Apartment Life

Welcome to Apartment Life, an online discussion of the Washington area rental market, featuring Post columnist Sara Gebhardt.

In her monthly exchanges with the audience, Gebhardt discusses rental issues and lifestyle matters.

The transcript follows.

Editor's Note: Washingtonpost.com moderators retain editorial control over Live Online discussions and choose the most relevant questions for guests and hosts; guests and hosts can decline to answer questions.

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Sara Gebhardt: Good afternoon renters, and everyone else joining into today's discussion. We'll do our usual and focus on rental issues....

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Washington, D.C.: My curling iron burned the countertop in my bathroom. Anyway to remove the burn mark? Will my landlord keep the entire deposit in order to replace the entire countertop?

Sara Gebhardt: How bad is the burn? I am not sure of home remedies that might help you fix the problem, and it's entirely possible that your landlord will use some or all of your security deposit to replace the entire countertop. Landlords are supposed to give you an itemized list of deductions from your deposit, though, so if you think you're being penalized too much for the countertop damage, ask to see the receipt for work rendered on it.

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Maryland: I'm moving from my apartment in August. My (small) building has a wonderful, friendly, competent live-in handyman who has been very helpful fixing any problem I have (even absolute non-emergencies) promptly and respectfully. Our building is quite old, so I've needed his help more than once. I would like to show my appreciation somehow - what would be appropriate? I feel weird writing him a check. Thanks!;

Sara Gebhardt: Perhaps give him a gift certificate to a neighborhood restaurant or local book/music store. You could also give him a gift card to go to the movies. I'm sure he'll greatly appreciate anything you give him.

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Capitol Hill, D.C.: Hi, Sara.

Interesting quandary for you. I moved out of a house after a little more than a year of occupancy. The bank that holds my security deposit instituted a 'dormancy fee' on the account since the money hadn't been touched in a year. I'm not allowed to lift the dormancy fee since the account is in my trust. Is my landlord responsible for reimbursing that dormancy fee?

Sara Gebhardt: I'm not a financial expert, but since security deposits are supposed to be held by the landlord, you are entitled to the full deposit back (assuming you weren't charged for any damages). A landlord is supposed to put your security deposit in its own account and leave it untouched for the duration of your tenancy. It looks like these parameters were not followed. You should take it up with both your landlord and the bank. My presumption is that your landlord owes you the money for the dormancy fee since he/she was responsible for managing your deposit.

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Castries, Saint Lucia, Caribbean:

Hello Sara, I am 35 yrs old, and will be a student of the George Washington University this August'04. Need an apartment close by but can't seem to relate to the distances in Washington as yet. Could you help me?

Lost in the housing arena.

Sara Gebhardt: Hello Caribbean. You should contact GWU's housing office and ask for their assistance. In the meantime, you could do research on neighborhoods such as Foggy Bottom, Dupont Circle and Arlington, VA.

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Arlington, Va.: I'm renting a townhouse. The landlord shares it part-time. He is obsessive compulsive about everything. He noticed "scuff marks" on the wall that are really just faint marks where someone might have put their hands on the wall. Isn't that part of normal wear and tear? He is going to have them repainted (instead of waiting until I move out) and I'd like to know if I'm liable for those. The walls are not damaged at all.

Sara Gebhardt: Yes, it seems as if this is normal wear and tear. In our last discussion, I believe, many people suggested using gum erasers for removing scuff marks from walls. Perhaps you should try to clean off the scuff marks. It's hard to say if he'll hold you liable for the walls, but he doesn't have much of a case too. And I'd be suspicious of him re-painting before you move out. Most landlords only do such things if they're planning something else...pehraps selling the place.

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Adams Morgan, D.C.: Hi - Following up on Maryland's question, I just moved into a large-ish apartment building (about 70 units) with an on-site building manager and handyman (both live in apartments in the building). What is the protocol during the holidays as far as gifts/tipping? So far I have had only limited interaction with both of them, but while the handyman seems great, the building manager has been relatively unresponsive to my requests.

Thanks.

Sara Gebhardt: There is no set protocol for gifts or tipping, at least in the Washington area. But usually residents reward those who help them, so if you had good service, it is appropriate to tip if you so desire. Some residents like their landlords or maintenance people so much that they band together and get gifts. But for the most part, it's just up to your own discretion.

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Falls Church, Va: Hey Sara,
My roommate proposed to his girlfriend recently. Both great people, very happy for them, etc., etc., etc. The problem: I'm already in the midst of wedding planning hell. They're always camped out in our living room--debating, strategizing, agonizing. Any thoughts on how to preserve my sanity?

Sara Gebhardt: Wedding planning hell should not ruin a happy home, especially someone who's not even involved in the wedding. Is there any way you can ask your roommate to use another room for all the wedding strategizing? Remind him that you live there too, and the living room has suffered enough--thanks to reality television--at the hands of emotional wedding planning. If he and his fiance are good people who haven't yet been brainwashed into thinking everyday is "their day," a simple compromise should work.

