Security deposit itemized expense
Hello all hope you all had a great week! So our tenants moved out and left a huge mass to us. Overgrown lawn, a lot of trash and personal furniture and stuff left behind. The house will need extensive cleaning and painting, repairs, etc.. And they owe us rent too but they expect their deposit back! We plan to send them a letter listing all the cleaning/repair work needed. If we do all the work instead of farming it out, can we put the hours we spend and hourly rate per hour on the letter as the itemized expenses? Or do we have to farm it out and use the vendor 's billed amount? Thank you for your input!
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#2 Managing Your Property Contributor
- Real Estate Agent
- Memphis
I'd verify the Ohio rules before putting my own hourly labor on that itemization. I'd have no problem doing the work myself, but whether I can deduct a reasonable labor charge from the deposit is a separate question from whether I can deduct materials, hauling, unpaid rent, or documented damage. I'd take detailed before-and-after photos, save every receipt, and keep a record of the work performed, then confirm what Ohio allows for owner-performed labor before sending the final statement. I wouldn't farm the work out just to generate an invoice, but I also wouldn't assume I can pick an hourly rate and charge it against the deposit.