Sample letter to a landlord who deducts for something that isn’t the tenant’s responsibility.
Mary Landlady
384 Highbrow Court
Everyville, USA
Re: Deposit for 23 Foxhill Road, Everyville
Dear Ms. Landlady:
I moved out of the house at 23 Foxhill Road, Everyville on the 31st of November, 2005. Before I left the house I cleaned it thoroughly, leaving it much cleaner than it was when I moved in. I have photographs of the house at time I moved in and before I left that clearly show that I left the house in a better condition than I found it.
On December 10 I received a letter from you saying that you have deducted $200 from my security deposit to pay for a cleaning service. You have no right to charge me for a cleaning service, and I demand the return of my $200 immediately.
Under the law of [state], you have [number of] days in which to return my deposit. If I do not receive the remaining $200 from you by that time [or within 5 days of the date of this letter, if the time has already passed], I will take the matter to small claims court.
Sincerely,
Tom Tenant
