United Property Management Services

RENTERS BEWARE: After move out we received our security deposit with several ludicrous deductions, mainly a $ 1,200 charge for painting.
We tried communicating with the management company several times very cordially stating that this charge seems albeit excessive, as the approach that was used to deduct paint charges is inaccurate based on the length of tenancy. According to The California Landlord’s Law Book, Vol. I: Rights & Responsibilities, pages 384 – 385, interior paint can have a life of 2 years and given that we resided at the residence for almost 2 years, only ¹⁄₃ of the entire cost of painting the entire unit could be deducted from our deposit. In addition, cumulative and ordinary wear and tear is the landlord’s responsibility including but not limited to: minor marks on or nicks in wall, dents in the wall where a door handle has bumped it, small tack or nail holes in wall, and faded paint in rooms. A landlord cannot routinely charge each tenant for cleaning walls in order to prepare the rental unit for the next tenancy. It is only understandable to deduct the reasonable cost amount that we as tenants, were responsible for the 2 years which we lived there (at most they could charge us $ 1200/​3=$ 400).
Also regarding the initial inspection, the landlord or agent must prepare an itemized statement of repairs or cleaning that the landlord or agent believes the tenant should perform in order to avoid deductions from the tenant’s security deposit. The landlord or agent must give the statement to the tenant if the tenant is present for the inspection, or leave it inside the unit if the tenant is not present.
Although an initial inspection took place with tenants present, no such itemized statement was provided and only verbal estimates were given, none of which indicated a $ 1,200 charge for repainting the whole unit and deducting the entire cost of painting from our deposit.
In addition, we were charged $ 400+ for cleaning 1,100 square feet of space. Including a $ 50 charge for trash removal FROM A DUMPSTER, which the management company claims was overfilled, but yet has not provided any pictures or evidence to support this claim.
It has been over 30 days since we moved out of the unit and United Property Management Services refuses to respond to any correspondence made against their claims.
The lack of professionalism and courtesy aside, BEWARE of renting properties from this company as they will attempt to detain the majority of your security deposit unlawfully. As tenants we will not submit to the thievery and will of this management company.