Should I file suit against my landlord?

Question

I have lived in off-campus student housing for two years with three other girls. I have just recently moved out and would like some advice on the things my landlord has done in the past:

1. Apparantly, he sent a letter stating that if last month's rent wasn't paid by July 31st that he was going to sue. I never received this letter considering I had technically moved out months ago due to him never fixing our broken door.

2. I found out I was being sued by my roommate!

3. He decided to sue me for late payment of rent-with no notice. I immediately paid the rent due and he dismissed the suit. However, he told me I need to pay court costs totaling $265 dollars. When I called the court, the costs were only $111.

4. When I confronted him about this discrepancy, he mumbled and studdered and then mentioned something about a bailiff fee, which was never mentioned when I talked to him on the phone. Considering I paid him the DAY he decided to sue me, there was absolutely no way a bailiff ever served our house, and he owes me $154 dollars back.

Also, our lease states that he will take out money for cleaning, but I am wondering if he is even allowed to do that considering that is the cost of doing business with us.

We lived in a house in an area with VERY low property values and paid $1340 a month for 2 years. We have paid him $32,160. I think he can foot the bill for cleaning.

I feel like he is taking advantage of college students- he is a sleazy landlord that is also a lawyer and I feel like I am never going to see my money again.

Answer 1

I'll be honest...this big, huge, long post boils down to ONE thing:

You are blaming everyone else for this but yourself.

You didn't pay your rent, you moved out when you are still on the lease...buddy, you can't do that.  You are still responsible until the lease ends AND you put in a formal notice that you are moving out.

His court costs plus a bailiff fee probably were what they said...YOU just stated that you weren't even at the house when the lawsuit was delivered, so how do you know whether a bailiff delivered it or not?  

They don't send them through the mail...so if your roommate was served, you owe the fee.

Doesn't matter what the house is worth or what the LL does with the money...you and your roommates agreed to pay $1340 per month, in writing, therefore you owe it.

He can charge for EXCESSIVE cleaning, but not standard cleaning.  

If you were late in paying rent...that's your fault.

You are not entitled to any of the court costs back and may or may not be due the security deposit back, depending on how much back rent you failed to pay.

Stop acting like children and start acting like women and take responsibility for what you agreed to and not get mad at someone that you are COSTING money.

Answer 2

If you know that you and the roommates left the place clean, then tell him the $154 he can use for cleaning since he overcharged you the court fee.  If the place was not left descent he can and probably will sue for cleaning cost. Did he ever give back the deposit to you?  You didn't mention anything about a deposit or what state you live in. If you are in California check out nolo dot com.