Will I be charged beyond "normal wear and tear" for non-functioning appliances after a one year lease?

You cannot be held responsible for the water heater or appliances unless by some rare instance you signed a lease stating you would be responsible for repairing worn out appliances. I highly doubt that. It would have to be a back woods lease.

Now if you used the oven to fire pottery or some other unusual purpose they might have you paying for repairs but, how could they prove it? The judge would laugh them out of court unless they had concrete evidence.

The water heater is their responsibility just like the oven and dishwasher.

Fix the blinds (ask the maintenance guy for some replacement slats. We gave them out all the time), clean the apartment and take pictures of everything on move out day ( inside and under fridge and W/D., toilets, shower, patio, carpet, windows, curtains, sinks, under sinks, closets, mirrors, light fixtures, ceiling fans, microwave interior, etc ) Use a new newspaper in the pictures to prove the date the pictures were taken. Don't tell the management you took the pictures. Surprise them with the pictures in court should they take you there on fraudulent cleaning and repair bills. Prove one lie to the judge and you'll get your entire deposit back.

Also, when you moved in, you should have filled out a move in inspection report and turned it back into the office within a day or two and gotten a signed copy showing they agreed with all the damages and dirt you found at move in. If you lost your copy, go to the office and get another signed copy. Bring a friend with you should they say they never got a report from you.

On the day you are all moved out and turning in the keys they should "Walk" the apartment with you with the original move in sheet to compare the condition as received on move in with the condition at move out. Keep a cleaning rag with you to touch up anything they point out that you have missed. Get a signed and dated copy of that move out condition report right after they are done! Have a witness with you!

Take the condition report with you to court with your pictures, newspaper and your witnesses, should you need to take them to court.

There is no reason you need to pay for cleaning and/or damages if items in the apartment are as clean or are cleaner than when you moved in. Same for damages. (scratches in kitchen counter tops especially).

If the carpet needs replacement, they can only charge you for replacement on a pro rated basis up to 5 years of age. (depending on state). In Arizona it's 5 years. EXAMPLE; say you moved in and the carpet was 2 years old. You live there one year but you damaged it so bad they have to replace all the carpet. The new carpet costs $1000 to replace. They can only charge $400 for damaging the carpet because it was 3 years old when you moved out.

Cats are notorious for ruining carpets with urine. It's impossible to get the smell out and it shows up under ultraviolet lights.

They can't charge you for "normal wear and tear" of the carpet or paint or anything else. They can only charge you for dirt and unusual (irresponsible) damages.

If you painted walls non original colors, they can charge you to paint them back to original. Usually $20 a large wall.

Make sure to turn in your keys as soon as you are out and get a signed receipt for all your keys and pool passes, etc.

Most big complexes won't rip you off.

Always kiss the managers ***. It can make a difference on your bill. Arguing can only lead to your losses. They really do have you by the tiny hairs. They can make getting your next place a hassle. Screw with your credit. Give you bad references. etc.

By them lunch (pizza works) sometime right before you move out saying how you appreciate all they did for you and how much you loved living there (even if you didn't). They are only human and little gifts go a long way with these people. Brush up on your acting grateful!

Don't forget to clean under and behind the refrigerator and behind the washer and dryer and toilet.

If you don't clean your apartment the average cleaning job is around $80 to $130 depending on how many bedrooms and bathrooms. Carpet cleaning is around $50 to $80.

Yes, you do need to shampoo the carpet within a month of move out unless it's real clean. After all, you should have received your apartment with freshly shampooed carpets. Windex and a paper towel removes most carpet stains. The carpet guy will charge extra to remove stains (and you thought that removing stains was part of the cleaning service!).

Be out on your last day or earlier. They will charge you for every extra day you don't "TURN KEYS IN" You're not out until your keys are back in their hands.

I should write a book for renters!

When you occupied the property you will have 'signed' for the contents being 'in good condition' .. some places the Landlord gives you a copy of the list of contents (other places you have to ask for it .. always a good idea, especially as disputes can arise ... for example, was there a Toaster or not, was there 4 place settings or 8 ?)

At the end of the Lease, the Landlord will check everything on the list ... anything that's found to be missing, damaged or broken will be replaced out of your Deposit.

In THEORY, if your Deposit does not cover the cost of replacement & you refuse to pay, you can be taken to Court .. however since most Tenants are poor (and have very little money) most Landlords carry insurance that will cover major items ...

If the appliances worked when you moved in, and they don't now, yeah, you can be charged for the replacement value or part of it.

Yes, you need to replace the blinds, but don't be surprised, if they try to charge you for these also by saying they had a certain type in there. The water heater I doubt is going to be something you have to fix or pay for since you did complain, and even if you didn't, the water heater is not something a tenant can *break* and they have to replace that.

No, they can't charge you for the appliances.

The cheapest place to replace the blinds is Home Depot. It is easiest if you get the same type, that way you do not have to replace the hardware that hold the blinds up.

Worried about someone thinking he's incredibly cute and laid back maybe. Those moccasins that old men wear are way out of style. Sorry I'm taken!

anything you broke you are responsible for , if major appliances were broke the whole time you should of noticed and reported that , sounds fishy you just realised they dont work, of course your cats ripping up the blinds is your responsibility, i have blinds and they are still like new , why , because i dont have cats ripping them up.

kiss your deposit good by , but i dont think you were so bad that you will be sued.