Q: Can a landlord charge you for additional services that are more than your security deposit?
They put SOD in the back yard and charged us for that which is fine but when we moved in there was not grass in the back yard there were patches of weeds and grass. They charged us to throw trash that was removed from there and charged us for a dish removal and that was there when we moved in.
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- Colorado
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A:
This is an oddly phrased question.
The security deposit and the amount that a landlord can charge you for damages that you caused to the lease are typically not related. The security damage acts as an advance that can be used to help cover those damages if needed. It is typically, not a cap. But the lease agreement controls so it would be impossible to say without looking at the lease.
If the landlord is charging you for odd items in an attempt to run up costs or keep your deposit, you may wish to talk to an attorney. Colorado has a very strict Security Deposit Statute. Landlords need to handle those charges with care. They could be completely valid but they need to be able to justify the charges.
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