I lived in a furnished duplex for about a year and a half on a month to month lease.  I thought I had a good relationship with the landlord, but now that I’m trying to get my deposit back they are accusing me damages that I had no part in.  There were stains in the bathroom when I first moved in that I assumed were some sort of laquer or clear coating (I believed that they had renovated the place), but the landlord is accusing me putting the stains there.  Also, since I have left they have washed the sheets and mattress pad and said that while washing them that the sheets turned a reddish brown color and started to have an odor; and the mattress pad dissolved and the same color and odor appeared.  What should I do?  I didn’t have any part in these issues and the only other people in my place were their repair guy to repair the ceiling and lights damaged during the monsoon season; a cleaning lady that I had come to my place twice (it was a cleaning lady that my landlords told me about); and my parents who were out over Christmas.  How should I go about getting my deposit back?

Originally posted 2008-08-27 11:42:41.