WA State - What can be considered a full and specific statement in the Landlord-Tenant Act?
RCW 59.18.280 states that the landlord shall give a full and specific statement of the basis for retaining any of the deposit within 21 days otherwise the landlord shall be liable to the tenant for the full amount of the deposit. All that we received was a letter that stated we were being charged a $200 general cleaning fee, and $30 to replace two light bulbs and 3 drip pans. It was not itemized for what each item cost or specifically what needed to be cleaned.
On move-in we did fill out a move-in inspection report in which we noted multiple areas in the apartment that were not clean. That same inspection report had a section for the move-out inspection but we did not receive that with the security deposit statement/letter.
We took photos on move out and believe we cleaned the apartment very well, leaving it in the same condition it was received. So although we were charged $200 for general cleaning, we do not know if that $200 includes leaving things dirty that were dirty on move-in.
Does the letter/statement that the landlord provided meet the state’s legal definition of a full and specific statement? And if not, I should be able to request a full refund of our security deposit, right?
Thank you.
Posted Jun 3, 2017, 5:26 PM UTC