Q: Last apt I lived at are asking me to pay for the entire carpet which I know they were going to change anyway!
So here is my issue. 3 months ago I moved out of an apt at the end of the lease and I got a bill of $725 minus 150 from the deposit they already kept, so 575. $500 are for the carpet. My problem is that the manager assistant told me a few months before that they were changing every apartments carpets to a new style color to go with a new kitchen counter and paint. She said this would be done in every apt. So my issue is that they are charging me for something they are going to changing ANY WAY! So when I got the bill I told them exactly this and they said they were going to ask at the office. They called again saying I had to pay the $575 soon or they would take certain measures. I answered I wasn’t paying for that carpet. After a couple of weeks they called again and said they made a MISTAKE, that it wasn’t 575, it was 375, which is very very conveniant. They just called again saying they needed the money. But I find it very unfair from them. What is your opinion? Thanks!
A:
Free practical "opinion": Since you lived there for at least a year, and since you walked away expecting the landlord to keep your entire $150 deposit, it sounds like you must have known that leaving without cleaning the carpet--which is a standard clause in every lease--because you thought you could skate free; right?
Possible solution: Since you already lost your $150 deposit, consider sending them the difference between the new demand ($375) and the $150 you already paid I.e., $225.
Unless they are really desperate for money my guess is they will take the $225 and run to the bank with it.
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