If I paid $1000 for a security deposit for a home I wanted to rent and decided to move elsewhere, do I forfeit my money?

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If I paid $1000 for a security deposit for a home I wanted to rent and decided to move elsewhere, do I forfeit my money?

I was only give back $650 and told I wasn’t entitled to the remaining $350 because I moved elsewhere. I have receipts for $250 of the $350 I feel is owed to me, but I never signed a lease. The only paperwork I personally signed was an application with a fee of $35 which is non-refundable.

Asked on December 7, 2011 under Real Estate Law, Michigan

Answers:

FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney

Answered 13 years ago | Contributor

If you placed a $1,000 deposit for a home that you never signed a lease for where the application stated that there was a non-refundable fee of $35.00, you are entitled to the return of the balance of your deposit since you now do not want the unit.

You have not forfeited your $965.00. I would write the person who holds the money demanding its return by a certain date. If not returned by then, your option is small claims court.


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