To do so, you *MUST* send a Letter VIA CERTIFIED/RETURN RECEIPT MAIL (if you don't know what that is---ask a Post Person to help you---when I lived in Athens, there was a Post office at the bottom of the Tate Center..not sure if it's still there...but go to any one---
SAVE EVERYTHING you send them (including the Receipts from the Post office, etc), copies of the Letters, etc.

TYPE THE LETTER, make it PROFESSIONAL, not pissy or whiny. State your case. State you are counter claiming and if need be will have Legal Representation act on your behalf.

I'm PRETTY SURE as part of our counter claim---you can have another contractor "bid" on fixing what they say you owe--to have a "fair" price---if indeed something is damaged.

When you move (all furniture is out, take pictures of the place--YES, note even the "bad stuff"---so you have proof how "bad" it really is.

If possible, do a WALK Through WITH A Representative of the Complex when you turn in your keys.

If wear and tear looks "normal"-- any lawyer would take your case. As a matter of FACT---I know a Lawyer (Graduated from UGA---that would LOVE to have a Class Action Lawsuit against this COMPLEX).

I lived there back in the 1990'---and they are NOTORIOUS for this (as are most complexes in Athens as they take advantage of Students who do not realize YOU HAVE RIGHTS!!!

Sue the HECK OUT OF THEM.

Charging $1000 in damages as someone posted on here is INSANE!!! This USURY It's PAR for the course for them to try to rip off students that don't know any better.

They feel like they can take advantage of "Dumb students"----TRUST ME---(unless you are a COMPLETE SLOB--and tore the $hit out of the place---EVEN IF you have "Damage Claims"--it's NEXT TO IMPOSSIBLE to have more than $200-$300 TOTAL---(and that's if you have Holes in the Walls--Doors ripped off the Cabinets, the Doors are missing, etc....

You have to do some SERIOUS damage to go over $500 (much less $1000---it's IMPOSSIBLE to do $1000 worth of Damage in a 1000 sq. ft apartment.....You'd have to be a GHETTO GUTTER RAT---living in your own FILTH--to even approach that.....

DO NOT give these people "Damages Money" (ESPECIALLY if you provide a Deposit up front).

I can PROMISE YOU--there are STUDENT LAWYERS right across Campus-that would LOVE to help you create a Small Claims Action and Teach you how to do it!!!! (pay 'em $15/hr to coach you). *OR* Hire a Lawyer Pro Bono --if you can get a class action going (ie. know enough of your friends this has happened to).


IMPORTANT LINKS:
Landlord/Tenant Handbook: http://www.dca.state.ga.us/housing/HousingDevelopment/programs/downloads/landlord/contents.html



Local Tenant Rights, Laws, and Protections: Georgia
http://www.hud.gov/local/ga/renting/tenantrights.cfm

Tenants' Rights
http://www.atlantalegalaid.org/tenrights.htm


FYI--MANY COUNTIES (ie. Clarke)---will offer FREE legal aid to those individuals who cannot afford legal representation on their own.
Lawyers do this as a way to "Give back" to the Community and offer Pro Bono Legal Aid.

If you can't afford a Lawyer on your own (or can't get a Class Action Suit for a Lawyer to take Pro Bono)---then, try "Legal Aid" Society's

FYI---If you have to SUE a Landlord (with more than 10-unit Building--ie. River Mill)---and you win, you get 3x the amount you are owed....

[quote]
If your landlord owns more than 10 units, you can ask the judge to give you three times the amount kept. For instance, if your security deposit was $200, you can ask the court to order the landlord to give you $600. You can also ask for attorneys' fees if you have a lawyer.
[end quote]

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The *ONLY* reason I would recommend this Complex is Location. Can't beat waking up 10 minutes before classes (North Campus) and still making it to class on time.

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