I've had landlords........but luckily I have never had to contend with a slumlord.

So sorry to hear of your troubles Steph! Sounds to me that if you have The Tenant's Association on your side......and didn't try to go this on your own.....you might have a chance at receiving the cash back. If this get's to be too long and drawn out.....I've seen cases such as this that were taken to the media....and the slumlord was shamed and blackballed into making things right!

Let's hope this person will cooperate before that has to happen. I'll keep my fingers crossed for you!

And Lil? I nearly had something similar hapen to me when we bought our house. The RealEstate agent we had was a friend. I thought she couldn't steer me wrong in any way. But when I said I wanted to get an inspector......she said not to say a word about it to her bosses, but that she had a few inspectors she reccommends if she has friends for clients and that I could get a lower price for my inspection if I mention that she reccommended me.

Luckily whistles and bells went off in my head at this suggestion. I went to an independent inspector and even when she insisted that she should be there at the inspection......I told her a different time and she got there late. I lied to her and told her I was sure I told her noon. The inspection was set for noon and I said maybe she thought I said 2 instead of noon. I did tell her 2 so she would be late and the inspection would be over. Lo and behold....I found out things about the house that I am sure she wouldn't have wanted me to if I had hired her inspector. We bought the house anyway, but had the owners fix a few critical things before we did go to settlement.

BTW....this IS an illegal move on her part and everyone should always get an independent inspector and NOT bring the agent on the inspection. If you use their inspectors you may not find out all that you need to know about the house in question. The inspector should not be biased and have an interest in assuring that you buy the home. If they are reccommended by a realestate agent.........they have discussed the fact that the agent will highly reccommend them and therefore get more business....and the inspector will overlook some flaws that might otherwise cause the potential buyer to NOT buy....and therefore the agent won't make her/his commission.

Buyer Beware!

Hope everything goes well for you Steph! This is one of those....."Live and Learn" situations! Don't ya just hate them?

__________________
Minds are like parachutes. They only work when they are open.

~Thomas Dewar~