advice please

[dragonyphoenix]

My ex-roommate, Kat, told our landlady, Simone, that we were moving out of our apartment a month before our lease ended, that we were leaving at the start of June rather than the start of July. Our landlady couldn't get anyone in to rent for June so it's standing empty. Simone did not make us pay rent for June but did keep half the security deposit. Since Kat hadn't paid into the security deposit, I lost $400 out of the deal.

Kat wants me to reimburse her for the last of the bills, which comes out to $80. I responded that she owed me half of what Simone kept from me. I think Kat owes me $200. If you take out the bills, then she owes me $120.

After I replied with that, Kat told me that Simone had kept the pet deposit, which Kat had paid since the dog is hers. That's $300. However, Kat changes facts to make her argument so don't necessarily believe that the landlady kept the pet deposit. I don't necessarily disbelieve it because when I told Simone that it was important to Kat to get it back, she just gave me a look and didn't comment.

So I sort of want to contact our landlady and ask if she kept the pet deposit. On our walk-through of the apartment - Kat was out of town by then - Simone and I agreed that it would be fair if she kept half the security deposit. Nothing was said of the pet deposit.

Any suggestions on what I should do?

Comments

[il_mio_capitano]

I'm not totally up on all that's gone on but it sounds like the pet deposit, like the pet, is Kat's responsibility alone and nothing to do with you. Security deposit is a joint thing like the bills and costs should be shared.

[dragonyphoenix]

The landlady isn't keeping the money because there were issues with the apartment or because the dog had destroyed anything. She's keeping the money because we left a month early. The security deposit and pet deposit are only the reasons she had the money to keep.

Since Kat decided, without me, that we were leaving early, I sort of think the whole of this financial burden should be on her. But, since I didn't call her on it, I've agreed to pay half.

Maybe think of it in terms of rent? I paid $400 but Kat paid only $300. Except I'm not sure Kat paid $300. This is the first I've heard of it and Kat will blatantly lie to get what she wants.

There is another factor. Kat left a check for half the rent, $400, for Simone but I thought I was only to hand it over if Simone asked for June rent. So I still have that check. Kat seems really upset by that but if she'd paid the rent, she'd be out $400 rather than $300. So her upset there rather seems like a red herring.

It's strange.

[il_mio_capitano]

I wouldn't try to play fair by anyone who is such a blatant liar and shafted you over the last month rental. You don't owe her the respect.

[dragonyphoenix]

I hadn't thought of it that way. I guess I feel that I should do the right thing no matter how the other person behaves?

But that's how Kat got me to apologize to a neighbor who threw a Christmas party, on a Sunday, that ran from one in the afternoon until one in the morning. I wanted to be the better person.

[il_mio_capitano]

I'm guessing (and apologies if I'm wrong), that that rankles with you because you feel manipulated into being the better person, that you were taken advantage of.

Was there a signed contract with the landlady that covered that covered the terms of early termination?

[dragonyphoenix]

No, I think I chose to be the better person in that case. I'd put up a pissy and passive-aggressive Facebook post about the party running late. It wasnt' even the lateness that really got me. Erin had indicated, early that day, that she knew Kat and I had to work the next day and that she'd keep the noise level down after 11 which is when the party got loud.

I think what upsets me about that incident is that Kat came of all "Judy is the only one in the wrong here". I still don't agree with that and I think it was a strategic mistake on her part. If I hand't decided I wanted to be the better person, it could have totally backfired on her.

I'm not sure where my copy of the lease is but, yes, it did cover early termination. If I remember correctly, Simone could have demanded the last month's rent and kept the security deposit. I was honestly seeing losing $1200 ($800 for deposit and $400 for rent) as a real possibility. It's one of the reasons I agreed to letting her keep half the deposit.

[dragonyphoenix]

My sister agrees with you. ;-)