Had To Sue – Security Deposit Was Overdue

As a travel nurse, finding safe and affordable housing could be quite difficult at times! As stated in my I Got A Travel Assignment! …So Now What? blog, one of my go-to websites for finding housing (short term rentals) is furnishedfinder.com. I never had issues with any of the properties or management, but all of that changed at the end of my travel nurse assignment in New Jersey. The apartment and neighborhood were very nice, and everything went well until it was time for property management to return my security deposit within the 30 days after my lease was up. In this blog, I will share the steps I took in order to receive my security deposit:

1. Read The Lease Thoroughly

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ALWAYS read the lease before signing to move-in and before moving-out of the property. Make sure to DOCUMENT, DOCUMENT, DOCUMENT every encounter with the landlord, and save all forms of communications with them, e.g., text messages, emails and/or written letters.

2. Research “Security Deposit Law” In Each State

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Make sure to research the security deposit laws and statutes in each state where you reside during your travel assignment. For example, New Jersey’s security deposit law states that the landlord must return the tenant’s security deposit within 30 days after the end of the lease.

3. Send Courtesy Emails/Phone Calls/Texts/Letters

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If your security deposit is not returned within the statutory timeframe, send courtesy email and/or call to remind the landlord/property manager of the past due return of security deposit date. In NJ, the property manager strung me along, made several excuses, then stopped all communication with me. That was when I decided to file a claim with the NJ Small Claims Court. In some states, you would first need to send a demand letter to the other party addressing your issue, in effort to resolve the matter outside of court. In this case: 1) return of late security deposit; and 2) expected outcome of not returning security deposit.

4. Call Court and Bar Associations

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Once demand letters have been sent (first and final notices), and the security deposit still not returned, the next step would be to file an initial claim with the Small Claims Court. I called NJ Courts and the county’s Bar Association for guidance on the appropriate steps to take in this matter. Since it was past the statutory 30 days to return my security deposit, I was entitled to receive double the amount owed to me when filed through Small Claims Court. Therefore, I gathered important documentations, uploaded it to the court’s portal, and awaited further instructions from the court.

5. Set Court Date and Verdict

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The court later responded with a date and time to appear in NJ. However, since I was no longer on the travel nurse assignment in NJ, I was able to send a request letter to the court (and a copy to the other party), asking to appear via virtual video meeting, in which my request was granted. All in all, I won the case and finally received the returned security deposit that was owed to me. This took a total of three months, from start to finish, but was worth it in the end.

My advice to you is to make sure you stay on top of the landlord/property manager regarding your returned security deposit. Do not be afraid to speak up, even if it means going to court. I was super disappointed because I actually liked staying at that apartment, especially as a traveling medical professional.  As a professional, I expect professionalism from rental property management, as well.

Did this help? Has this ever happened to you?! 😡