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Anytown, USA:

Hi, I did something not so smart and put Ajax on some floor tiles by my kitchen sink. It turned them yellow. Do you or anyone know of a way to fix this.

Thanks.

Sara Gebhardt: Maybe someone out there can help this person out.

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Washington, D.C.: I know this isn't a financial chat but the "Dormancy Fee" sounds ridiculous.

Lets figure out how the bank loses in this deal: renter give bank money. Bank has money, can do whatever it wants with it. It's a deposit, so they know they have to give it back. "Oh we didn't want your money...you gave it to us for too long....give us some more and we'll give it back"

Sounds like a load of bull...

Call the FDIC and see if this is legal.

Sara Gebhardt: Thanks for the advice.

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Anonymous: Are you supposed to get back your security deposit plus interest when you leave? You mentioned that it's supposed to stay in a separate account.

Sara Gebhardt: Depending on the state in which you live, you may or may not be entitled to interest on your security deposit. Most states nowadays require a landlord to give deposits back with interest.

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Anytown, USA: Roomie and B-friend-- how to deal with it all? Plus she never cleans -- how do I initiate a cleaning schedule?? and I am getting tired of her asking me where I am going and with whom, etc... how do deal with that?

Sara Gebhardt: Be evasive, aloof, entirely grumpy, and your roommate may stop annoying you. And in the process, you might have an even more awkward, worse living situation colored by silent tension and growing resentment.

So, how do you really deal with it? Have a frank discussion about your roommate and remind her that her boyfriend is not on the lease and you wish he weren't over so often. Sure, she might not like that suggestion at all, but perhaps they'll start spending time at his place. As far as cleaning, discuss this with her too and see if she would be okay with a schedule. And answer only the questions you want to. You're an adult.

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Anytown, USA: Try Barkeepers solution-- comes in gold can like ajax... I ruined a sink tile with ajax and then barkeepers fixed it.

Good luck!

Sara Gebhardt: Ajax disaster relief.

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College Park, Maryland: For the curling-iron burned counter person: I've gotten rust stains, which look fairly similar, out of formica-like countertops with Oxyclean. It's worth a try.

Sara Gebhardt: Curling iron burn relief.

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RE: Security Deposit Interest: What about in VA or DC?

Sara Gebhardt: In DC, Maryland and VA, interest is supposed to be paid on security deposits. In VA, interest is paid on deposits that have been held for 13 months; In MD, interest is only paid on deposits over $50.

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U-Street & 13th (Washington, D.C.): I am renting a condo from a private owner.. who doesn't know much about being a landlord. I understand this quite gleefully. However, when something needs to be fixed.. like soap dish in shower falling off the wall... she says to me that I am responsible for having it fixed?

I've rented before from managment companies and that has never been the case. Whenever anything went wrong.. even a lightbulb change..I was told to call the rental company.

What rights do i have as a renter? Is my landlord responsible for the maitenance of the condo eventhough she is not a rental managment company but a private citizen like myself?

Sara Gebhardt: Your intuition is correct. Even private owners are required to follow the rules. It sounds like she needs some help in learning about what her responsibilities are. Maintenance is indeed one of those responsibilities, so suggest that she find out from the government or from books what is expected. (I doubt you could ask her to change a lightbulb, though.)

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Washington, D.C.: Sara, hello!; Our lease says nothing about noise except that we are not allowed to make any. In other words, the landlord has no noise restrictions. Is there anything in a lease that implies a peaceful tenancy?

Also, does the District require interest be paid on deposits?
Thanks!;

Sara Gebhardt: Every rental agreement implies a peaceful tenancy. Residents are supposed to have quiet enjoyment of their space. A lease that does not mention noise does not mean tenants can go wild all the time. Local laws also have noise ordinances that citizens must follow.

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RE: Wall Scuffs:: Mr. Clean makes these fantastic little "erasers" for walls. They're little white sponges that get everything (scuffs, pencil marks, etc.) off the wall like magic (I promise I don't work for them or anything, I only tried them because my mom sent them to me)

Sara Gebhardt: Here's some information on wall scuffs.

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Baltimore, Md.: For the scuff-marks poster: Try Mr. Clean Magic Erasers for little dings, scuffs, scrapes, and smudges. I didn't believe these things would work as well as the commercials say they do, but they really are terrific! I'm moving in a few weeks and have laid in a good supply to clean the walls with before I leave.

Sara Gebhardt: And another one...

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Minneapolis, Minnesota: My girlfriend and I moved out of a house that we were renting more than a month ago, and haven't received our security deposit yet. After two phone calls to our landlords with no response, what should we do? They have the forwarding address and there were no problems when we were tenants. Thanks.

