In April of 2013 I signed a 12 month lease for an apartment. My security deposit was $1520, which included a $500 pet security deposit. Rent was $1020, which included a $25 pet rent. In the middle of May 2013, my boyfriends car was broken into while parked in the parking lot for tenants, there was over $2000 in damage, thankfully we only had to pay our $500 deductible to fix it. We informed the management and filed a police report. Managements response was that we should park in the covered parking spot(we were only assigned 1, though we have 2 cars). In November 2013, while parked in the covered parking, his vehicle was vandalized, half of the rear bumper was taken. Because of the cost of a new bumper would be $350, we chose not to replace it. We again filed a police report and alerted management. But this time, I started asking other residents if they had had any similar experiences. Come to find out, YES they had. So I asked that cameras be installed so that at least when the police came to take the report they might get an idea of what the criminals were driving or looked like or exact time, something. I was told that they couldn't afford it and that cameras wouldn't really help. Then in July 2014, the catalytic converter was stolen off of my car. Again I reported it to the police, who asked me why there were no cameras, and to the management. When my boyfriend found out about what had happened, he angrily confronted the manager and asked her what her plans were to remedy this problem. She had nothing to say but, "oh, I'm sorry that that happened, but there's nothing I can do." So the next day, my boyfriend took his bat and told the manager and assistant manager that he was planning on patrolling the parking area to ensure nothing criminal would happen. The manager then proceeded to call the police and stated that he had threatened her. The police arrived and treated him like a criminal, made to get down on the ground, hands behind his back, and patted down. They then took his bat and told him he was lucky that they didn't arrest him, (because he has no previous record). A few hours later we received a 3 day notice to perform or quit, stating that he no longer brandish a weapon. We were annoyed but didn't think it would go farther then that. But 6 days later, we were served with a 3 day notice to quit, stating that we had broken our lease agreement by being a nuisance. So we talked to their lawyer, who told us that if we got out by the end of the month, they wouldn't file an unlawful detainer on us. So we had 10 days to find a new place and move there. All while only having 1 vehicle to use, because insurance wouldn't cover the catalytic converter because of a betterment clause, meaning we would have to pay the whole $1250 to fix the car. But we managed to get the apartment emptied and detail cleaned by the 31st. But now it's looking like they are going to charge us to replace all of the carpet, paint the entire apartment, and clean it. Mind you, it was left cleaner then when we moved in, as I am a germaphobe with a 1 year old child and a 5lb chihuahua. The carpets were vacuumed every other day, and shampooed every other month - they look brand new. I also patched every little hole and painted. The rest was thoroughly sanitized. Even the assistant manager said she was shocked at how clean it was. And yet, now they are wanting to charge nearly $1300 to repair/get the apartment ready to rent. So, I'm wondering should I take them to court? If I do, should I bring up the negligence of the vehicle thefts/vandalism and the retaliation and intimidation by the management for us to vacate? Or just sue for the security deposit?
