It's the classic Iowa City rental story. Move out, clean the place until it is spotless, but still…read moreget screwed by your rental company. However, after going through this process five times before this, I have to say Roseann at River City Property handled my security deposit the worst of any property manager I've encountered.
Roseann was very nice to me the full six months I sublet the apartment she leased. But when I moved out and got my security deposit back (well, I should say, almost none of my security deposit), there were deductions that made absolutely no sense. When I moved out, I spent several hours cleaning behind the stove, the fridge, windows, walls, doors, you name it. The place was spotless when I left; cleaner than when I moved in. In spite of my efforts, I was charged for FOUR HOURS worth of (additional) cleaning. I don't know what a cleaning service was doing for 4 hours in that studio apartment; she didn't send any receipt of their work, so I really have no idea.
She also charged me for a late rent payment, even though I paid my rent on time, every time. Worst is that she didn't communicate either of these things to me, or the other deductions, and bear in mind this was not a year lease. I was only in this place for six months, yet she managed to find ways to deduct all but $10 of my deposit.
If I were you, I would not trust Roseann. She essentially made up a list of costs, provided me with no receipts verifying the list, and made no attempt to explain why this happened. Because, what am I going to do about it, sue them and spend way more than that on a lawyer? Ruthless property managers know you can't fight back, so they take advantage of you. I expect some of that in a college town with poor renters' rights like Iowa City. This however was way beyond anything I expected or encountered working with past companies.
If you encounter Roseann from RCP, stay away.