Learning the art of security deposits

Without the watchful eye of a resident adviser or faculty master, some students expect the move to an off-campus house or apartment to be accompanied by unlimited parties and unsupervised ruckus. But those who aren't careful about property damages can face some serious financial consequences. Upon signing a lease, tenants are required to make a security deposit, which is returned to them when they vacate the property on the condition that they have not incurred any damages. If they do, money will be deducted from their security deposit, which, according to state law, cannot exceed the equivalent of two months' rent. According to Liz Polizzotto, a secretary for University Enterprises, the real estate agency performs yearly inspections of its properties to assess damages. These can include "holes in walls, leaving furniture in the house, leaving the house dirty and any kind of past or due bills," she said. Melissa Impagliazzo, a leasing consultant for local real estate agency University Crossings, added that changing paint color as well as leaving food or trash in the property can also result in security deposit deductions. "Most of it is cleaning," said William Lynch, a project coordinator for University City Housing. "Basically, you need to get it back to how it looked like when you moved in," Impagliazzo said. Both University Crossings and University City Housing have pre-set charges for particular damages, but determining whether something is classified as damage or simply inevitable wear and tear is "up to the discretion of the owner," Polizzotto said. Companies will charge tenants if damages are found -- however, there are a few simple steps students can take to lessen the costs. According to Miki Farcas, director of the Office of Off-Campus Living, although real estate companies conduct annual inspections to determine already-existing damages, students should also document these problems. Farcas advises that they should thoroughly inspect the property upon move-in and make a move-in checklist, keeping a copy and sending a copy to the landlord. A similar list should be compiled near the termination of the lease. Impagliazzo suggested that tenants also photograph damages. "When the tenant moves in and notices something, they can tell us right away, and we will get it fixed," Impagliazzo said. State law requires real estate agents to notify tenants of expected damages and charges before moving out to protect tenants against unjust or unknown charges. "We give a checklist of what needs to be done and how much it is going to cost about one month in advance," Lynch said. According to Lynch, his company puts particular emphasis on notifying the tenants of potential damages in advance because the more effort the tenants put in, "the less amount of work that we have to do," he said. All agencies contacted said the terms of the security deposit are outlined in the lease. Farcas stressed the importance of providing proper notice of termination. "When students don't give the landlord their forwarding address, the landlord is not required to give the deposit back," Farcas said. If students take the necessary steps, "the security deposit issue is pretty clear-cut and easy to get back," Farcas said. "Students just need to communicate appropriately regarding the condition of the apartment." Farcas said that although "there are situations and landlords who basically make unreasonable charges," and if this occurs, "there are ways to get it back." "It is unlikely that the tenants will receive nothing back," Polizzotto said. Farcas said that the Office of Off-Campus Living is a good place for students to consult if they wish to file a claim.