Repairs, Maintenance Deoderizing for Cigarette Smell

[sbrackenbury]

SMOKING ALLOWED, landlord kept $456 of sec dep to buy a fogging machine & solution. Are we liable for Cigarette smell? If so, for entire cost of fogging machine?

 

[army judge]

Read your lease. He can charge. If you feel it isn't appropriate your only remedy would be to sue him in small claims court. Before you go that route discuss the matter with the former landlord. Write a nice letter asking why. Then state your position. It is sometimes better to try to work it out. Small claims is no guarantee.

 

[mightymoose]

If smoking was not prohibited the landlord should not be taking any portion of the deposit for this.
Landlord will likely have difficulty justifying the expense if you should have to sue.
Some states allow for you to collect a penalty in addition to the loss if landlord doesn't do things right.