Am i entitled back my deposit?

Question

i signed a contract for a 1 year lease on a rented apartment 2 years ago,a contract just lasts 12 months right? i lived there just over 2 but when i moved out of the apartment the landlord refused to give me back my deposit citing a section of the contract to do with an unpaid electricity bill (that i still owe) but does that give him the right to keep please help

Answer 1

If the unpaid electric bill is preventing new tenants from getting electricity turned on and therefore he can't rent out the apt, then I understand him holding the deposit.  If I was him though, I'd pay the electric bill out of the deposit if the deposit is enough to cover it, and give you back the difference, if there is any money left over.  I'm not sure what the law says about this situation though.

Answer 2

If your bills were inclusive, he may be right. If not, the unpaid bill is entirely  yours, and nothing to do with him.

Answer 3

The deposit is there in case you have any unpaid bills that you owe or if you disappear before the lease is up. This, way the landlord wont be out any money. If you want your deposit back, pay the electric bill, if you don't want to pay the bill, then lose your deposit.

Answer 4

The original term may well have been 12 months but as you have stayed on for 24 you will be deemed to have continued the tenancy on the original terms even if the lease was not formally renewed.At the very least you remain bound by whatever terms applied to the deposit.The landlord may be entitled to retain it (and hand it over to the electricty provider) if the wording of the section you refer to proviides for that.  

Answer 5

People pay a security deposit to cover expenses they incur to the property.  If the electric bill has to be paid by the landlord, then the landlord can use the security deposit towards it.  So yes, he can keep it.  That's what it is for.

Answer 6

So sue the landlord for the deposit back along with the interest.  

Answer 7

HE HAS NO BUSINESS IN UR BILLS, UNLESS INCLUDED IN UR RENT AT WHICH TIME HE SHOULD HAVE TAKEN CARE OF IT, IF HE DIDN'T NOT UR PROBLEM.................