Had my pre-move-out inspection this morning with the weasely landlord. Today, I'm grateful for his inattention to detail; it totally works in my favor. He strolled through the apartment with a copy of (admittedly anal) inventory of damages I'd written up when I first moved in. Instead of checking my list against the current state of the apartment, he wandered around taking a few pics with an ancient digital camera.
Once finished, he asked me to write down my new mailing address and had me make a copy of his form indicating he did not foresee making any deductions from my security deposit. When I asked about returning the key, suddenly he was the one wanting to schedule a fixed appointment now (what I typically ask for and don't get), not wait for me to call him when I was closer to being moved out.
Matthew has been my worst landlord. He lies outright--claiming he's not the property owner. He invents far-fetched explanations for household disrepair-- "pipes touching each other in the wall" gives me hot water in my toilet (I'm supposed to believe this?). He routinely violates his tenants' privacy and fails to give proper written notice before entering his properties. The last time he showed up unannouced--strolled into my gated backyard--I bitched him out big time. Bully that he is, he backed down.
He scheduled major plumbing repair work and gave us 2 days' notice. He didn't notify the other outgoing tenants that or they could ask for a move-out inspection to prevent surprise looting of their security deposits. The things I've learned about California civil code and renters' rights while living in this guy's property... I can't tell whether he's salivating over the opportunity to raise the rent again or if he's out of sorts that all 3 rentals on the property have turned over in the past 6 weeks.
What will I miss about Parkwood? The shorter commute. Nice, quiet neighbors. My back patio. The mint patch by the back door. Labor Day Weekend BBQs where the cops show up at 7:30 pm and ask us to turn the music down. Being walking distance from an Out of the Closet Thrift store and a bunch of great restaurants and close to Trader Joe's.
P.S. When I met Matthew to return the keys on the 31st, he gave me a cashier's check for my security deposit johnny on the spot. I guess he was as glad to have me leave as I was glad to go!
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