The Landlord Kept the Business’s Deposit. How a Georgia Tenant Recovered Payment
A look at the lease, move-out evidence, and disputed deductions behind the negotiated resolution.
The questionCan a commercial landlord keep a deposit for normal wear and tear?
Illustrative example
SAVANNAH, Ga. — A Savannah restaurant has recovered $38,000 of a $42,000 security deposit its former landlord kept after the business moved out.
The landlord listed deductions for repainting, flooring and kitchen repairs. The tenant said the space was returned in the condition the lease required.
For the small business, the deposit was the money it had set aside to open its next location.
Calvessa Law Group compared the move-in inspection with a video walkthrough the owners made on their last day, and showed that most deductions covered normal wear or work the lease assigned to the landlord.
The landlord returned $38,000 under a negotiated settlement.
The tenant accepted a $4,000 deduction for kitchen equipment it had removed.
Move-in and move-out records are usually the core evidence in deposit disputes, for businesses and residential tenants alike.
About this story
Submitted by the firm. Source review: supporting documents reviewed by result.law. See our publication standards.
