Question about security deposits for a house rental.

[hosnatcher]

Okay I rented a house in California for the past two years through a property manager. The owner lives in Florida. Well I recently moved last week and the property manager did their walkthrough and deemed me to get all 100% of my security deposit back. However they need the owner to send them a check. I think the owner is in trouble financially because he is trying to sell the house and I noticed mail coming to the house for him from the bank addressing his "past due" account on the property.

Now say if the owner doesn't return my security deposit who do I go after the owner in Florida or the property management company who I signed my lease with?

 

[hosnatcher]

.

 

[thekid78]

Owner. Property manager gets paid by the owner a percentage of your rent each month. He works for the owner. By the way, I am drunk and might be wrong, but this makes the most sense to me right now. Cheers

 

[Seymour]

Your only recourse is to file in small claims which is not hard to do and if u can do it before he sells the house u should be able to collect pretty easily

 

[SoCal]

I'm drunk too, but the kid78 makes sense.

 

[buddyboy]

you should threaten to sue both.

why sue someone you "think" doesn't have your money?

sue the property owner and the management company. sue the companies and all owners. sue the employees, sue their children, parents and ex wives.

that's how the big boys play

You can't be sure who has your money. The owner will say the manager has it, the manager will say the owner has it, the insurance company will say they are not responsible, the kids will say "we are only 12 years old we don't have your money"


in the end someone will pay.

but honestly,

just call the management company and tell them that you are thinking of hiring a lawyer but the guy wants to include EVERYONE in the lawsuit... something about interest, being able to ask for triple the amount of the deposit back, and a bunch of other fees and fines that would make it worth the lawyers time to pursue it. you're not sure what to do, you just want your money back, and can they help you get it without making it a mess, cuz you need the money back quick.

 

[ProPokerPlayer]

You need to ck the laws in your state (talk to an attorny)....they vary widely from state to state and even county to county. In some places the owner can made to pay you triple what he owes if he does not return your deposit within so many days. Your contract is prolly with the mgmt company so thats who u have to go after, then again ur contract may be with them but u made a separate check out to the owner for the deposit...yada , yada, go talk to someone who knows the law in ur county.