I wish I had known how AH Properties handles deposits before renting from them, because I would have had zero expectation of ever receiving my refundable cleaning deposit back. I also wouldn't have wasted my time and energy cleaning the home, because it wouldn't have mattered. I worked directly with Allen, and I want to be very clear about my experience so others know what to expect.
When we moved in, the house was not in great shape. It wasn't very clean, and the carpet definitely wasn't clean. It was worn, matted down, and only on the second level of the home. We still cleaned everything ourselves and didn't make a big deal out of it. When we moved out, we left the home in better condition than we found it, and I took photos of everything to document it.
There was no move-out checklist, no cleaning standards given, and no communication about what was expected to receive the full deposit back. I assumed that leaving the place clean and in good shape would be enough. That was my mistake.
After move-out, Allen kept our entire $400 refundable cleaning deposit and then charged an additional $280 for carpet cleaning on top of that. And to be clear, carpet cleaning is not included in their normal cleaning charges or in the non-refundable redecorating fee. It is completely separate. So they kept the refundable deposit, charged for general cleaning, and then added a separate carpet cleaning fee as well. None of it made sense.
The most disappointing part was realizing that the word "refundable" meant nothing in practice. I also learned very quickly that "normal wear and tear" doesn't seem to mean anything either. They will charge you for cleaning regardless of the condition you leave the home in, and the redecorating fee you pay upfront isn't applied toward anything helpful for the tenant. They can use that fee however they want, and it offers no protection to renters at move-out.
I asked for clarification multiple times over several weeks, and Allen never addressed a single question. Every response avoided the issue. No receipts. No photos. No documentation. Just a vague itemized list, which apparently is all they are legally required to give.
When I finally told him that I would move forward with a formal dispute if he couldn't provide proof of what the cleaning deposit was used for, instead of simply sending documentation, he replied with a scare tactic about "attorney fees and court costs" if a judge ruled in their favor. It made no sense to me. If the charges were legitimate and he actually had proof, why would the first response be to bring up lawyers? That isn't necessary when you're operating transparently. It felt like an attempt to shut me down instead of answer a reasonable question. That said everything I needed to know.
Throughout the whole process, I also felt gaslit. Allen was polite on the surface, but nothing he said aligned with what was actually happening. It felt like he was trying to make everything seem reasonable and justified when none of it matched the condition of the home when we moved in or how we left it.
I know I did the right thing, and I did not receive that in return. For the sake of my peace and happiness, I'm not pursuing this any further. And honestly, I believe that is exactly what they depend on. Most people aren't going to waste their time and energy fighting over a few hundred dollars. But if they keep a little more from every renter and hide behind vague laws and vague itemized lists, that adds up over time. They know that. And they know most tenants will just let it go.
I'm not writing this because of the money. I'm writing it because the way this was handled felt misleading, dismissive, and unfair. I want other renters to know what to expect. You can leave the home clean, you can do everything right, and you can still lose your deposit and be charged extra on top of it.
I'm sharing this so future renters aren't blindsided the way I was. read more
