How Not to Lose Your Deposit – The Superhero Edition

It’s all fun and games until you lose your security deposit. These superheroes learned that the hard way when they moved to the big city. Here is a list of the most common reasons for security deposit seizure, so you don’t have to lose this battle too.

Bad chemistry

Bruce Banner’s short temper may be good for when he’s fighting evil, but it is not a desirable interpersonal skill. When his landlord asked him to stop mixing dangerous chemicals in the kitchen sink, the conflict escalated quickly, which led to the Hulk’s imminent eviction and the loss of his security deposit. If you want to avoid this situation, try to keep the relationship with your landlord respectful.

Tips:

• Nothing says respect like paying your rent on time.
• Try not to bother your neighbors with any loud noises or strange smells.
• Keep the apartment tidy, especially if you know your landlord is visiting.

Cat’s out of the bag

Catwoman might not be your typical superhero, but she has helped Batman on several occasions. On top of it, she’s a crazy cat lady, which is why she lost her entire security deposit. Even though her lease clearly specified “no pets”, she started hoarding stray kittens. For a long time, the kittens did go unnoticed, but the scratches on the curtains and walls clearly didn’t to her landlord’s inquisitive eyes.

Tip:

• Bring up the topic before you sign the lease and maybe your landlord will allow your furry friend to move in if you pay an extra pet deposit.

Deposit turned to dust

You can lose a big chunk of your security deposit if you skip the mandatory cleaning before moving out. Spiderman learned this the hard way when he forgot to remove the cobwebs that were dangling from the ceiling. It isn’t fun, but don’t forget that your security deposit is hanging by a thread.

Tip:

• Clean the rental property thoroughly and don’t forget to cover areas such as closets and storage spaces, that might otherwise go unnoticed.

The lone wolf

Wolverine likes to wander a lot, but his unconventional dispositions don’t go hand in hand with the rigors of a fixed-term rental lease. So, if you’re like Wolverine and you don’t give enough notice before you move out, your landlord can hold your security deposit and sue you for the rent you did not pay.

Tip: 

• Understand and abide by the required notice period. Discuss and negotiate with your landlord if you have to move out early.

Thor of all trades

Thor is a strong guy and he’s a handyman. He has a toolbox and a big hammer, so applying DIY fixes to minor issues felt like the natural thing to do. Unfortunately, Thor’s hammer is not compatible with poplar cabinets, so his DIY projects turned into disasters, and ate into his security deposit.

Tips:

• Inform your landlord about any sort of issue and wait for them to fix it.
• Don’t drill into walls, don’t attach any sort of fixtures without prior approval. Discuss things with your landlord! Landlords are more likely to accept modification requests from tenants with a clean background.

Blasting the apartment

Fellow X-Man Cyclops also lost a huge part of his deposit because of the wreckage he caused to his rental property. Needless to say, his inability to keep his glasses on and uncontrollable optic beams do not combine well…

Tip:

• Hopefully, you’re not going to send optic force blasts through your eyes, so avoid these problems and you’ll get your deposit back: stained curtains, chipped paint, broken or damaged windows, etc.

Sometimes, even superheroes can’t save their security deposits. Learn from their mistakes and you’ll be sure to snatch your perfect rental home, keep it in perfect condition throughout your tenancy, and get your deposit back at the end of your lease.