Jessica Sipperley
For The State News
Twelve months of dealing with landlords, paying bills and cleaning up food crumbs and plastic cups culminates into one goal — getting back the security deposit.
To many tenants, this means hastily painting over holes in walls and fixing busted window screens. To landlords, it is a chance to see the honesty of their renters.
Joe Hagan of Hagan Realty, 927 E. Grand River Ave., has dealt with security deposit issues for the past 40 years.
"Most of the big landlords in East Lansing ? they want to run it like a business," Hagan said. "They're not out to cheat (anyone)."
Hagan said the most expensive mistakes his tenants make are breaking doors and putting holes in walls.
The security deposit goes toward fixing or replacing items, he said, and the rest of the money, about a month-and-a-half's rent, is returned.
The company sends its tenants a notice requesting a forwarding address in order to receive the deposit if they pass Hagan's inspection. But Hagan said it amazes him how many people don't provide that address.
"By law, (I) have to have it back to them within 30 days," he said.
MSU alumna Laura Rodgers used to rent an apartment in Chandler Crossing on Chandler Road, north of campus in the Northern Tier.
She said the company took money out of her $200 security deposit because of carpet stains. Her roommate videotaped his room in order to provide the most accurate picture possible, she said.
"We treated it like it was our house ... and we still got money taken from our deposit," Rodgers said.
Brian Holland, asset manager for DTN Management Co., said he is most worried about students who think they can leave the place a mess.
But as long as renters leave properties in satisfactory condition and provide a forwarding address, the company will likely return the security deposit.
Human resources management senior Scott Eberlein said the relationship with his DTN landlord is business-like.
"We give him a check, and he doesn't kick us out," Eberlein said, who lives in Campus View Apartments, 324 Michigan Ave.
Eberlein and three roommates split the $400 security deposit. Packaging senior and roommate Jim Morski said their only damages at this time are nail holes, and he advised renters to be detailed on an inventory checklist when moving in.
"Really do a good inspection," Morski said.
Sharon Gutow of Gutow Management LLC said her tenants' security deposits are in a protected account, and if they have paid all bills on time and pass a cleaning inspection, they will receive their money back in full.
"It goes directly to replace or repair whatever needs fixing," Gutow said.
Gutow said it's always the company's goal to return security deposits in full.
"If a student decides to sublet, he has to make certain (the house) is in responsible hands," Gutow said. "If it's clean when they moved in, it's gotta be clean when they move out."
