my gf and her roommate moved out of this place about 3 months ago. Finally about a week ago they got a letter listing the items charged to their security deposit. (by law, such letter is supposed to be provided within 30 days of the move out date. If not, the tenant can sue the landlord for up to amount of the entire security deposit). The upsetting part of the letter is that not only they don't get any money back (paid deposit of $400), they were charged $140 because of the new painting the manangement did to the apartment (cost a WHOOPING $300!!!) while my gf and her roommate had kept the apartment nice and clean (the move out inspection said everything looks great and nothing was marked off). We then found out that on the lease there is a mandatory painting charge of $ 300 upon the termination of the lease which was never explained or even MENTIONED to us when we signed the lease (intentionally' who knows.). Note that my gf and her roommate signed the lease separately and that clause in the lease was NEVER mentioned both times. Hence, $300 painting charge plus $140 non-refundable cleaning fee clause in the lease, that means you WILL NEVER GET ANY DEPOSIT BACK AND WILL AT LEAST OWE $40 WHEN YOU MOVE OUT! If you check out the state law, you will know that you are not responsible for the cost of painting the landlord chose to do when you move out unless you've done DAMAGE BEYOND NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR to the paint. This clause on the lease is ILLEGAL! People, don't sign another lease with this apartment.

The even more upsetting part is that when my gf went into the office and tried to talk some sense out of the lady in the management office. She was rude and never sincered about resolving this dispute. She only reinforced that re-painting is their policy and they've always done it and it's the tenants' responsibility to go over the lease when signing and dismissed the meeting in 5 minutes. True that the management has screwed over EVERY SINGLE tenant that has ever lived there for that $300 painting fee, but that does not mean it is LEGAL. Moreover, that very lady was going through the lease with us when signing, and SOMEHOW she neglected to mention that particular painting fee clause. It makes me think that this really is not an honest business. (she got a promotion by the way (wonder how), and is not around Northwind office most of the time). There is still much to tell about their inadequate management, but I am not going to make this a dreadfully long story than it already is.

The Nevada Residential Landlord and Tenant Act does not permit the landlord to charge you for normal wear and tear to the apartment, either by a separate fee or withholding the security deposit. Know your rights, don't let this apartment screw you over anymore.

I am a law student and we are currently looking into legal means to get our deposit back.

User Responses
From: veryunhappyrenter86	Date: 12/16/2007
I looked at my lease and found the same! Have you found out anything about how to get your deposit back yet? I also found on my lease that they pay the water sewer and trash, yet they told us since the begining that $35 was for water, sewer & trash. Even though our lease says other wise. If you have any information could you please email me nortonfan86 at gmail dot com. Thanks for your help!

Your thoughts? Post a response to this review. Display my response: with my username anonymously Responses appear below reviews and one response per user is permitted.

   Free estimates on moving trucks      Find apartment share/roommates