Sara Gebhardt: You should call the overseeing management company if there is one. I'm not well-versed in Minnesota laws, but check with your local housing office to find out how long your former landlord has to return your deposit. They can also help you begin to pursue a case against the landlord should he/she be in violation.

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Alexandria, Va.: Hey. The parking regulations at my garden style-apt. have gotten worse and worse. There is absolutely NO easily accessible, sanctioned visitor's parking, esp. for people just coming over for short visits (e.g. dinner, etc.). There is only one street where parking is available, and it is often crowded with people coming and going from the elementary school/recreation center across from my apt. To top it off, earlier this week, my cousin's car was broken into in the offical, but ill-maintained, visitor's parking lot, and the management would do absolutely nothing to rectify the issue (e.g. give a temporary pass for the regular parking lot). I've tried talking to the management, giving them alternative solutions that have worked before, offering to work with them to develop something new, etc., to no avail. Do I have any other options? I feel like I am living in a communist-run place, and deserve better for the almost $1,000/month I pay for a 1-bedroom. Thoughts? THANKS!!

Sara Gebhardt: I'm not sure if that's a good example of communism, but it sounds like you've done what you should for fixing the problem. It's time to involve your neighbors in your fight. A critical mass might force management to listen to your suggestions. There's always moving, too, as a solution to poor management who doesn't seem to have their residents' best interest in mind.

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New York City: For the scuff marks, Mr. Clean Magic Eraser is great, but can leave a wall slightly discolored (i think it is more of a clean spot!)

Sara Gebhardt: More on that eraser. Who knew it was so famous!

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Washington, D.C.: re: Castries, Saint Lucia, Caribbean
GW housing is VERY expensive (at least $1000/month!) My best suggestion would be to commute in from Arlington or the surrounding neighborhoods. http://washingtondc.craigslist.org/ It has people looking to rent out apartments/rooms/ etc. that's how i found my place in Arlington or try the DC City Paper. Foggy Bottom is in general very expensive as is the surrounding area. If you're not opposed to commuting (and it's really not that bad from Arlington via the Metro), as a former GW student, I would say- stay away from Campus housing, besides, Campus housing for graduate/law students is not guarenteed. Good luck!

Sara Gebhardt: A tip for GWU students looking for housing.

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Arlington, Va.: When I moved into my apartment 2 years ago, it has a ratty ceiling fan/light fixture in the bedroom that only worked on hi-speed. I bought a new fixture and the landlord installed it. He didn't offer to pay for the fixture then, and I didn't think to ask. Now I'm moving and am wondering if I can expect to get the value added to my returned deposit. I'm not interested in taking it with me, so he's making out...

Sara Gebhardt: Probably not. If you didn't ask, the landlord probably took it as a "everyone wins" kind of repair. You bought the fixture, he paid, and all are happy. Landlords generally do not add money to security deposits.

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Washington, D.C.: RE: your response about the roomie and boyfriend situation. I assume that the situation is there all the time. Well, I am in a similar situation except I am the roomie with the boyfriend. What is considered acceptable? I may have my boyfriend over a couple of times a week for dinner but my roommate, who usually camps out in her room 24/7 anyway, complained to me that my boyfriend is here "all the time." Obviously an overeaction -- how do I handle this?

Sara Gebhardt: This is something that requires an honest discussion. Does she camp out in her room even when he's not over? People have different perceptions, and if somebody on a lease feels that her space is being unfairly invaded, she may not change her mind. Usually a better situation when perceptions do not match up is to move on and move out, or to spend more time at your boyfriend's place.

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Georgetown, D.C.: I'm subletting a house for the summer and arrived the last week of May. The second day I was there, the water shut off. I called the water company to see if the bill was overdue, but everything had been paid in full. The representative said that there had been a request by the house owner to turn the water off - my landlord said that wasn't true and that the company shut it off for the wrong property. Whatever the case, I'm now getting a $50 charge for having it turned on. I think it is either the water company's mistake or my landlords but I'm afraid im going to get stuck paying it -- what should I do?

Sara Gebhardt: You should tell your landlord to work out the problem with the water company and explain that you do not want to get stuck with the $50 charge.

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RE: No deposit: We had the same problem not getting our deposit
back from our landlord. Our lease gave him a
month to do it, and he had even told us we would
see a check soon for the full amount. Eventually,
we started sending certified letters to him. The
letters were not threatening or angry, just stated
that we had been waiting for X time and that we
were due X amount. We also mentioned that we
would send a letter weekly until we got the
deposit.

After two letters, we had the check.

Sara Gebhardt: Security desposit story...

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Sara Gebhardt: Well, that's a rap for today's session. I'll be back next month to chat more about apartment living. Saturday's column deals with laundry room etiquette, so make sure to check it out and weigh in. Ciao!

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