Complaint Review: Oldham Property Management - Goshen Kentucky

The matter has been resolved. Thank you.

I am the process of obtaining justice in this matter via administrative process. I will let you all know how this goes. Thanks.

A youtube video about Oldham Property Management in Goshen KY (Tom and Patricia Bushman) who have ripped me off of my security deposit for over $1400:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OqwIcy7nt8Y

It states that the tenant should maintain the yard, including debris removal. It does not specifically mention mulch, which is what he charged me for. However, I was GOING to mulch at my cost, before he did it for me to the tune of $645. And the flowers are totally egregious as there were none when I moved in. Unless they didn't charge me for those.....the invoice I have does not break down the landscape charges.

What does your lease say about leaf removal and front yard landscaping? If there is nothing in the lease that states you are responsible for this, they can't just add on charges like that. To give you an example, I rented a house once and in my lease, I agreed that I would have the fireplace professionally cleaned upon moving out. Even though I had not used the fireplace in the course of 12 months, I was still required, because of what I had signed, to hire a professional, pay them $125 and present the receipt to the landlord. Now, if the landlord had come at me with a charge for leaf removal, I would have fought that because the lease did not specifiy I was responsible for ensuring a 'leaf-free' yard upon move-out.

I use to work for a large property management company (not the one mentioned in your report) that had approximately 200 properties in about 15 different states. I can tell you first hand that many apartment communities will indeed try to keep as much as your security deposit as possible. I know the one that I worked at certainly did.

If it were me, I would send them a letter via trackble method, i.e. certified, fedex, UPS, etc and dispute the amount you were refunded.  State the reasons why you are disputing and attach any proof, i.e. carpet cleaning receipt, photos you took when you moved in of pre-existing damage, etc.  You are suppose to to be given a form that documents damage you find upon moving in, that is signed and returned to the office. Do you have a copy of this? I have seen many a person save their deposit by producing this form that clearly documented something was already damaged when they moved in. 

These people have to allow for reasonable wear and tear and they know this. State the amount of refund you are expecting and give them a deadline (5 business days is reasonable) in which to respond. Request a response in writing. This is so when you have to take them to small claims court, you will have your paper trail.

Regarding them possibly with-holding part of the deposit because you might owe them rent, that is illegal. The law does not allow a landlord to use your deposit in place of rent. Again, these people know that too. You can't be in the business and not know these basic things.

I did neglect to send the carpet cleaning receipt until July. That's on me. However, I told him several times by email that the carpet had been cleaned. I can provide the emails I sent with time stamps. It is absurd that they had the carpet recleaned. It was totally unnecessary. I saw the condition of the carpet after it was cleaned and it was just as good (old and worn) as upon move in.

What I anticipate they will say is that I paid our last month on the lease late. True, we moved out and were in another house and paid the last month late. They were paid in full. That issue has nothing whatsoever to do with denying us our deposit back.

I actually sent our kid over there to water flowers (that Bushman charged us for!!!!!) and to cut grass after we left. And heck I offered to go over AFTER our lease was up to help him! And he did this to us? How sad.