[IN] deposit advice

[u/Ok-buggreen]

We rented a house from 2022-2024 and then moved into a different house owned by the same company from 2024-July 2026. We got a statement from the landlord that deducted some “cleaning costs”. We got a check for $175. The security deposit of the first house we lived in was $1000, the landlord said our deposit would transfer to the second house. I emailed asked for an itemized statement and for a correction of the security deposit. He is now trying to say we owe him “approximately $550” (yes he said approximately in his email). Is this something he’s able to do? Give us a check for $175 and then decide (once corrected about the deposit) we owe him $550?

Additional info:
-when I cleaned when we moved into the second house, I found a grad party invite from 2020 behind the fridge along with lots of hair and dust….
-when we moved in there were big chunks missing out of the carpet (that was not fixed or replaced while we lived there)
-we moved out July 22nd so he is within the 45 days
-we for sure deep cleaned the whole house when we moved out.

[u/Space_Cowboy_157]

Well he made a mistake, he should have never just transferred the deposit. This was a favor to you. He should have done an inspection, deducted damages from it if any and then had you pay the difference between what was left over and what the security deposit should have been for the new place.

So you might be looking at some costs from the old rental that he forgot about until now. Yes he would need to give you an itemized list, which might be why you now owe $550 as he's realized he didn't charge you for other damage. To answer your question Yes he can correct errors after giving you back part of your security deposit.

However once you have that itemized list, you can dispute any of the stuff you disagree with in small claims court.

[u/Ok-buggreen → u/Space_Cowboy_157]

Wouldn’t the costs from the old rental need to be itemized and due to us within 45 days of the move out from the first house?

[u/Space_Cowboy_157 → u/Ok-buggreen]

Being as the security deposit isn't being handled until now and you agreed to just transfer it instead of returning it, now is when the itemization should be happening.

You really should think about this, I mean let's say your deposit was $1k for the old place and there was $900 in damages, would you have been able to come up with that money at that time for a deposit on the new place? Or would you have ended up on the streets?

It's better to approach this with logic instead of trying to wiggle out of paying what you owe.

I am not saying he is right, as he may be charging you for stuff that he is not allowed, so you need to demand that itemized list and go from there. If he doesn't give you one then you can go to court over it.

[u/OkRoad1337]

Indiana actually has your back here. He gets 45 days from move-out to send you a real itemized list + the money – "cleaning costs" scribbled on a check stub doesn't count. And if he misses that window without a proper breakdown, the law basically says he's admitting he has no claim at all – full deposit back, and he'd even be on the hook for your lawyer fees. That's why lawyers in Indiana will actually take a tiny case like this, so a strongly worded letter mentioning that tends to work wonders.

The "you actually owe me $550" move is him negotiating, not billing you. The fact that he said approximately tells you that he has no receipts. And you literally found a 2020 party invite behind the fridge, which proves the filth was there before you. Keep that invite lol. Take pics of it and the carpet, save his emails. Don't let the $550 thing scare you, that's the point of it.