Asked by h***@naver.com
Deposit
I am writing this with a heavy heart, feeling frustrated and helpless.
I started renting a house on December 28, 2023. However, from the very first day, cockroaches appeared in the house. It wasn’t just a few; I would wake up in the middle of the night to the sound of their wings. I set up traps, and every day, I caught 3-4 live cockroaches. The situation was unbearable, and I begged the landlord to return my deposit, saying I couldn’t live in these conditions. However, the landlord refused, stating that cockroach infestations are not considered a breach of contract.
The landlord paid for the first pest control service, but after that, I had to bear all the costs. During the initial days of living there, I was so terrified of the cockroaches that I kept all the doors shut. Eventually, I had no choice but to leave the doors open despite the discomfort. I couldn’t sleep properly for an entire year, and now the moving-out date has finally come.
Mold Issues During the Rental Period:
While living in the house, mold began to appear, and I reported this to the agent. However, the agent only told me to "keep the windows open." Since the house was on the ground floor, leaving the windows open meant that every passerby would stop to peek inside, yet I had no choice but to comply. I believe that mold is caused by the weather and the building's condition, not by tenants. So, I don't understand why I am being held responsible and asked to pay for this.
Despite all of this, we were so desperate to make things work, and I remember how kind you were to us. Your understanding at the time truly helped us stay strong through such a difficult situation.
Mold Issues and the Handover:
There was some mold in the house, especially on the walls. The walls were white, and the mold could be wiped off with a cloth. On the day before the handover, I personally removed about 20% of the total mold.
On the handover day, I went through the checklist with the agent. According to the contract, the deposit was to be returned within 14 days after the moving-out date, which was December 27, 2024. The mold issue was discussed during the inspection, and while I didn’t agree that tenants should be responsible for removing mold, I eventually agreed to deduct mold cleaning costs from my deposit and to hire a cleaning service to address the issue.
However, I received a call from the agent yesterday, stating:
"An expert inspected the property using UV light and found that the common bedroom had only been superficially cleaned. They pointed out that mold could reappear if only specific areas are treated. Additionally, if mold remains in the air conditioning units, it could circulate through the air, so cleaning the air conditioning units may also be necessary."
Air Conditioner Cleaning and Additional Concerns
The air conditioners were cleaned four times during the year, once every three months.
Now, I am worried that I won’t get my deposit back, and I might even have to pay additional costs. I feel so anxious and uncertain about what to do.
Thank you for taking the time to read this. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
I am writing this with a heavy heart, feeling frustrated and helpless.
I started renting a house on December 28, 2023. However, from the very first day, cockroaches appeared in the house. It wasn’t just a few; I would wake up in the middle of the night to the sound of their wings. I set up traps, and every day, I caught 3-4 live cockroaches. The situation was unbearable, and I begged the landlord to return my deposit, saying I couldn’t live in these conditions. However, the landlord refused, stating that cockroach infestations are not considered a breach of contract.
The landlord paid for the first pest control service, but after that, I had to bear all the costs. During the initial days of living there, I was so terrified of the cockroaches that I kept all the doors shut. Eventually, I had no choice but to leave the doors open despite the discomfort. I couldn’t sleep properly for an entire year, and now the moving-out date has finally come.
Mold Issues During the Rental Period:
While living in the house, mold began to appear, and I reported this to the agent. However, the agent only told me to "keep the windows open." Since the house was on the ground floor, leaving the windows open meant that every passerby would stop to peek inside, yet I had no choice but to comply. I believe that mold is caused by the weather and the building's condition, not by tenants. So, I don't understand why I am being held responsible and asked to pay for this.
Despite all of this, we were so desperate to make things work, and I remember how kind you were to us. Your understanding at the time truly helped us stay strong through such a difficult situation.
Mold Issues and the Handover:
There was some mold in the house, especially on the walls. The walls were white, and the mold could be wiped off with a cloth. On the day before the handover, I personally removed about 20% of the total mold.
On the handover day, I went through the checklist with the agent. According to the contract, the deposit was to be returned within 14 days after the moving-out date, which was December 27, 2024. The mold issue was discussed during the inspection, and while I didn’t agree that tenants should be responsible for removing mold, I eventually agreed to deduct mold cleaning costs from my deposit and to hire a cleaning service to address the issue.
However, I received a call from the agent yesterday, stating:
"An expert inspected the property using UV light and found that the common bedroom had only been superficially cleaned. They pointed out that mold could reappear if only specific areas are treated. Additionally, if mold remains in the air conditioning units, it could circulate through the air, so cleaning the air conditioning units may also be necessary."
Air Conditioner Cleaning and Additional Concerns
The air conditioners were cleaned four times during the year, once every three months.
Now, I am worried that I won’t get my deposit back, and I might even have to pay additional costs. I feel so anxious and uncertain about what to do.
Thank you for taking the time to read this. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
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