Premium Property Management

Subject: ID#: [redacted]Dear Revdex.com,I am responding to Complaint # [redacted]It is not uncommon for tenants to have roommates move in and out of a rental.  The rental agreement clearly states that: “Any security deposit received from multiple Residents shall be refunded only when the last Resident...

vacates the unit and terminates his/her tenancy, unless other arrangements are made with the Owner/Agent in writing.”  See attached Rental Agreement, Page 3, Paragraph 14.  Basically, this states that the security deposit remains with the rental unit until the last tenant moves.  We have never had a policy to refund a portion of a security deposit, to a tenant who is moving out early, while the other tenant(s) remain.  It is difficult for a landlord to determine who paid what portion of the security deposits among multiple tenants.  Even if we receive one check, from one tenant for the full amount, who is to say what portion each tenant contributed?  Did each tenant contribute equally?  Or did they contribute different amounts based on some internal agreement amongst themselves?  In this case, who is to say the $350 additional security deposit charged when [redacted] moved in, was not partially paid by the existing tenants because they wanted another roommate to help with the rent?  And who is to say if we find damage to the unit today, that the tenant that moved out early, did or did not do the damage?  It is the responsibility of the tenants to work out the security deposit amongst themselves.         On 2/10/2016, via email, [redacted] gave us a 30 day notice of her intent to move.  We removed her name from the rental agreement on 3/10/2016, which also removed her from any liability for the unit and the deposit remained with the unit.  On 9/1/2016, via email, [redacted] gave us a 30 day notice of her intent to move.  On 9/30/2016, we will remove her from the rental agreement, which also removes her from future liability and the security deposit will remain with the unit.  When the remaining tenant, [redacted], moves, if there is a security deposit refund (full or partial), it will go to him.  But, on the other hand, if we find the unit has been destroyed, we will hold [redacted] responsible.  Not [redacted], as her liability ceased on 3/10/2016, nor [redacted] as her liability will cease on 9/30/2016.  For the sake of discussion, if all three tenants had moved out at the same time, and there was no damage to the unit, a check for the full deposit would be made out to [redacted] & [redacted].  Once again, it would be the responsibility of the three of the tenants to divide the security deposit amongst themselves as they wish.  These are reasons tenants need to be wise in choosing their roommates. It is unfortunate that [redacted] has not been able to “make any contact with the current tenants as they refuse to answer her (me)” as per her complaint.  The security deposit remained with the unit as per the signed rental agreement. Below is an email thread showing we had communication with [redacted] and tried to resolve the situation prior to her complaint to Revdex.com.